Auntie Li is 55 years old this year, and she has always been in good health and has made her life vibrant. But lately, her life seems to have been disrupted by an invisible wave of fluctuations. At night, she often suddenly woke up from her sleep, feeling sweaty and flustered. During the day, she often felt irritable and mood-swinging, which made her family feel helpless. Aunt Li began to realize that these could be the changes brought about by menopause. She knew that this was a natural process that every woman could go through, but she was at a loss when it came to actually feeling the symptoms.
At a family gathering, Auntie Lee brought up her troubles to her friends and was surprised to find that almost every friend of the same age had a similar experience to some degree. This made her realize that menopause is not just a personal problem, but a common topic for many middle-aged and older women. Aunt Li decided to learn more about menopausal syndrome and find the right way to deal with the challenges of this stage of life.
How does modern medicine look at menopausal syndrome?
Medical analysis of menopausal syndrome
Menopausal syndrome, medically defined as a series of symptoms that occur in women before and after menopause, is caused by a gradual decline in ovarian function and changes in the levels of estrogen, the main sex hormone in the body. The main symptoms include hot flashes, night sweating, mood swings, sleep disturbances, decreased sexual function, etc. These symptoms can have a significant impact on a woman's quality of life.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and its considerations
To alleviate menopausal symptoms, many doctors recommend hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This treatment aims to restore the balance of hormone levels by supplementing with estrogen and progesterone, thereby reducing menopausal symptoms. Although HRT has been shown to be effective in relieving hot flashes, preventing osteoporosis, etc., it also carries certain risks. For example, studies have shown that long-term use of HRT may increase the risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Non-hormonal therapies in modern medicine
In addition to HRT, modern medicine has developed a number of non-hormonal treatment strategies to deal with menopausal symptoms. For example, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) can help relieve hot flashes without increasing the risk of breast cancer. In addition, antidepressants, anti-epileptic drugs, and blood pressure medications, among others, have been used to treat specific menopausal symptoms, such as mood swings and sleep disorders.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspective: The Constitutional Understanding and Conditioning Path of Menopausal Syndrome
Menopause is a natural stage in a woman's life course, and traditional Chinese medicine believes that the balance of yin and yang in the body changes during this period, which is mainly manifested by the deficiency of yin in the liver and kidney, and the natural loss of essence and qi. This section will explain in detail how TCM understands menopausal syndrome and provide specific treatment methods.
Diagnosis and understanding of menopause in traditional Chinese medicine
In TCM theory, menopausal syndrome is mainly attributed to yin deficiency in the liver and kidneys, resulting in an imbalance of yin and yang. The liver is the organ that stores blood and the kidney is the organ that stores essence, and the loss of function of the two directly affects the body's yin fluid and yang energy, which in turn causes a series of physiological and psychological changes. Specific symptoms include, but are not limited to, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and sleep disturbances.
Detailed explanation of TCM conditioning methods
1. Traditional Chinese medicine therapy
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment is one of the main methods of TCM treatment for menopausal syndrome. The following are some of the specific applications of commonly used Chinese medicines:
Angelica: It has the function of nourishing blood and regulating menstruation and nourishing blood, and has a significant effect on alleviating hot flashes caused by liver and kidney yin deficiency.
Black sesame: It can nourish the liver and kidneys, strengthen the muscles and bones, and is used to treat symptoms such as dizziness, tinnitus, waist and knee soreness.
Goji berry: It has the effect of nourishing the liver and kidney, improving eyesight, and strengthening the body, and is suitable for patients with liver and kidney yin deficiency.
2. Diet
Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the "homology of medicine and food", and the following dietary therapy programs are particularly beneficial for menopausal women:
Black bean soup: Black beans are flat and sweet, can nourish the kidneys and nourish yin, and fight against symptoms caused by kidney deficiency such as hair loss and osteoporosis.
Stewed chicken with walnuts and wolfberries: Walnuts and wolfberries can nourish the liver and kidneys, while stewed chicken provides sufficient protein for the body and strengthens physical strength.
3. Lifestyle adjustments
In addition to medications and diet, lifestyle modifications are essential:
Moderate exercise: Light exercise such as tai chi and yoga can regulate endocrine and enhance musculoskeletal elasticity and strength.
Regular work and rest: Ensure adequate sleep and reduce staying up late, which helps to stabilize the endocrine system.
Through the above theoretical and practical methods of TCM, menopausal women can effectively regulate their physical and psychological states and alleviate various discomforts during menopause. These treatments not only help to balance yin and yang in the body, but also enhance the body's ability to heal itself so that it can gracefully navigate this natural and complex physiological process.
The selection and application of these methods are based on the combination of traditional theories and modern practices of traditional Chinese medicine, which reflects the practical value and cultural depth of traditional Chinese medicine in modern health management.