Acupuncture is a natural approach that may help to ease the symptoms of the menopause, including hot flushes, insomnia, mood swings and anxiety. By balancing the body’s energy, it supports overall well-being and helps women go through this transition gently.
Acupuncture offers many benefits and may be helpful for fatigue, whether recent or chronic. The patient may feel tired or lacking in drive.
The different types of fatigue
Lack of energy and lethargy have different causes, and there are different types of fatigue: mental, emotional, physical, adrenal, post-covid (long covid).
The causes
In Chinese medicine, we always look for the origin of the symptoms. For example, fatigue may come from a deficiency in vitamins or minerals such as iron or vitamin B12, a thyroid problem, a cortisol problem, a blood sugar problem, a cardiovascular condition, taking certain medicines, a lack of physical activity or, on the contrary, too much physical activity
Emotional stress can also lead to a lack of drive, even more so in people who are empathetic.
Diet can also be an area to investigate. In Chinese medicine, overeating or a diet poor in nutrients and vitamins creates a Spleen deficiency, which leads to exhaustion.
During the session, dietary and lifestyle advice is given to improve quality of life. Regular sessions help you regain energy.
Acupuncture takes the patient as a whole into account, and aims in particular to:
Several closely spaced sessions at the start, in the form of a course of treatment, are sometimes needed to trigger this boosting effect on the metabolism.
After that, more widely spaced sessions help to maintain the benefits.
A personalised assessment makes it possible to work on different areas such as sleep, emotions (stress, anxiety…), sugar cravings or snacking, or digestive problems (constipation, bloating).
Eating too much, not eating enough, too much exercise, not enough exercise are all factors that prevent weight loss. Note that strength training gives better results than cardio, which, as its name suggests, works the cardiovascular system. Cardio does not make you lose weight. Too much cardio will increase the level of cortisol, the stress hormone. Result: you eat more.
weight loss and acupuncture
Advice on Chinese dietetics and herbal medicine is also given during the consultation, depending on the person’s type, whether more yin or yang…
Some food supplements, such as guarana or green tea, are of interest. Spices such as ginger and turmeric, as well as lemon and cider vinegar, are used as part of an adapted diet.
A breakfast based on oat flakes is perfect, rather than skipping this essential meal.
The menopause is not an illness but rather a period of transition. Some women have no symptoms, while others need treatment or support depending on the symptoms they experience. Acupuncture may help to relieve hot flushes, mood swings, night sweats, etc.
The menopause is reached when menstruation stops completely, moving from a state of fertility towards a passage to greater creativity. The average age of the menopause is between 48 and 55; before 36, it is called premature menopause. Premenopause and perimenopause can last from 6 to 12 months, and for some women from 2 to 5 years.
The age of the menopause depends on various factors: state of health, smoking, obesity, kidney essence (Chinese medicine), emotional stress, too many pregnancies close together, or a hysterectomy. In Chinese medicine, during this period the yin and yang of the kidneys are depleted.
The Symptoms
The main symptoms are: hot flushes, night sweats, dizziness, tinnitus, red cheeks, dry skin, intense thirst, constipation, insomnia, fatigue, ankle oedema, depression, cold extremities, irritability, diarrhoea, weight gain, anxiety, palpitations, chest tightness, high blood pressure.
Hot flushes and acupuncture
Dietary advice
Avoid alcohol, coffee and spicy food, and eat slowly.
Spirulina, yam and chasteberry are of interest as food supplements.
Acupuncture (sometimes spelt “acuponcture” in French) is a very old therapeutic method, born in China 5,000 years ago, which regulates the body by means of needles placed in the skin at precise acupuncture points.
Acupuncture is based on the concept of vital energy and the theory of yin and yang. A state of balance defines good health.
Sometimes, internal or external aggressions disturb this balance, such as climatic changes (cold, heat, wind, dryness, trauma, infection) or eating too little or too much, dietary mistakes, excess or lack of emotions (anger, fear, sadness).
The imbalance may be temporary if the body has good immunity or if the pathogen is eliminated. Otherwise, the imbalance leads to the dysfunction of an organ, which in turn leads to the onset of an illness.
First and foremost preventive, acupuncture’s role is to maintain good health. It is also curative as soon as symptoms appear. It is advisable to have a session every 4 months, that is, at each change of season. This makes it possible to anticipate certain symptoms, such as allergies for example, or to prevent certain illnesses by boosting immunity.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, vital energy depends on the quantity and quality of the air we breathe, on diet, on managing emotions as well as on mental and sexual stimulation and on solar radiation.
Weight loss through acupuncture is a major reason for consultation. Many patients wonder how to lose weight, slim down or tone their thighs or stomach. As each patient is unique, the protocol will be personalised according to various factors.
Eating disorders, stress, sleep problems, fatigue disrupt your energy and so lead to excess weight. The menopause and thyroid disorders are also factors that can alter your vitality in Chinese medicine. Some treatments or medications also contribute to weight gain.
Nutritional advice for weight loss
By working on certain organs such as the liver, gallbladder, spleen, stomach and kidneys, the patient may regain fitness and energy naturally. Nutritional advice complements the session.
During a session, the practitioner gives advice such as acupressure. The aim is to encourage relaxation and regulate appetite, sugar cravings, sleep, stress, etc. For example, yoga, breathing techniques and hiking are excellent activities.
Other symptoms can be supported at the same time, such as neck pain, low back pain, water retention, cellulite and abdominal pain.
It should be noted that no scientific evidence has shown the effectiveness of the acupuncture pen.
There are different types of fatigue: temporary, chronic or extreme. First of all, you need to see your doctor to rule out any medical condition.
Difficulty getting up in the morning and a lack of drive are common symptoms to take into account for your well-being.
There is also physical fatigue, occurring after a chronic illness. The lost energy must therefore be recovered through rest, restorative sleep and a suitable diet. Sleep disorders are common and can include, for example, difficulty falling asleep, waking once or several times, or waking too early…
Stress or overwork linked to professional, sporting or household activities can also be factors.
Finally, there is mental or psychological fatigue, also known as neurasthenia. This can be caused by emotional conflicts, worries, sadness, depression, etc.
Chinese medicine makes it possible to look for the energy imbalance at the root of the symptoms. A few acupuncture sessions can overcome this type of asthenia.
Certain associated symptoms are looked for, such as: cramps, bloating, tinnitus, loss or lack of appetite, dark circles, anaemia, potassium deficiency, liver problems, imbalance in certain hormones, fever, diarrhoea, leg pain.
As a former migraine sufferer, I managed to get rid of my migraines with natural care. I was on beta blockers and another neurological medication, but nothing worked.
Today I support patients suffering from migraines. Some patients had had migraines for more than 20 years.
For migraines or headaches, the first treatment offered is unfortunately still anti-migraine medication. However, some studies suggest that medications for migraines (paracetamol, Lamaline, beta blockers, ibuprofen) may be effective only for a short time. And they can have long-term side effects.
Often, for headaches or migraines, we ask patients to keep a diary or to change their lifestyle. Some therapies, such as relaxation and cognitive behavioural therapy, can improve them.
Taking coenzyme Q10 is reported to significantly reduce the frequency of migraines. Magnesium is reported to be effective in teenage girls who suffer from migraines during menstruation (catamenial migraines).
As for homeopathy, no reliable study shows whether or not it is effective on migraines, in the short or long term, for this chronic condition.
acupuncture and migraine
Acupuncture and the management of migraines
There are a great many studies on acupuncture and migraines. Some studies suggest that acupuncture may have an effect comparable to that of medication. Its side effects are uncommon and usually mild when performed by a trained practitioner. Other studies suggest that a course of acupuncture sessions may have an effect close to that of beta blockers. Of course, it is the patient’s choice to opt for such support, alongside medical care.
Acupuncture may help relieve and/or prevent migraines with or without aura, thanks to its pain-relieving effect. Some study data suggest a change in brain biochemistry linked to migraines after acupuncture treatment. It may contribute to a reduction in the frequency of attacks as well as a decrease in the intensity of pain.
During treatment, sterile single-use needles are inserted into acupuncture points along the meridians. The treatment is painless.
Acupuncture has also been the subject of studies with encouraging but still limited results for tension headaches, back pain (neck pain) and shoulder pain. Acupuncture may therefore be worthwhile alongside medical care.
migraine and osteopathy
Osteopathy: an appealing method for managing migraines
Osteopathy is also of interest for occipital (Arnold’s) neuralgia, tension headaches, ophthalmic migraines and migraines during menstruation. Other symptoms and clinical signs are explored, such as vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain (liver, spleen, stomach), high blood pressure, eyesight problems (unsuitable glasses), migraines that come on at night, on waking in the morning or in the evening, dizziness, allergy, diarrhoea, back pain, chronic illness, hormones, sinusitis, stress, and tension in the jaw. The causes are many. Osteopathy and/or acupuncture seek to identify the cause(s) in order to support patients with migraines, which are often disabling. Massage of the head, neck and shoulders may reduce tension headaches, for example. Indeed, there are different causes of migraines: eyesight problems, high blood pressure, digestive origin, cervical origin, heat, cold, fatigue.
At my practice I offer osteopathy or acupuncture, or I can combine both in the same session.
Chinese medicine can restore radiance and youthfulness to the face through various techniques, including acupuncture.
Facial acupuncture, also called acupuncture facelift, anti-ageing acupuncture, or cosmetic acupuncture.
Through an assessment, facial acupuncture makes it possible to determine the origin of wrinkles, sagging features, brown spots, depigmentation, and bags and dark circles under the eyes.
bags under the eyes after two sessions.
Sessions consist of a treatment on acupuncture points on the face, but also on the body, such as acupuncture points on the hand or the legs.
Certain meridians are treated, such as the liver, the stomach or the bladder, in order to restore the balance of yin and yang.
Advice on herbal medicine and diet gives a better result and makes it last longer.
Acupressure points, the jade roller, Gua Sha and cupping are also used.
traditional Chinese massage with gua sha
Facial acupuncture treatment gives a natural result that respects the face. The complexion is even and radiant, a sign of good health.
Acupuncture treats the face but also emotions, stress, sleep disorders, digestive or menstrual disorders, fatigue and migraines.
The main wrinkles treated with acupuncture are:
frown lines,
smile lines,
forehead lines,
marionette lines,
expression lines,
lines between the eyes (glabella),
horizontal lines on the nose,
cheek wrinkles,
jugal fold,
lip lines,
wrinkles under or around the eyes.
Jade Roller
Each treatment protocol is unique and adapted to the person’s needs. The patient is treated as a whole for better results.
In Chinese medicine, menopause is seen as a real liberation for women. If it is well prepared for, the transition goes smoothly.
Some women experience symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, reduced libido, dryness, headaches, insomnia, heart palpitations, digestive problems or low moods. Joint pain may also be present as a result of bone demineralisation.
Acupuncture may ease these symptoms by regulating the circulation of blood and energy.
It is also possible to regulate menstrual cycle problems (cycles that are too long or too short) for a few months or years.
By restoring harmony on a physical and mental level, women can respond positively to this new stage of life and reach a new maturity and self-confidence, to feel more at ease in their natural and social environment.
Menopause does not mean old age. Indeed, many women know how to maintain a lovely body and a beautiful face well beyond menopause.
To book an appointment with an acupuncturist in Aix-en-Provence or Cadenet, go to Doctolib
Chinese medicine can support an effort to slim down the stomach, thighs, hips or arms. In particular acupuncture, which aims to stimulate the metabolism and encourage drainage. It may play a role in lymphatic drainage and help reduce water retention and improve blood circulation.
Acupuncture: an ally of choice for slimming down
The aim of acupuncture is to work on all the factors responsible for weight gain: stress, lack of sleep, lack of energy, appetite, etc.
Weight loss comes with dietary advice and relaxation and self-massage techniques (stomach, legs), which provide an anti-cellulite action or help with heavy legs.
Depending on your body type, green teas or herbal teas are recommended. No diet or intermittent fasting is advised in terms of nutrition. Cooking methods suited to the seasons and to your energy guide the weight loss strategy.
Other methods to consider
The pillars of Chinese medicine are breathing, diet and managing emotions. In addition to acupuncture, herbs (herbal medicine) and essential oils are recommended, along with self-massage and acupressure techniques to boost the metabolism and get the energy flowing.
It is important to note that there is no single protocol, but rather specialised protocols adapted to each person. Some foods are therefore to be favoured and others avoided. An assessment with an acupuncturist is needed to take the person into account as a whole.
A series of acupuncture sessions may help you lose centimetres and therefore drop a size.
Menopause is also a particularly good time to consult.
In summary, acupuncture may help boost your metabolism and your energy, regulate your appetite and reduce water retention.
The main meridians involved in acupuncture are: the stomach, the spleen, the liver and the kidneys.
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