To “do or not to do” hormones is a hot topic in many women’s forums, but what do we, as women, really know about our own endocrinology?  Some of it may seem simple, some of it complex.  Which is better?  Having our meridians monitored to find out about our ‘shen’?  Or going on estrogen?

Women know that lowered amounts of estrogen can lead to bothersome physical changes such as hot flashes, night-sweats, vaginal dryness, hirshuitism (facial hair), weak bladder, and mood-swings.  During menopause, women are also at greater risk for dangerous conditions such as osteoporosis and heart disease.  Estrogen and progesterone production in the ovaries declines and ceases to be a part of monthly cycle around the time a woman turns fifty years old.  Biomedical doctors feel that women need these hormones for many reasons, which often result in the complaints commonly heard by gynecologists and physicians.  HRT may be the best answer for six months to a year, but what then?  Is it worth the risk?

HRT is either estrogen or an estrogen/progestin combination administered via pill, injection, patch, or cream. The best method will differ based on each individual situation, and involves consultation from a qualified physician.  Short term use of HRT has decades of proven results, and in certain cases has even has proven effective against memory loss, colorectal cancer, diabetes, and migraines.  Long term use can be dangerous, and it is not entirely clear how long it may be before that change occurs.  Six months? Two years?  Four years?  Where does a woman go from there?

Unlike Western medicine, TCM views changes that occur during menopause as considered a direct result of a kidney deficiency and stagnation in the liver.  One source I asked to clarify this point explained, “… that these systems do not correspond to western anatomical or physiological organs, but rather represent various complex processes within the body“. The Chinese have intricate terminology for both clear, and also esoteric, changes in the body.  Beyond actual ailments, TCM recognizes aspects of hot and cold, and also damp and dry states of being within the organs.  This creates a platform for a primary diagnosis and treatment, along with a differential diagnosis and treatment.  This is where the use of acupuncture, along with certain herbal remedies comes into a combined method of care.

TCM requires a large amount of trust and self advocacy in the sense that many of the terms, and also herbal recommendations are completely unfamiliar to the American patient.  Not all herbs can be mixed with all medications, so it is important to have a candid relationship with one’s primary physician and the complimentary care physician, and to discuss all medications, vitamins, supplements and drugs such as tobacco and alcohol to see if any may have contradicting or dangerous effects.  It is vital to understand what is being suggested or administered to you.

In TCM it is recognized that menopause may have some unpleasant aspects, but it is believed they should be recognized as temporary symptoms which will lessen with time.  TCM also believes that no synthetic hormone can replace an endogenous one, and that gentle treatments can safely minimize common complaints.  According to one TCM practitioner with whom I spoke, “In the case of menopause, which, in Western countries, has come to take on the status of a ‘disease,’ biomedicine treats declining hormone levels with synthetic hormone replacement therapies.  Many times, pharmaceuticals like HRT will effectively treat symptoms, but because they do not treat the root of the problem (unique to each individual) they will also create further imbalance, and produce unintended side effects which then must also be treated.”  She added, “A medical doctor will treat the disease using standardized, clinically proven methods while a TCM practitioner will treat the person, using strategies that seek to address the unique, underlying pattern of imbalance”.  Various sources did stress that intervention and treatment for osteoporosis is recommended since it is osteoporosis is recognized as a disease, and not a symptom of menopause.  If a woman is being treated using TCM for symptoms if menopause, she should still consult her primary care physician if she has osteoporosis or heart disease.

When a woman is considering treatment for peri-menopausal or menopause related symptoms, combined forms of treatment may be valid, such a temporary estrogen therapy for hormone regulation, and acupuncture for pain and discomfort.   Communication between practitioners regarding natural and biomedical care methods is important.  Some forms of treatment are not complimentary, and in certain situations may even be dangerous.  As a patient, it is essential to understand all of the benefits and risks of each individual form of treatment, and also the combined therapies.  Ask your ob-gyn how they feel about alternative treatments. Trying a new path may be right for you, but it is important to know which path is truly best for your specific needs. The only way to embrace body, mind, and soul is to do so with wisdom.

Menopause Support Group

Email Beyond The Pnk Ribbon