World Menopause Day
- Philosophia Botanica
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
It's World Menopause Day and we are joining the conversation in order to raise awareness to such an important phase into a woman’s life and cycle. It’s time to change the dialogue, it’s time to open up and let women feel supported, understood and certainly not alone.
How is menopause viewed in Chinese medicine? In TCM menopause is a time of Yin and Yang imbalance and is associated with 'kidney deficiency’.
The kidney is conceptualized as a system rather than an organ that is responsible for temperature, fertility and fluid balance regulation.
The basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine is based on the yin-yang philosophy. Yin and Yang represent the balance of forces, a polarity in energy and the fundamental ordering of the universe. Under normal, healthy mental and physiological conditions, yin and yang are equilibrium, or a state of relative balance. If the balance is for some reason disturbed, the result is either an excess or deficiency in either yin or yang which subsequently causes ailments.
The key to the yin and yang balance is directly related to the mind, body and spirit. In eastern medicine, a tranquil mind plays a considerable role in maintaining good health.
And so at the time of menopause, women are discovering the yang (energetic, aggressive) side of themselves, while men as they grow older tend to become more yin (passive, yielding).
How can be create balance in this important phase of a woman’s life?
My general advice is to reduce stress wherever possible, and also try a variety of natural techniques such as Acupuncture, meditation, relaxation and breathing techniques, herbal therapy, massage, yoga, botanical oils, and above all concentrate on a healthy and well balanced diet.
The above mentioned therapies support the eastern medicine belief that the mind and body are so interrelated. Menopausal symptoms can be amplified with stress and negative thoughts.
Acupuncture: Menopause Symptoms Relief.
Since the menopausal transition is such an individual and elongated process, tailored treatments such as those used in acupuncture may provide significant benefits.
Various studies have shown that acupuncture may offer relief from some of the most common menopausal symptoms.
Geranium: Skin Wellness
Geranium has been found to help menopausal women manage hormonal changes as well as being very helpful for dry skin. Geranium
may also be used as an essential oil by inhaling one to two drops or by adding a few drops to the water during a relaxing, hot bath.
Flaxseed: Easing Night Sweats
Flaxseed and flaxseed oil may help some women with mild menopause symptoms as they are a good source of lignans, which tend to balance female hormones.
Ginseng: Mood Booster
A few studies have found evidence that the different types of ginseng might help improve quality of life during menopause. Ginseng has been shown to boost mood and improve sleep.
Dong Quai: Empress of the Herbs
Dong quai has been used in TCM as treatment for women's health for thousands of years and is an herb that has been shown to potentially relieve symptoms of menopause and depression, improve heart health and reduce inflammation. Please consult a medical herbalist.
Red Maca: Hot flashes + may improve depression symptoms in some postmenopausal women.
Red maca has been shown to contain higher levels of phytonutrients such as alkaloids, tannins, saponins, steroids and cardiotonic glycosides that are derived from its red skin. Red maca seems to have an enhanced effect on hormonal issues and can be especially effective for menopausal and post-menopausal women.
Please consult and seek the assistance of a professional Chinese medicine practitioner or medical herbalist prior to taking any herbal medicine.
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