Treating Hot Flashes with Herbs
Menopause and Chinese Herbs - Does it really work?
I often hear about the frustrating experiences of sudden hot flashes, and the further frustrations in not getting results when women try to take natural herbs and herbal supplements that claim to be a “cure all” for hot flashes. Treating hot flashes with herbs (Western botanicals, Chinese herbs, etc.) has become very popular since many women want natural alternatives to hormone therapy. But some find that these pre-made herbal remedies just don’t work for them, while it works great for others. Even research studies investigating herbs such as black cohosh, angelica sinensis and other herbs find mixed results. Why? Because you can’t use the same herbs or herbal combination for every woman! It’s as simple as that.
Traditional Chinese Medicine’s take on herbs for menopause
Even in my Traditional Chinese Medicine training, I noticed that once a of-menopause-age woman came into the student clinic complaining of hot flashes, night sweats, dry skin and eyes, we’d automatically label it “yin deficiency” and treat it as such with representative herbal formulas. We’d always give the same base representative formulas for tonifying yin, with slight modifications. No wonder patients are often told that it takes a long time to treat the yin deficiency that causes menopausal symptoms! It’ll certainly take a long time if you’re not on the right track. It wasn’t until I began understanding acupuncture theory and pulse diagnostics according to Morant that I realized there’s a much more complex blend of energetic imbalances than just a yin deficiency, if it even was a yin deficiency at all.
This threw what I had learned in school out the window! With TCM, we’re taught to use herbal theory for acupuncture diagnostics, but this “herbalized” theory still isn’t enough for making sure herbs are used to its fullest potential! Yes, it sounds strange to say that herbal theory doesn’t support the proper use of herbs, but it doesn’t in the way most practitioners are taught. Although Morant didn’t use herbs because he understood the effects of true acupuncture, I’m not at the level Morant was! I do see the value of Chinese herbs, but once again, if applied with the proper diagnostics. So herbs can help you with hot flashes if they are designed specifically to address the proper energetic disharmony of yin and yang within your system.
Western Medicine’s herbal “research”
I was recently reading an article online that referenced results of a study paid by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that states that black cohosh does not relieve hot flashes for women during menopause. Black cohosh by itself, or with other herbs, was compared to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and HRT won out in reducing hot flashes. This is frustrating because, as with most research studies, they’re assuming that all 351 women in the study are the same so that they can test the same substances on all women and get a clear result. Well, it doesn’t work this way!
Customized Chinese herbs just for your unique menopausal experience
Chinese medicinal herbs can treat hot flashes and symptoms of menopause effectively if a proper diagnosis is made, and not just an if-hot-flashes-and-night-sweats-then-yin-deficiency approach is taken. If you’re looking for Chinese herbs for menopausal symptoms, I recommend that you come in for an acupuncture treatment first so that I can understand the intricate and unique disharmony that exist for you. Oftentimes, Classical True Acupuncture alone can provide a solution. If herbs prove necessary, then I’ll be happy to give you herbs to help you feel better and support you through menopause.
The herbs you receive for hot flashes and other symptoms will be tailored just for you according to your pulse diagnostics. As a result, you can feel exceptional results from Chinese medicinal herbs–it just has to be done the right way. And of course, the herbs we give you are high quality raw herbs that are sulfur-free (preservative free). If you’re familiar with cooking raw herbs for hours, this is not how we do it. Instead, you’ll be able to prepare the herbs in 10-15 minutes and get the full potent effect of the herbs, unlike pre-made formulas and supplements that have been processed into capsules, tablets, or pills that even aren’t made with you in mind! Come in, ask questions, and find out how we can help you with those annoying hot flashes–they can disappear quickly, really!
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