Hot flushes are the number one symptom that is talked about in relation to menopause, but I’m sorry to say there are many more.
We often experience various symptoms and dismiss them as part of the process of getting older, rather than realizing they are related to our declining hormone levels as we go into menopause.
Symptoms can easily start in your early 40s even though the average age for periods to stop is 52. You may get erratic or heavier periods as your hormone levels start to change. Poor sleep, forgetfulness, low energy levels even anxiety can be included at the start of this process.
In my acupuncture clinic, I often see women in this category who feel anxious and nervous or who have lost their clear thinking and confidence. The one thing they all say is ‘this isn’t the normal Me ‘.
Chinese medicine or acupuncture is all about maintaining balance in the body and the onset of hormonal changes is one way to really throw things out of balance! Remember puberty? Big hormonal changes are tough to deal with at any time, so when you are older and tired, it’s even harder.
The aim of acupuncture is to restore the body’s balance, helping symptoms like tiredness, restless legs, hot flushes and being forgetful. In Chinese medicine hot flushes are caused by the balance of hot and cold in the body is disrupted leading to feelings of heat, anxiety can relate to a lack of yin energy in the body. Everyone is unique so each treatment is tailored to each individual.
If you are experiencing some of these things, don’t assume your symptoms are something you must suffer as part of the ageing process. Acupuncture and some simple lifestyle changes can help.
There is a great little piece done by the BBC team that explains how all sorts of random symptoms can pop up, even before you have reached menopause. Have a look here https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/health-48288573/what-we-wished-we-d-known-about-the-menopause
The NHS website lists over 25 symptoms that can be related to ‘ going through the change’ as we used to call it. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/symptoms/