Acupuncture for Menopause: Managing Hot Flashes and Mood Swings

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3 days ago
5 min read

Menopause marks a powerful and natural transition in a woman’s life — yet for many, it brings physical and emotional challenges that can disrupt daily comfort and well-being. Hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, and sleep disturbances are some of the most common symptoms women experience during this stage.

At Teal Holistic Wellness, we understand that menopause is not a disease but a natural transformation. Through acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), we help women navigate this phase with balance, calm, and renewed vitality — easing symptoms while supporting overall hormonal harmony.

Understanding Menopause and Its Symptoms

Menopause typically occurs between ages 45 and 55 and is defined as the point when menstruation ceases for 12 consecutive months. The transition period leading up to it, known as perimenopause, often brings fluctuating hormone levels — particularly decreases in estrogen and progesterone — that can trigger a range of symptoms, including:

Hot flashes and night sweats
Mood swings, anxiety, or irritability
Sleep disturbances and fatigue
Vaginal dryness or discomfort
Weight gain and slower metabolism
Irregular cycles before cessation
Brain fog and difficulty concentrating

While some women transition smoothly, others experience symptoms that affect quality of life for years. Many seek non-hormonal, holistic alternatives — and acupuncture has emerged as a safe and effective option to help manage these changes naturally.

The TCM Perspective on Menopause

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, menopause represents a natural decline in Kidney Yin and Yang energy, which govern reproductive and hormonal health. When Yin (the body’s cooling, nourishing energy) becomes depleted, heat symptoms such as hot flashes, irritability, and insomnia can arise.

The goal of acupuncture in menopause is to restore Yin energy, calm internal heat, and harmonize Qi flow across the body’s major organ systems — especially the Kidneys, Liver, Heart, and Spleen. This helps rebalance the body’s natural rhythms and reduce both physical and emotional symptoms.

How Acupuncture Eases Menopausal Symptoms

Acupuncture offers a multi-layered approach to relief by addressing hormonal fluctuations, nervous system imbalances, and emotional well-being. Here’s how it helps:

1. Reduces Hot Flashes and Night Sweats Research shows that acupuncture can stabilize body temperature by regulating the hypothalamus — the brain’s temperature control center. By restoring internal Yin energy, acupuncture helps reduce the frequency and intensity of hot flashes and night sweats.

2. Balances Hormones Naturally Acupuncture influences the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, improving communication between endocrine glands and helping smooth out hormonal fluctuations. While it doesn’t replace estrogen, it encourages the body to self-regulate hormonal balance.

3. Calms Mood Swings and Emotional Ups and Downs Mood instability during menopause is often linked to hormonal changes and stress overload. Acupuncture promotes the release of endorphins and serotonin, which help lift mood, reduce anxiety, and improve emotional resilience.

4. Improves Sleep and Reduces Fatigue By regulating the body’s circadian rhythm and calming the nervous system, acupuncture promotes deeper, more restorative sleep — a key factor in managing menopausal fatigue and brain fog.

5. Supports Overall Well-Being In TCM, menopause is a time for the body to redirect its energy from reproduction toward renewal and wisdom. Regular acupuncture sessions nurture this transition, enhancing vitality, focus, and emotional balance.

What the Research Says

Modern studies continue to support what centuries of Traditional Chinese Medicine have observed.

A 2023 meta-analysis in BMJ Open found that acupuncture significantly reduced the frequency and severity of hot flashes and improved quality of life compared to control groups.
Research published in Menopause Journal showed that acupuncture helps lower levels of stress-related hormones and improves sleep quality in menopausal women.
Another study found that acupuncture stimulates beta-endorphin release, which helps regulate body temperature and reduce vasomotor symptoms.

Together, this evidence supports acupuncture as a safe, non-hormonal, and effective therapy for menopause symptom management.

The Emotional Benefits of Acupuncture During Menopause

Menopause is often a time of emotional transformation. Many women experience increased stress, irritability, or sadness as they navigate physical changes and new life stages.

Acupuncture helps by:

Soothing the nervous system and reducing irritability.
Promoting emotional clarity and calm.
Alleviating anxiety and mood fluctuations.
Encouraging mindfulness and body awareness.

At Teal Holistic Wellness, we recognize that emotional well-being is just as important as physical balance. Each treatment is designed to support your mind, body, and spirit through this transition.

What to Expect in Your Session

During your initial consultation, our registered acupuncturist will review your health history, symptoms, sleep patterns, and emotional state. Based on this, we create a customized treatment plan that targets the underlying patterns of imbalance contributing to your menopausal symptoms.

Fine, sterile needles are gently inserted at specific points — often on the lower abdomen, legs, wrists, ears, and back. Most clients find the process relaxing and often drift into a light rest.

Treatment Frequency:

In the initial phase, sessions are usually scheduled once or twice per week.
As symptoms improve, we shift to a maintenance schedule, often every 2–3 weeks.

Each session lasts about 45–60 minutes and is complemented by lifestyle and nutrition guidance to enhance results.

Lifestyle and Self-Care Tips for Menopausal Wellness

In addition to acupuncture, our practitioners at Teal Holistic Wellness often recommend supportive daily habits to sustain hormonal balance and inner calm:

Eat cooling, Yin-nourishing foods such as leafy greens, berries, tofu, cucumber, and whole grains.
Avoid excessive heat-producing foods like caffeine, alcohol, spicy meals, and sugar.
Stay hydrated to prevent internal dryness.
Incorporate gentle movement like yoga, walking, or tai chi to maintain Qi flow.
Practice deep breathing or meditation to calm the mind and reduce stress.
Prioritize sleep — a consistent bedtime routine helps regulate hormone rhythm.

Teal Holistic Wellness also offers complementary services such as foot reflexology, IV therapy, and holistic nutrition consultations that can further support your menopausal journey.

Why Choose Teal Holistic Wellness

At Teal Holistic Wellness, we specialize in integrative care for women at every life stage. Our practitioners combine modern clinical understanding with Traditional Chinese Medicine expertise to help you feel balanced, empowered, and supported through your menopausal transition.

We believe that this phase of life can be an opportunity for renewal — not discomfort. With the right care and support, you can move through menopause with ease, confidence, and energy.

Begin Your Journey Toward Balance

If hot flashes, night sweats, or mood swings are affecting your daily life, acupuncture offers a gentle and natural solution to bring your body and mind back into harmony.

Let Teal Holistic Wellness help you embrace this new chapter with comfort and clarity.

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