Chinese Herbal Medicine for Menopause

Hot and bothered by unpleasant night sweats, hot flashes, irritability… Sounds annoyingly familiar? Many women notice remarkable changes for months or years before they reach menopause, and for some this transition is both physically and mentally straining. We worry about the medical inconveniences of menopause, like hormone therapy, or are saddened by this sign of aging. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views menopause a bit differently (and more positively) than we tend to do in the West. Rather than a burdensome change, the Eastern view holds menopause as a gateway to woman’s rebirth. After the spring and summer of adolescence and adulthood, menopause offers a time of rest, relaxation, and focus. It can be difficult, however, to enjoy this transition or even consider taking up a hobby when you are suffering from severe perimenopausal symptoms. Hormone fluctuations can make this a miserable time for some women, and can even lead to more serious health concerns. Biomedicine explains these changes as shifts in the body’s hormone balance – specifically the drop in estrogen. Treatment often involves the use of hormone therapy to change the way the hormones are produced and balanced. Chinese herbal medicine understands the link between hormones and body temperature. The goal is to correct the underlying issue of why the hormones have become imbalanced. Around menopause, we no longer need the same balance of sex hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. For some of us, however, these imbalances shift dramatically and fluctuate wildly as the body tries to adjust. This causes a slew of menopausal issues, including hot flashes and night sweats. The typical cause of this is a pattern of imbalance called yin deficiency. This is where the cooling and nutritive resource (yin) falls below the necessary level for vibrant health. Mild yin deficiency can be seen in issues like dry skin or thin frame. In the case of menopausal hot flashes and night sweats, the body doesn’t have enough cooling yin to balance the normal heat of the body. This results in a build up and quick release of heat (flushes or sweats) to keep the body in homeostasis. Liu Wei Di Huang Wan is an overall nourishing formula. This formula’s strength lies in boosting yin throughout the body. Not only does it alleviate these hot symptoms, but corrects the heart of the issue: yin deficiency. Because of the wide-reaching effects of this formula, it can be used to help with symptoms like low back pain, dryness, thirst, dizziness, and lightheadedness. Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan has been used for centuries to help reduce the intensity and frequency of heat symptoms. The herbs in this formula are particularly suited for women who have signs of intense heat such as red face, high blood pressure, irritability, and severe hot flashes. If you tend to have more severe night sweats you may consider trying Da Bu Yin Wan or taking this in addition to Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan. Yin is responsible for more than just temperature regulation in the body; as a counterpart to active, moving yang, yin is also needed to return the body to a state of stillness and quiet. During menopause, with a drop in restful yin, we may have trouble with falling or staying asleep. Without the balance of yin, restless yang energy can build up and leave us wide awake or with intense dreams. Furthermore, our bodies cannot retreat into a deep, restorative sleep which only worsens the problem. An Shen Bu Xin Wan is a deeply calming formula that helps to relax the heart and support the connection between the heart and kidneys. This formula nourishes and relaxes the mind, eases anxiety and restlessness, and soothes the spirit. It’s common for women to have changes in their moods and emotions before, during, or after menopause. Many women actually experience anxiety symptoms due to the hormonal and physical changes in their body. Anxiety and depression are often caused by a deficiency in blood, qi, and yin. Without a good balance of these substances in the body, organs and systems cannot be properly nourished and emotional imbalance occurs. To help restore the body and mind back to its healthy state, we need to boost and nourish from the root. These two conditions are usually due to a deficiency state. As yin becomes depleted, the calming and relaxing effect it has starts to diminish as well. This leaves us with a sense of fear, worry, or emptiness. The classic menopause formula, Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan, is a great choice for those who experience anxiety and/or depression during menopause. It is a great overall formula to help with the discomforts of menopause (like hot flashes and insomnia), but because it nourishes and calms, it also helps to ease the mind and heart. You can pair this formulas with Fu Fang Wu Wei Zi if you specifically have trouble with anxiety causing sleeplessness at night. Alternatively, use this formula if you feel your menopausal symptoms are mostly mental, and lack any signs of heat like hot flashes or night sweats. One of the most popular and effective formulas for tension and irritability is the Free and Easy Wanderer Pill, Xiao Yao Wan. When dealing with an elevated level of heat in the body, as with menopausal irritability and mood swings, the enhanced Jia Wei Xiao Yao Wan is the best choice. This formula helps to smooth out the emotions, while clearing excess heat and nourishing yin to help restore mental calm. Dryness is an uncomfortable symptom of menopause and can show up in different ways during perimenopause. For some women, vaginal dryness is the biggest and most troublesome sign as it can greatly interfere with daily comfort and a healthy sex life. Other women notice stark changes in the quality of their skin, hair, and nails. Others may notice a constant dry throat, nose, mouth, or intense thirst. The best Chinese herbal formula for dryness associated with menopause is Gu Ben Wan. Gu Ben means “nourish the root”. It is a deep yin nourishing formula that cools, supplements, and enriches the nutritive resources and fluids in the body. This helps to disperse fluids throughout the body to moisten and protect areas like the vagina, mouth, eyes, and skin. It has the added benefit of also helping with hot flashes, irritability, anxiety, and insomnia when due to a lack of yin. Not everyone experiences “typical” symptoms in menopause. Some women may experience an overwhelming sense of fatigue, soreness, coldness, frequent urination or incontinence, or dizziness. In this case, yang has fallen out of balance rather than yin. We need to support the qi and yang in these cases and this is best done with You Gui Wan, AKA Yanourish. This formula helps to boost and support the active, warming energy of the woman to bring her back to life. Change is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be uncomfortable. The best way to navigate the journey through menopause is to seek balance and relief in any natural way possible. Chinese herbal medicine has helped women revive themselves through this transition for millennia, without the use of hormone therapy or drugs.