Acupuncture, this traditional Chinese medicine that involves sticking thin needles under the skin, would effectively relieve the symptoms of menopause.
Hot flashes, night sweats, sleeping problems, nausea, palpitations, 75% of postmenopausal women experience what are called vasomotor symptoms. While they are supposed to go away after the pre-menopausal period, sometimes they persist for several years.
Some women cannot find effective treatments in conventional medicine, so hormone treatments are not suitable for all patients. Alternative medicine could help them. A study published by the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine shows that acupuncture would be effective in relieving vasomotor symptoms of menopause. It was performed by the Duke Clinical Research Institute in the States–United.
A technique of traditional Chinese medicine
Acupuncture is part of traditional Chinese medicine. It consists of stimulating certain parts of the body using metal needles stuck under the skin. This would, according to followers, restore the body’s energy balance.
If this medicine arrived in Europe in the 17th century, it took a long time to be recognized. Today, doctors and midwives are the only ones able to practice it in France.
Significant differences
The researchers gathered data from several studies conducted on the effectiveness of acupuncture. They noticed that this technique can significantly reduce the symptoms of menopause. Comparisons between women treated with acupuncture and others show significant differences.
“There are notable improvements in the frequency of symptoms, their intensity, and various points of measure of the quality of life”, explains Deanna Befus, one of the authors of the study.
It is estimated that between 4000 and 6000 people practice it in France.
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