Dong quai is traditionally used to relieve menopausal symptoms, including hot flushes in TCM, and is also traditionally taken as a blood tonic.
Recommendations for treating menopausal symptoms in the TCM literature are dominated by formulations which usually contain about a dozen herbs with different functions within the TCM framework. The most commonly selected herbal formula is Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, which has been used for more than one thousand years.
The concept of acupuncture forms a big part of the rebalancing process in Chinese medicine, redefining the yin levels for those suffering from menopause by using acupuncture combined with other lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise.
In combination, acupuncture and Chinese medicine can effectively treat hot flushes, night sweats, promote mental stability, and strengthen the body.
St John's wort, on its own or in combination with other herbs, has been shown to be significantly better than placebo in the treatment of menopausal symptoms. In combination with black cohosh or passionflower, St John's wort may decrease hot flushes significantly and improve your mood compared to placebo.
Specifically with Chinese herbs, those that increase the secretion of female hormones or increase the weight of the sex organs should be avoided. Examples include she chuang zi, jue ming zi, dang gui, hong hua, and sha yuan zi.
We use acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to restore the body to a state where it is better able to regulate healthy hormone functions. Hormones are responsible for regulating many bodily functions and are involved in conditions such as: Menstrual irregularities - for example polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
Anemarrhena: traditional cooling herb
When the Kidney Yin deficiency pattern described above is present, anemarrhena is traditionally used to relieve hot flushes, night sweats and vaginal dryness in TCM.
Ginger may not be the first culinary herb you think of to help ease your menopausal symptoms, but maybe it should be due to its ability to reduce acute symptoms such as nausea and hot flushes as well as chronic issues like painful arthritis and bone loss.
Estrogen therapy is the most effective treatment option for relieving menopausal hot flashes. Depending on your personal and family medical history, your doctor may recommend estrogen in the lowest dose and the shortest time frame needed to provide symptom relief for you.
Dong Quai, or Angelica Sinensis, is known as the “female ginseng.” This coveted herbal ingredient has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for thousands of years to help improve hormonal balance, increase immunity, and reduce inflammation in the body.
Alcohol like bourbon, wine, and beer contain phytoestrogens (estrogen-mimicking substances), which can raise your estrogen levels, worsening PCOS, endometriosis, and fibroid symptoms.
If you're having hot flashes during menopause, you may find it helps to avoid certain "trigger" foods and drinks, like spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol.
Lemons and other citrus fruits, especially blood oranges, mandarins, limes, bergamot and other varieties of oranges are full of bioactive compounds that help your heart, blood vessels and hot flushes during your menopause transition.
In addition, apple cider vinegar has alkaline properties that may help balance your hormones. Furthermore, some theories suggest that apple cider vinegar may help your body produce hormones, including estrogen, which may, in turn, offer menopause symptom relief.
Performing regular exercises is an excellent way to lose menopause belly fat and improve your overall physical health. Women can start with moderate to vigorous activities and might consider including aerobic exercises such as cycling, running, jogging, swimming, walking, and resistance or strength training.
From tofu to miso, the Japanese diet includes large amounts of soya products. These so-called phytoestrogens mimic the effects of oestrogen in the body and are thought to help with fluctuations in the hormone, hence their success in smoothing the rapid fluctuations brought on by the menopause.