Menopausal transition (Climacteric)
Female menopause is characterized by a complete and permanent cessation of menstruation, lasting usually 6 – 12 months. It occurs between the ages of 48 and 55, and in our Western society most often around the age of 51. The transition period, in which a woman moves from childbearing age to infertile age and when ovarian function slowly ceases, usually lasts 2-5 years. The most common problem (85%) of the menopause is hot flushes that occur in some women even 5-10 years after the end of the menopause. The main symptoms also include vaginal dryness and night sweats. There may be other problems such as headache, fatigue, emotional numbness, irritability, nervousness, depression, anxiety, insomnia and lack of concentration. From the point of view of Western medicine, the cause of the menopause is a decrease in the production of oestrogen hormones in the ovaries. Western medicine then treats the problem with hormone replacement called HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy), i.e. by supplying the depleting hormones. However, from a Chinese medicine perspective, this is merely “tricking” the hypothalamus (the part of the brain that, along with the hypothalamus, controls the body’s hormone production) into thinking that the ovaries are still working. This subsequently leads to stimulation of the hypophysis cerebri (pituitary gland of the brain) and suppression of the production of follicle-stimulating hormone. In contrast to the previous chemical therapy, Chinese medicine minimises the transitional problems by mild and gentle nutrition of the diminishing kidney essence SHEN JING, mainly by using herbal products, as acupuncture is not the most effective method in this case.
Climacteric made in TCM
In order to understand and properly treat menopausal problems according to Chinese medicine, it is first necessary to know and understand some Chinese terms. Among those basic paradigms are the teachings on YIN and YANG philosophy.
YANG can be thought of as a kind of physiological fire that heats the body to operating temperature. Lack of yang (most often kidney yang deficiency SHEN YANG XU) is typically manifested by chills, cold extremities, cold hips, weakness in the knees (buckling of the knees), low libido, quick exhaustion, fatigue, excessive urination of light urine, seeking warm drinks, possibly softer stools, swelling of the extremities, and depression.
YIN can be thought of as a kind of physiological water that also controls the YANG fire so that it does not overheat (like the water in an engine radiator). Lack of yin (again, most often kidney yin deficiency SHEN YIN XU) is typically manifested by heat sensations, hot flushes, hot palms, soles and chest, insomnia, night waking, tinnitus, dizziness, headaches, feeling thirsty on small amounts of lukewarm liquid, dryness of the throat and mouth – especially at night, pain in the hips and heels, emaciation, hair loss and greying, periodontal disease, poor memory, feeling of inner restlessness and tension, nervousness, irritability, vaginal dryness.
According to Chinese medicine, it is always a physiological process of diminishing kidney essence SHEN JING – only in the case of early menopause, it is of course a pathological condition – premature diminishing of the kidney essence SHEN JING. Thus, either the kidney yin SHEN YIN or the kidney yang SHEN YANG decreases, but most often both at the same time, with one of them always predominating. However, it is never exactly 50/50, which is why the symptoms are varied, as are the treatments.
Herbal treatment
- Insufficiency of the kidney yin and yang SHEN YIN/YANG XU with predominance of insufficiency of the kidney yin SHEN YIN XU
| Symptoms: | Dizziness, tinnitus, memory loss, deafness, night sweats, dry mouth and throat at night, hip pain, bone pain, fatigue, depression, mild anxiety, cold feet, excessive urination of light urine |
| Tongue: | Normally coloured with a coating or with a peeling coating, possibly It can also be red |
| Pulse: | Floating FU and empty XU or weak CHI on yin and yang kidney position |
| Herbal Therapy: | Freshness of the Evening Pagoda (code 185) – evening 8-12 tbl + Secrets of Golden Case (code 171) – morning 4-8 tbl |
- Insufficiency of kidney yin and yang SHEN-YIN/YANG XU with predominance of insufficiency of kidney qi energy SHEN QI-XU
| Symptoms: | Hip pain, cold hips, cold knees, chills with occasional hot face, hot flushes, night sweats, weakness of the limbs, buckling of the knees, low libido, fatigue, excessive urination of light urine or small amounts of light urine, night urination, pale face, possibly Swelling of the limbs, soft stools, depression |
| Tongue: | pale |
| Pulse: | Deep CHEN and weak CHI |
| Herbal Therapy: | Midnight Delight (code 172) 8-12 tbl in the morning + Unwinding the Tangled Ball (code 068) – 4-8 tbl at night |
- Nourish the kidney and liver yin SHEN/GAN YIN XU and reduce the rising liver yang GAN YANG SHI.
| Symptoms: | Irritability, headaches, tinnitus, blurred vision, dry eyes, dry skin, hot flushes, joint pain, night sweats, hip pain |
| Tongue: | Red without coating with event. Reddened edges |
| Pulse: | Floating FU and empty XU, stretched XIAN at liver position |
| Herbal Therapy: | Loosening of Strained Bowstring (code 112) – 3 x 2-4 tbl daily + Fresh Evening Pagoda (code 185) – 3 x 2-4 tbl daily |
- Yin Kidney and Heart Insufficiency SHEN/XIN YIN XU with empty heat in Heart XIN RE XU
| Symptoms: | Hot flushes, heart palpitations, insomnia, night sweats, flushed sweats, dizziness, tinnitus, anxiety, mental restlessness, hip pain, flushed cheeks, hot flushes in the evening, dry mouth and throat, worsening memory, dry stools |
| Tongue: | Red without coating and with red tip |
| Pulse: | Dry SHUO and fine XI or superficial FU and empty XU or weak CHI and deep CHEN on both kidney positions and full SHI on heart and lung position |
| Herbal Therapy: | Elixir of Heavenly Emperor (code 121) – 3 x 4-8 tbl daily, always higher dose in the evening |
Meals during the menopause
Recommended diet to strengthen the deficient yin SHEN YIN XU seaweed (seaweed), mussels, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, cherries, soya, all seeds (especially black sesame – just half a teaspoon a day in a little water and chew carefully) and nuts, dates, liquorice, honey (royal jelly), eggs (especially the yolk), sweet potatoes, cassava (Beverage of Heavenly Grace (code 888)), etc.
Recommended diet to strengthen the deficient yang SHEN YANG XU are suitable for example. adzuki beans, cloves, cinnamon, aniseed, fennel, fenugreek, dill, star anise, ginger (dried), nutmeg, trout, oats, salmon, crawfish, shrimp, cuttlefish, oxtail (soup), hazelnuts, walnuts and pistachios, chestnuts, mutton, all game, kidney, truffles, etc.
Recommended diet to reduce excessive yang GAN YANG SHI are suitable for example. zucchini, squash, eggplant, celery, chickpeas, chickpeas, lentils, green peas, tofu (soy cheese), soybeans, asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli, Chinese cabbage, cabbage, lettuce, spinach, oyster mushrooms, cod, pike, pikeperch, lemon balm, chives, watercress, forage crops (corn, natural rice, amaranth, Job’s tears White Pearl from East (code 910)), etc.
It is not recommended during the menopause to drink alcohol (on the contrary, unpasteurised and unfiltered beer is suitable) and black coffee (can be substituted with Beverage Five Stars (code 850)). Smoking tobacco (let alone light drugs) also worsens menopausal problems.
The herbal treatment can be taken for a minimum of 6 – 9 months until symptoms improve. It also always recommended to take Beverage of Heavenly Grace (code 888) which naturally and in a balanced way replenishes the diminishing essence of the kidneys, both yin and qi energy SHEN YIN/QI XU.