Have you been experiencing uncomfortable hot flashes or other pesky symptoms related to menopause? We have some great news for you.  The Journal of Menopause has recently published a study showing that acupuncture can significantly improve these symptoms, resulting in a better quality of life. In fact, acupuncture can help reduce these symptoms by up to 36.7% and the benefits can last 6 months beyond the end of treatment course!

The study showed that acupuncture significantly reduced vasomotor symptoms. It improved the quality of life of women by reducing hot flash interference, sleep quality, physical symptoms, memory symptoms, and anxiety.

Researchers from Wake Forest School of Medicine and Duke University School of Medicine conducted a year-long study of 209 women aged 45-60 who had at least four vasomotor symptoms per day and had not had a menstrual period for at least three months. The study found that acupuncture improved several quality-of-life measures, such as hot flash interference, sleep quality, physical symptoms, memory symptoms, and anxiety. And the benefits of acupuncture persisted for at least six months beyond the end of treatment!

The study also found that participants began to see significant benefits after just three acupuncture treatments and maximum clinical benefits after a mean of eight treatments. The acupuncture care was given by licensed, experienced acupuncturists in a “real world” clinical setting and included traditional Chinese medicine diagnoses, a history, a physical examination, and an individualized treatment plan.

While the authors offer some cautions when interpreting these results, they ultimately conclude that their results support a significant and persistent benefit of acupuncture on menopausal vasomotor symptoms. So, ladies, if you’re experiencing symptoms related to menopause, it may be worth giving acupuncture a try!