By Dr. Yoon Jeon. MChiro, MB, BSc, Dip.TCM, PGCert.
Case Presentation
A 52-year-old manager presented with persistent menopausal symptoms significantly impacting her daily functioning and work performance.
The patient reported:
-
Frequent hot flushes
-
Night sweats
-
Insomnia (difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep)
-
Cognitive symptoms described as “brain fog”
-
Fatigue and reduced concentration
She had been receiving hormone replacement therapy (HRT); however, symptom control remained suboptimal, and she continued to experience significant discomfort.
Due to the ongoing nature of her symptoms, the patient sought an integrative approach for menopause management in Southampton.
Clinical Assessment
From a biomedical perspective, the presentation was consistent with menopausal vasomotor symptoms and associated neurocognitive and sleep disturbances.
Within a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) framework, the pattern was interpreted as:
-
Kidney Yin deficiency
-
Heart–Kidney disharmony
-
Secondary Liver imbalance contributing to heat symptoms and emotional disturbance
This pattern is commonly associated with vasomotor instability, sleep disturbance, and cognitive symptoms in menopausal patients.
Treatment Approach
A structured, individualised treatment plan was implemented combining acupuncture and herbal medicine.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture treatment was aimed at:
-
Regulating autonomic nervous system activity
-
Reducing vasomotor instability (hot flushes and night sweats)
-
Improving sleep quality
-
Supporting emotional and cognitive regulation
Emerging evidence suggests acupuncture may influence thermoregulation and modulate neuroendocrine function involved in menopausal symptoms.
Herbal Medicine
A personalised herbal prescription was provided, tailored to the patient’s presentation and adjusted throughout the treatment course.
The treatment aimed to:
-
Nourish Yin and reduce internal heat
-
Support hormonal balance
-
Improve sleep and cognitive clarity
-
Enhance overall resilience
Clinical Outcome
Following a course of treatment over 6 weeks:
-
Significant reduction in frequency and intensity of hot flushes
-
Night sweats largely resolved
-
Marked improvement in sleep quality
-
Reduction in cognitive symptoms (“brain fog”)
-
Improved energy levels and work performance
By the end of the treatment period, the patient was nearly symptom-free and reported a substantial improvement in quality of life.
Discussion
Menopausal symptoms, particularly vasomotor symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats, are associated with dysregulation of hypothalamic thermoregulatory centres and fluctuations in oestrogen levels.
Although HRT remains an effective treatment for many patients, some individuals experience suboptimal response or prefer alternative approaches.
Acupuncture has been investigated as a non-pharmacological treatment option for menopausal symptoms. Randomised controlled trials have demonstrated that acupuncture may reduce the frequency and severity of hot flushes and improve sleep quality.
For example, a study by Hugh S MacPherson et al. (2016) found that acupuncture significantly reduced menopausal vasomotor symptoms compared to usual care.
Similarly, Caroline A Smith et al. (2018) reported improvements in hot flush frequency and quality of life in women receiving acupuncture treatment.
Herbal medicine has also been widely used in menopausal care, with some evidence suggesting benefits in symptom reduction, particularly when individualised according to patient presentation.
Conclusion
This case demonstrates that an integrative approach using acupuncture and personalised herbal medicine may provide effective symptom relief in menopausal patients, including those with suboptimal response to HRT.
Such approaches may be considered as part of a comprehensive management strategy for menopause, particularly in cases where symptoms are persistent or significantly impact quality of life.
References
-
Hugh S MacPherson et al. (2016). Acupuncture for menopausal hot flushes: a randomised controlled trial.
-
Caroline A Smith et al. (2018). Acupuncture for menopausal symptoms: systematic review and meta-analysis.
-
North American Menopause Society (2023). Nonhormonal management of menopause-associated vasomotor symptoms.
-
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NG23). Menopause: diagnosis and management.
