Treating Menopausal Symptoms with Acupuncture vs. Pharmaceuticals

by, gomesman

Currently one of the prescribed treatment protocols for women going through Menopause is an Anti-Depressant such as Effexor.  Research shows that the anti-depressant actually has the added benefit of treating hot flashes and night-sweats; which are common symptoms associated with Menopause.  This treatment has proven to be quite effective in treating these symptoms, however, it does not come without its usual list of negative side-effects commonly found with pharmaceuticals.

Another treatment that has proven effective in treating these same symptoms is Acupuncture.  Acupuncture is a Chinese Medical therapy that uses very thin needles, inserted at various points in the body.  It works on an energetic level, treating the 12 different channels or meridians that flow through our bodies.  Each meridian is said to be associated with a different organ network & different aspects of our mental, emotional and physical bodies.  Acupuncture works on the basis that it recreates a positive flow of energy throughout these channels (or meridians) where we may presently have blockages.  By re-establishing a proper flow, we can re-establish the proper inner-workings of ourselves and our bodies.

One group of researchers decided to test the two treatment protocols against one another and see how they measured up.  This study tested two group of women who were all experiencing Menopausal symptoms such as night sweats and hot flashes and treated one group with Effexor (an Anti-Depressant) & one group with Acupuncture only.  The study found that each test group had similar results and each group had significantly decreased their symptoms, & in addition both groups showed fewer symptoms of depression.  The only difference being,

“women taking Effexor also had negative side effects. These included nausea, dry mouth, headache, difficulty sleeping, dizziness, double vision, increased blood pressure, constipation, fatigue, anxiety, feeling “spaced out,” and body jerking during the night.

Women getting acupuncture had none of these side effects, but they did report increases in energy, clarity of thought, sexual desire, and overall well-being”.

So, there you go, yet another reason that I love the medicine that I am studying and think that it’s going to continue to make it’s incredible mark on us, and change the way we practice medicine.

~Till next time, happy holidays and be well~

Source:  www.webmd.com, Acupuncture Cuts Ails of Breast Cancer Drugs, Sep. 22, 2008