Treatments for Menopause

Presented by: Casey Carpenter and Maren Arabia

What is Menopause?

Menopause is the final menstrual period. It is a universal and irreversible part of the overall aging process as it involves a woman’s reproductive system.

Menopausal Symptoms

  • Hot flashes/flushes
  • Insomnia
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Dyspareunia
  • Weight gain or bloating
  • Mood changes
  • Irregular menses
  • Mastodynia/mastalgia
  • Depression
  • Headache

Osteoporosis and Menopause

Osteoporosis is defined as a bone mineral density (BMD) equal to or greater than 2.5 standard deviations (SDs) below the peak bone mass or T-score. Osteopenia is a largely preventable sequela of menopause.

Osteopenia is defined as BMD that is 1.0-2.49 below T-score.

Risk Factors

  • Petite and thin women
  • Early menopause
  • Family history
  • Smoking
  • Alcohol
  • Sedentary lifestyle

TCM Perspectives of Menopause

Kidney (KD) Essence Deficiency

Seen mostly in the older age group and is due to the gradual consumption of essence with aging or depletion from other causes.

It is often seen in otherwise healthy individuals over the age of 50 years.

Although the decline of KD Essence is gradual, lifestyle and dietary habits from childhood onwards determine what kind of menopause a woman is going to have.  The following can affect the rate of consumption of KD essence.

  • Poor diet
  • Overwork
  • Childbirth

Main menopause-linked symptoms: vaginal dryness, hot flashes, night sweats

Alternative Treatments for Menopause

Acupuncture Treatment

  • Tonify Kidney
  • Strengthen Ren and Chong Mai
  • Subdue Qi
  • Clear Empty Heat

Herbal Treatment

Augmented Rambling Powder (Jia Wei Xiao Yao San)

 

Pharmaceutical Latin Pin Yin Dosage Actions
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis Dang Gui 3-10g Tonifies Blood, regulates menses, invigorates and harmonizes the Blood, and reduces swelling.
With Bai Shao, regulates and harmonizes Qi and Blood and relieves genital pain.
With Gan Cao, moderates spasms and relieve abdominal pain.
With Chai Hu and Bai Shao, for dysmenorrhea from Liver Qi Stagnation and Blood Deficiency.
With Bai Shao and Fu Ling, for diarrhea during pregnancy with mild abdominal pain.
With Mu Dan Pi, Zhi Zi, Chai Hu, and Bai Shao, for early menstruation, bloating during menstruation, and irritability due to Qi Stagnation with Heat.
Rx. Paeoniae Alba Bai Shao 3-20g Calms Liver Yang, nourishes Blood, regulates menstruation, and astringes Yin.
With Dang Gui, nourishes Yin and Blood.
With Gan Cao, regulates the relationship between the Liver and Spleen and nourishes the sinews for epigastric, hypochondriac or flank pain and muscle spasms, pain, and numbness, especially in the calf, due to Blood Deficiency.
Poria Fu Ling 3-15g Promotes urination, resolves Dampness, strengthens the Spleen, and harmonizes the Middle Jiao.
With Bai Zhu, strengthens the Spleen and resolves Dampness.
Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Bai Zhu 3-15g Tonifies the Spleen, tonifies Qi and dries Dampness.
With Fu Ling and Gan Cao, for Spleen and Stomach Qi Deficiency.
Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu 3-12g Resolves Shao Yang disorders, reduces fever, spreads Liver Qi, and relieves Stagnation.
With Bai Shao, for Liver Blood Deficiency with Liver Qi Stagnation and vertigo, dizziness, thoracic and costal pain, and menstrual irregularity due to Liver Qi Stagnation.
With Bo He, for emotional depression, a stifling sensation in the chest, and irregular menstruation due to Liver Blood Stagnation and Deficiency.
With Gan Cao, for hepatitis and upper right quadrant pain.
With Bai Shao, Dang Gui, and Bo He, for Liver Qi Stagnation with stress and emotional distress.
Cx. Moutan Mu Dan Pi 1.5-10g Clears Heat, cools and harmonizes the Blood, clears Deficiency Fire, activates the Blood, dispels Blood Stasis and clears Liver Fire.
With Zhi Zi, Chai Hu and Bai Shao, for Fire from Stagnation leading to Liver Fire or Liver Yang Rising
Fr. Gardeniae Zhi Zi 1.5-12g Clears Heat, reduces Fire, cools the Blood, disperses toxins, stops bleeding, activates the Blood, eliminates irritability and drains Damp-Heat. With Mu Dan Pi, resolves Qi Level Stagnation leading to Heat and Heat in the Blood, for dysmenorrhea, headache, dry, scratchy eyes, and intercostal pain due to Liver Blood Deficiency and irregular menstruation, headache, red eyes, and thirst due to Liver Qi Heat from Stagnation.
With Chai Hu, Mu Dan Pi, and Bai Shao, for irritability and a short temper.
Rx. Glycyrrhizae Preparata Zhi Gan Cao 1.5-6g Tonifies the Spleen, tonifies Qi, clears Heat, relieves Fire toxicity, and moderates and harmonizes the properties of other herbs.
Hb. Menthae Haplocalycis Bo He 1-6g Disperses Wind-Heat, cools and clears the head and eyes, benefits the throat, and relieves the Stagnation of Liver Qi.
With Bai Shao and Chai Hu, for Liver Qi Stagnation with chest and flank distention.
Rz. Zingiberis Recens Sheng Jiang 1-6g Reduces the toxicity of other herbs.

Foam Rolling Techniques

Foam rolling is a type of self-myofascial release in which pressure is applied to certain body parts to relieve pain.

Video Clip for Foam Rolling: 23:12

Yoga Poses

  • Big Toe Pose
  • Bound Angle Pose
  • Bridge Pose
  • Dolphin Pose
  • Downward-facing Dog
  • Extended Triangle Pose
  • Head-to-Knee Forward Bend
  • Hero Pose