Acupuncture & Menopause: A Conversation

The following interview took place between Dr. Jason Hackler and a correspondent with the Ladue News, on the topic of acupuncture's effectiveness in treating menopause. This transcript provides the full detail of the conversation.

1. In your practice, is menopause symptom management a common reason for people to seek acupuncture, or is it unusual?

No, it is not unusual at all. Women, with menopausal symptoms, such as, night/day sweats, hot flashes, emotional ups and downs, etc, are successfully and frequently treated here at Natural Life Therapy Clinic.

2. Please tell me how you would assess and treat a patient who needs help with hot flashes, mood swings and other problems associated with menopause?

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine addresses symptoms, such as, hot flashes, etc., by balancing the flow of Qi (Chi-Energy) in the body.

At Natural Life Therapy Clinic we diagnosis this flow of energy by doing a complete pulse diagnosis which tells us how to treat each individual person, helping to alleviate the symptoms. Two women may have hot flashes, however, the way to alleviate their symptoms will be different because everyone has their own unique pulses - that's the beauty of our system of health care, the diagnosis and treatment is fitted precisely to each individual patient. The treatment would involve Meridian Therapy, which includes, Japanese acupuncture, bodywork, dietary/nutritional counseling, and herbs and supplements if needed. (Keep in mind that patients usually report no pain whatsoever with this style of acupuncture - the technique is very gentle and the needles are the diameter of a human hair.)

3. Does acupuncture help address all problems associated with menopause or only specific ones?

I've seen the system we practice address all common symptoms of menopause. In more serious cases where symptoms are severe, we adjunct the treatment with dietary modifications and herbs/supplements.

4. Does the patient need multiple treatments? What kind of treatment schedule do you recommend?

Generally speaking, a more chronic condition (more than a month old) will take more treatments to cure. One should think about twice weekly for three to five weeks. Then once weekly for couple weeks. Sometimes less treatments are needed though, every patient is unique. I often see patients respond within three to five treatments.

5. What is the typical cost per treatment?

We have three practitioners here at Natural Life Therapy Clinic. Please see website for all fees. They vary a little with each practitioner. Info at: www.nltclinic.com.

6. Are some people better candidates for successful acupuncture treatment than others? If so, why?

Sometimes just a liitle more patience on the patients part is necessary if chronic - it took years for symptoms to manifest, so it may take a few treatments to change things. Occasionally, however, someone will come along that more aggressive medical intervention is necessary - hormone therapy - to address the symptoms. I clinically, however, see this less often.

7. Is there any clinical evidence (research) to support the use of acupuncture for menopause symptoms?

The World Health Organization (WHO) cites acupuncture in successfully treating 43 different conditions, one of which is menopausal symptoms. We know that clinically there are quite a few more conditions that can be addressed successfully with acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

8. What is the most important thing you think our readers should know about this topic?

That the body in so many cases has the ability to regulate itsef, to heal itself. Meridian Therapy and acupuncture performed by properly trained practitioners promotes the body's natural healing abilities. We come from the viewpoint of natural medicine, but if one needs drug treatment, then it should be done. However, many women can be successfully helped without medications for menopausal symptoms, as well as many other women's issues.

Thank you.

Jason R. Hackler, Dipl.Ac, L.Ac
Senior Associate, Natural Life Therapy Clinic