“I am pleased to share with you my success with herbal therapy. I began treatment a year ago for menopausal symptoms. After a few weeks of acupuncture I began herbal therapy. It has done a much-welcomed job of keeping my hot flashes, mood swings, and other symptoms under control. The symptoms are not totally erased, but instead are lessened to a point where I don't hardly notice when a hot flash occurs. For me the peace of mind not to have to deal with HRT is well worth slight changes. I have recommended this approach to all of my friends, and I'm pleased to say a few have joined me in this treatment.” A.P.

Chinese herbal medicine has been helping women with the symptoms of menopause for thousands of years. This natural process of transitioning from childbearing years to the next stage of a woman’s life is often overshadowed by uncomfortable symptoms including hot flashes, mood swings and fatigue. The Women’s Health Initiative study was terminated after it was found that a popular form of hormone replacement therapy significantly increased risks of breast cancer and coronary heart disease. . See our past newsletters for details on the findings.

This was reported in the July 2002 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association and throughout the media. Since that time, many women have been asking important questions about their options for dealing with these often difficult to manage symptoms. While Chinese herbal medicine is not a cure and does not take the place of conventional medical treatments, it may be a viable option for relieving many of the unwanted menopausal symptoms. The acupuncturists at FirstHealth are all trained herbalist and would be happy to discuss the possibilities of assisting you in this area.

- David Sollars, M.Ac., Lic.Ac., H.M.C.