Acupuncture an alternative therapy for menopause
October 24th, 2008 by Jennifer Walker-Journey
Menopause hit Terri Myerson like a high-temperature hurricane breeze, jolting her awake with at night with dripping sweats. For relief, she turned to a most unexpected treatment – acupuncture.
Those who practice acupuncture say that the therapy can remedy a host of women’s health issues, particularly fertility, pregnancy support and menopause. While the holistic healthcare discovered in Asia more than 3,500 years ago is gaining popularity in the Western world, getting the world out has been challenging. In an effort to raise awareness, the National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine has deemed today and every October 24th National Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Day.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, an outreach of the National Institutes of Health, one-third of adults in the United States uses some form of alternative medicine, according to the Ventura County (California) Star. The most common practices are acupuncture, acupressure, herbal medicine, tai chi and gi gong.
For Myerson, acupuncture was a godsend. After a few visits of targeted pin pushing, she felt like a new woman. And her night sweats stopped. But hard evidence that the practice actually does work is still inconclusive. The American Medical Association says there is little evidence for it to confirm the safety or efficacy of most alternative therapies. But some doctors and patients claim, if acupuncture helps relieve chronic symptoms, like uncomfortable and disruptive night sweats from menopause, then it is worth consideration.