Acupuncture reduces menopause symptoms

Here comes good news for women fighting the symptoms of menopause! While menopause is inevitable, it is now possible to tone down its symptoms by almost 36 percent.

According to a study at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, acupuncture can reduce the number of hot flashes and night sweats, the most prominent symptoms of menopause.

"Although acupuncture does not work for every woman, our study showed that, on average, acupuncture effectively reduced the frequency of hot flashes and results were maintained for six months after the treatments stopped," said Nancy Avis, the lead author of the study.

The study included 209 women in the age group of 45 to 60 who had not had a menstrual period for at least three months and had on an average at least four hot flashes or night sweats per day in the previous two weeks.

The participants received a baseline assessment and were then randomized to one of the two groups.

The first group received acupuncture treatments during the first six months. They were then followed without receiving acupuncture for the second six months. The second group did not receive any acupuncture during the first six months, but did receive acupuncture for the second six months.

The participants were allowed up to 20 treatments within six months provided by experienced acupuncturists. All participants kept a daily diary on the frequency and severity of their hot flashes. They also answered questionnaires about other symptoms every two months.

After six months, the first group reported an average 36.7 percent decline in frequency of hot flashes compared to baseline measurements. After a year, the benefits persisted, with the group members maintaining an average 29.4 percent reduction from baseline.

The second group reported a six percent increase in symptom frequency during the six months when they were not getting acupuncture, but an average 31 percent reduction in frequency after receiving acupuncture during the latter part of the trial.

"There are a number of non-hormonal options for treating hot flashes and night sweats that are available to women," Avis said.

"None of these options seem to work for everyone, but our study showed that acupuncture can help women without any side effects. Our study also showed that the maximum benefit occurred after about eight treatments," she added.

This study has been published in journal Menopause.