Go through Menopause with Holistic Care

We all know that menopause is a stage that all women go through. Many women are troubled by symptoms such as irritability, hot flashes, night sweats, and joint pain. In the past, Western doctors often prescribe supplemental female hormones, but later research found that it could increase the risk of breast cancer. So, most people are cautious and simply endure these symptoms all by themselves. However, if you know about traditional Chinese medicine, you don't have to suffer such pain.

Let's dive into some common issues and discuss the natural solutions:

Hot flashes and night sweats

Hot flashes occur during the day, and the most distressing part is the severe night sweats, where patients wake up with their clothes soaked in sweat, leading to insomnia. In traditional Chinese medicine, this is often referred to as "Yin deficiency and internal heat." It is usually treated with herbal formulas that nourish Yin and clear heat, along with some herbs that help resolve phlegm and dampness.

Gradual cessation of menstruation or irregular bleeding

In normal circumstances, menstruation gradually ceases, and the cycle becomes 2-3 months then even longer. However, in some cases, there might be excessive bleeding that causes distress. Three common patterns are: the cycle shortens to 2-3 weeks, menstrual flow is scanty and referred to as "leaking," or there is excessive bleeding known as "flooding." These issues can cause blood deficiency, which affects the overall body functions. Traditional Chinese medicine focuses on nourishing the blood, and severe cases are treated for about 3 months, gradually transitioning to maintenance with dietary support. Dong Quai is an herb commonly used to nourish the blood and regulate menstruation, especially when combined with other warming herbs for individuals with cold constitutions. For people who are avert to cold, a classic nourishing and therapeutic recipe is the "Angelica Lamb Soup with Ginger". For most people who do not have a cold constitution, consuming beef is beneficial.

Weight and body fat increase

Many women feel that they easily gain weight after menopause, which is indeed related to estrogen levels. When estrogen levels are high during youth, it promotes the accumulation of subcutaneous fat, which is seen as a symbol of femininity. However, after menopause, women tend to gain weight around the belly and visceral area, which is detrimental to their health. To counter this, a recommended approach is to adopt a modified Mediterranean plus Asian diet to boost metabolism, known as the "Tian Dao diet."

This healthy daily routine is as follows: sleep at 11 PM and wake up at 6 AM, practice 10 minutes of QiGong, have a hearty breakfast at 7 AM, start the day with work load. For lunch (12-1 PM), have a balanced meal of light protein and vegetables, take a 20-minute walk after eating, and avoid napping. Dinner (6-7 PM) should consist of purely vegetarian dishes, including vegetables, soup, and rice. Having at least 4 hours between dinner and sleep allows the digestive system to rest and won't disturb sleep.

A typical breakfast recipe could be grilled steak with broccoli, tomatoes, and zucchini, along with a small bowl of wild rice. For lunch, you can have two boiled eggs, or salmon with veggies. For dinner, you can choose from various vegetables like radish, seaweed, winter melon, pumpkin, celery, lettuce, and bean sprouts, etc.

Acupuncture for weight loss is a common and side-effect-free method that can accelerate metabolism and reduce hunger. One popular procedure in China is abdomen threads under-skin. This method involves daily stimulation, which is more intensive than weekly acupuncture sessions, but it's not yet common in the United States.

Dryness and skin conditions

Pre and post-menopause, women may experience symptoms such as vaginal dryness, dry mouth, dry eyes, and dry skin. These are all signs of "Yin deficiency" according to traditional Chinese medicine. Additionally, hormonal fluctuations can lead to fungal vaginitis, which may improve with antibiotics but often recurs. For long-term health, a combination of Chinese herbal medicine and dietary therapy is recommended. Medications will focus on nourishing Yin and supplementing the liver and kidneys. Women with light symptoms can use food-based remedies, for example, lotus seeds, lily bulb, and Tremella soup, or the classic "Four Graces Soup," consisting of white-colored ingredients like Poria, Chinese yam, lotus seeds, and Euryale seeds (or coix seeds).

For treating skin discoloration due to aging, additional herbs may be used, such as white peony root, Angelica, peach kernel, and safflower.

For women about to approach menopause in their 40s, there are two main methods for anti-aging and skincare: one is Chinese herbal supplements taken in small quantities daily for a few months each year, and the other is acupuncture beauty treatment. Acupuncture can help reduce wrinkles on the face and neck, as well as regulate the flow of Qi and blood throughout the body. The combination of these two approaches can make women look 5-10 years younger compared to their peers.

我们都知道更年期是女性必经的阶段。许多朋友都被心烦盗汗等症状困扰。以前常规西医疗法是补充雌性荷尔蒙，后来研究发现会升高患乳癌风险。所以大多数人也很谨慎，基本上是自然熬过去。如果你了解传统的中医药，就根本不不必承受这样的痛苦了。

下面我们就分这几种常见问题来介绍：

潮热盗汗

潮热是白天时不时出现，痛苦的是盗汗严重的病人晚上睡觉会汗湿几身衣服，也造成了失眠。通常中医称为阴虚内热，常用补阴清热的方剂，外加一些去痰湿的药。

逐渐闭经或崩漏

正常情况是逐渐闭经，周期变成2-3个月，再偶尔来一两次等等。这三种情况会出血过多而造成困扰，一是周期缩短成2-3周，二是月经淋漓不尽称为漏症，第三种是血量过多称为崩。崩漏会造成血虚，对身体整体机能不利。

调血虚是以中药为主，严重期服用3个月，渐渐用食疗维持。当归是一味药食同源的中药材，补血调经功效佳。体寒的人加羊肉，当归羊肉生姜汤是一道经典进补食疗方。大部分人体不寒的吃牛肉就很好。

体重体脂增加

很多女性觉得绝经后太容易长胖了，这确实是跟雌激素有关。年轻的时候雌激素高容易长皮下脂肪变得丰满，是女性美的象征。更年期后却是容易长肚子，长内脏脂肪，是健康的大忌。

我们推荐一种改良的优碳水饮食提升新陈代谢率，称为天道饮食。

最健康的饮食作息我们推荐晚11点入睡，6点起床，做10分钟气功，7点吃丰盛的早餐，开始一天的学习和工作。中午12-1点吃荤素搭配的轻午餐，饭后散步20分钟，不要午睡。晚餐6-7点，吃纯素的蔬菜、汤和米饭，睡前离晚餐有4个小时消化系统就歇下来，不妨碍睡眠。

早餐的典型食谱是烤牛排加西蓝花、西红柿、西葫芦等蔬菜，和一小碗野米。

中午可以是两个白水煮鸡蛋。

晚餐可选蔬菜萝卜、海带、冬瓜、南瓜、芹菜、油麦菜、豆芽等等

针灸减肥是常规无副作用的方法，可以加快新陈代谢，减少饥饿感。其中一种在中国比较普遍的操作是在腹部埋线。埋线加快减肥的原理是每天都有持续刺激，比每周针灸一两次更强，不过在美国尚不常见。

干燥，皮肤长斑

绝经前后出现的阴道干燥，口干，眼干涩，皮肤干燥，都是中医说的阴虚现象。还有激素撤退伴发的霉菌性阴道炎，可能用抗生素会好又复发。为了长期健康，我们推荐中药加食疗。药物是偏滋阴补肝肾的。食物莲子百合银耳汤，比如经典的四神汤，由四位白色的食材组成，茯苓，怀山，莲子和芡实（或薏仁）。

皮肤黄斑需要再加几味药调理，白芍，白芷，桃仁，红花等。

围绝经期，40以后女性提前保养，美颜，延缓衰老的方法，我主要介绍两种，一种是中药补充剂，每天少量，每年吃几个月。一种是针灸美容，主要有脸部颈部除皱纹，和体针调气血经络，两部分相辅相成。会保养的女性通常比同龄人看上去年轻5-10岁。