Managing Perimenopause Naturally: Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine in Oakland
What Is Perimenopause, Really?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, menopause is known as Di Er Chun, or Second Spring. It is a transitional time when the body’s energy that was put towards reproduction is now focused on internal preservation of the body’s vital essences like jing, blood, qi, yin, and yang. In Five Element theory, we are transitioning from the Earth element, which is about stability, nurture, and abundance, into the Metal element, which is about inspiration, letting go, and focusing on ourselves. This Second Spring is not viewed through the lens of illness; rather, it is a transformation into a new and beautiful stage of life. As our body’s yin and yang begin to recalibrate during this transition, we may experience some symptoms. Certainly, the transition from the Earth element to the Metal element can have some hiccups and bumps along the way, and TCM has many tools to help us through this transition with more ease and grace.
At East Bay Acupuncture, we support you through many transitions, including menarche, adulthood, pre- and postnatal, perimenopause, and menopause. We all have over a decade to decades of experience supporting women and nonbinary folks through perimenopause, and now that more people, doctors, news outlets, and celebrities are being outspoken about it, we would like to share our expertise from a Chinese Medicine perspective.
First off, let's clarify the term. Perimenopause is the time period before menopause, when the monthly period stops completely. Perimenopause is said to last, on average, 4-8 years, with the average age of menopause in the US at 52, with the understanding that it may come earlier or later for many women.
The Full Range of Perimenopause Symptoms Most People Don't Know About
During perimenopause, before estrogen and progesterone decline significantly, our hormones can be erratic, leading to many symptoms that may change month to month and over time. The primary symptom that we hear about is hot flashes, but there are many more symptoms that women experience in perimenopause that are starting to gain some recognition:
Menstrual changes:
Irregular, spotting between periods, heavier, lighter, longer or shorter periods
Sleep:
Difficulty falling and/or staying asleep
Mood:
Anxiety, irritability, rage, depression, mood swings
Cognitive changes:
brain fog, scattered thinking
Cardiovascular:
heart palpitations
Temperature:
sensitivity to hot and cold, hot flashes, night sweats
Energy:
fatigue and changes in motivation
Digestive:
Urinary tract changes:
increased UTIs, overactive bladder, discomfort
Pain:
joint pain, headaches, muscle aches
Sexual health:
vaginal dryness, changes in libido
This list will surely grow as more research is done.
How can Acupuncture and Chinese medicine help menopause symptoms?
In the West, in our modern world, this transition is often not about rest, contemplation, and ease. Most of us are in full swing at work, caring for children, parents, and other family members, and generally going full steam ahead. While this time period can lead us to reflect on what stressors we can leave behind, many of us need to keep up our pace of life. In Chinese Medicine, we can use acupuncture, supplements, and Chinese herbs to help support our energy levels and manage the symptoms we have so that we can continue living the lives we want to lead. A weekly acupuncture session can be the perfect thing to manage stress, relax, and focus on what your body needs during this time, as well as getting targeted treatment for your symptoms.
We will look at your whole health picture to determine the right treatment for you, which may change week to week and over time. As our hormones fluctuate, different symptoms may present themselves, and acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can help throughout the myriad of symptoms.
We work with people who cannot take hormones for a variety of health reasons, who do not want to take hormone therapy, and those who are using HRT but still have symptoms that they need help with. Traditional Chinese Medicine can help support you wherever you are in this transition, and we can tailor our treatments to meet your needs.
Common TCM Patterns We See in Perimenopause
In Chinese Medicine, we look at organ systems that encompass much more than the actual organ. For example, the Kidney meridian includes reproductive health, genetics, aging, and much more. When we speak about TCM pattern imbalances, we are rarely saying that the actual organ has a problem.
Kidney yin deficiency -
A very common pattern seen in perimenopause and menopause. The Kidney energy in TCM often declines with age, and in perimenopause, one of the first things that tends to decline is the yin energy, which correlates loosely with estrogen. Skin, eyes, hair, and vaginal tissue can become dry, and as the yin is depleted, it can give rise to heat, with hot flashes, night sweats, and insomnia as classic symptoms. Here we remind clients of the importance of
Spleen qi deficiency -
Also a common perimenopausal pattern. The Spleen in Chinese Medicine includes the digestive system, and as hormones fluctuate, the shift can impact nearly every aspect of our bodies, including our digestive system. Many women feel increased bloating, sluggishness, fatigue, and brain fog in perimenopause, and with acupuncture and custom herbal formulas, we can support the Spleen to function better and relieve these symptoms.
Liver qi stagnation -
In our modern lives, we often see this pattern during perimenopause, and often in combination with other patterns. The Liver is affected strongly by stress, and can cause symptoms like muscle tension, pain, irregular periods, worsening premenstrual symptoms, and general stress. We will often add acupuncture points and herbs to help let the Liver qi flow freely. Because liver qi stagnation is such a common pattern during this time, we often see that alcohol, particularly in the evening, can cause more heat and create more stagnation and stirring at night. We recommend limiting your alcohol intake to give your liver a break and to reduce your heat symptoms that can be exacerbated by alcohol.
Frequently Asked Questions about Acupuncture for Perimenopause
Can acupuncture help with perimenopause symptoms?
For some symptoms, yes, and the research is honest about which ones. Acupuncture has shown it can meaningfully reduce the severity of hot flashes, though studies haven't consistently shown it reduces how often they happen. Where the evidence is stronger is sleep and mood: several studies point to acupuncture supporting better sleep and more stable mood during this transition, likely through its effect on the nervous system. We combine acupuncture with Chinese herbal medicine and lifestyle guidance because most patients are dealing with more than one symptom at a time, and a whole-picture approach tends to serve people better than treating each symptom in isolation.
What age does perimenopause usually start?
Perimenopause typically begins in a woman's mid to late 40s and lasts an average of 4 to 8 years before menopause itself, which happens at an average age of 52 in the U.S. That said, "average" doesn't mean universal. Some women notice the first shifts in their late 30s, and others move through the transition more quickly than the average range suggests. If your cycles or symptoms are changing and you're wondering whether this is what's happening, that's a good reason to come in and talk it through rather than trying to match your experience to a general timeline.
Can I do acupuncture while on HRT?
Yes. Acupuncture is not a replacement for hormone replacement therapy, and we're not going to tell you to choose one or the other. Many of our patients are on HRT and still come in for acupuncture because they have symptoms HRT isn't fully addressing, or because they want additional support for sleep, stress, or digestion alongside their hormone therapy. We'll ask about your current treatment as part of your intake so we can build a plan that works alongside what you're already doing, not around it.
Why Choose East Bay Acupuncture for Perimenopause Care?
There are so many different Chinese Medicine patterns that we work with; these 3 are often the most common in perimenopause. What happens if you have a combination of various symptoms? We will work with you and change the treatment as needed to address the symptoms that are causing you the most imbalance.
We hope your transition into your Second Spring is smooth and easy, and if, like most women, you need some support, please reach out! East Bay Acupuncture in Oakland specializes in hormone health, and we see patients every day who are navigating the perimenopause transition. We are here to help with acupuncture, herbal medicine, diet, and lifestyle recommendations, providing well-rounded care that fits into your daily life.
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with our board-certified hormone health acupuncturists today to find out more and take the next step toward optimizing this next phase of your life.
At East Bay Acupuncture, we are committed to providing thoughtful, evidence-informed, and compassionate care in a calm, supportive setting. Our goal is to help you feel cared for, informed, and supported at every stage of your life.