Acupuncture for menopause symptoms in Gothenburg
Acupuncture is often used for hot flushes, night sweats and poor sleep during the menopause, and some studies suggest it can make hot flushes less troublesome. It suits women who take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as well as those who do not. At Dr. Tian Akupunktur in Eriksberg, Gothenburg, the menopause is treated as a natural transition in which the body can be supported.
The TCM view
How TCM understands the menopause
Traditional Chinese medicine describes the menopause as a time when Kidney yin gradually declines. Yin stands for the cooling, moistening side of the body. As it declines, heat takes over, which produces the picture many women recognise: hot flushes, night sweats, dryness and restlessness.
Other women feel more chilly, tired and heavy, which is seen as weak yang. Telling these patterns apart matters, because they are treated with different points.
The treatment
How treatment works
At the health consultation you describe how often the hot flushes come, how you sleep, what your mood is like and how long the symptoms have lasted. Dr. Tian also examines your pulse and tongue.
Acupuncture is often combined with ear acupuncture for sleep, along with advice on food, temperature and rest. If you take HRT, you continue as prescribed and acupuncture is added alongside.
Experience and research
Dr. Tian’s experience and what the research says
Dr. Tian has treated women through the menopause for more than 40 years. She has a background in gynaecology from university hospitals in China and has held a PhD from the Sahlgrenska Academy since 2008.
Acupuncture for hot flushes has been examined in several studies, and some suggest it can reduce how often they occur and how troublesome they feel. The effect varies between individuals.
Expectations
What to expect
A typical plan is one or two sessions a week for an initial course, then maintenance about once a month. In Dr. Tian’s experience, many women notice better sleep first and fewer hot flushes a little later.
The menopause is a transition, and the aim is to make it easier to live with. Nobody can tell in advance how you will respond, so you review progress together after a few weeks.
Treatments often used
Every new patient starts with a health consultation or a first visit that includes acupuncture. Dr. Tian then suggests the treatments that suit you.
Health consultation
30 minPulse and tongue diagnosis, and a treatment plan made for you.
SEK 550
BookHealth consultationAcupuncture, first visit
60 minA 30-minute health consultation followed by 30 minutes of acupuncture.
SEK 1,400
BookAcupuncture, first visitAcupuncture, follow-up
50 minSterile single-use needles placed at points chosen for your TCM diagnosis.
SEK 1,050
BookAcupuncture, follow-upEar acupuncture
45 minTiny needles or seeds on points in the outer ear.
SEK 800
BookEar acupuncture
On Saturdays a supplement of SEK 180 applies to all treatments.
Frequently asked questions
Can acupuncture replace HRT?
Acupuncture is a complement. Some women choose it when HRT does not suit them, while others combine the two. Decisions about HRT should be made with your prescribing doctor, and you should not stop prescribed treatment on your own.
Does it help with night sweats?
Night sweats are one of the most common reasons women come to the clinic during the menopause. Treatment targets both the heat and the disturbed sleep, and many find their nights become calmer after a few weeks.
Can acupuncture help with vaginal dryness?
Dryness belongs to the same picture of reduced moisture in the body and is often treated at the same time as hot flushes. It tends to change more slowly and usually needs treatment over a longer period.
Conditions that often go together
- Sleep problemsTrouble falling asleep, waking in the night or waking too early: three different patterns in TCM.
- EndometriosisPain relief alongside your regular care for endometriosis and severe period pain, often timed to your cycle.
- Dry eyesGritty, light-sensitive eyes that drops do not settle, common with screen work and around the menopause.
Come in for a personal health consultation
Book 30 minutes with Dr. Tian. She listens to your concerns and examines your pulse and tongue. Together you agree on a plan: your first step towards better health.