Second spring:
The menopause in Chinese Medicine

 

In the West, women unconsciously learn that there is something inherently wrong with us. Hormones are supposed to turn us into nasty beings at least once a month during our reproductive years, and with even more venom at puberty and during the menopause. We are accused of being “hormonal” every time we get to show our anger and frustration.

 

In Chinese Medicine, the workings of the female body are believed to be much more intricate than those of the male body. This is partly because of the complex waxing and waning of hormones throughout the cycle; and the major changes that happen in the female body at different stages of life. This is even before we begin to talk about changes during and after pregnancy! Nevertheless, the concept of female hormones as sources of “evil”, and creators of illness and syndromes does not exist. In fact, the years approaching and during the menopause, probably the most difficult part of most Western women’s lives, are known in Chinese medicine as “the second spring”. During this time, there is a natural decline in certain energies of the body that may cause symptoms but which doesn't necessarily produce much discomfort to most Eastern women. It is about a new start, after we have accomplished our physical and most of our emotional growing and we are ready to invest in our spiritual growth. This is not to mean that our bodies can be forgotten, this is a time where physical enjoyment can also be pursued. With the stresses involved around the possibility of pregnancies out of the way, women can experience a true “sexual liberation”. So how can it be that we get such a bad deal when menopause is concerned?

 

The answer to this is complex:

First of all, our pre-conceptions about aging, hormones and the menopause itself make us have negative expectations, to which we subconsciously may succumb when the time comes. In traditional societies, the elderly are respected and seen as the pillars of the community and the carriers of wisdom and truth. In the West instead, the idea of aging causes fear and rejection as, in our eyes, youth is of more value and is therefore more desirable. This idea has resulted in an expectation of youthfulness even into our mature years. This puts immense pressure on women much more than on men. Men after all don’t seem to have a "clock ticking away" as we do. We do not feel as allowed as men to proudly wear signs of aging such as wrinkles and greying hair. This is one of the reasons why the menopause has a connotation of decline, of the end of youth and attractiveness. This cultural conception often results in depression, anxiety, lack of confidence and a host of other problems.

 

Other, more tangible factors that have an impact on us at the time of menopause are stress, long-term contraceptive pill intake, other health issues, and of course our diet and lifestyle. Most of us have experienced how easily affected our periods are at times of stress, illness or exhaustion. Little wonder then that the pressures of modern life and the stresses of busy work and family lives will have an impact on the big hormonal shift that is the menopause. This does not mean that we cannot correct our ways and enjoy the benefits of a healthier life-style at any point of our life.

 

Chinese Medicine understands that during the menopausal years, the energies involved in creating the menstrual cycle are in decline. Thus, the reproductive energy of the Kidneys, where the energies of Yin (the cool, moist, nourishing aspect) and the Yang (the warm, dry, active aspect) originate, is naturally diminished. The usual lack of balance between activity and rest – we work too hard, play too hard and spend hardly any time recovering our strength until we are so exhausted we can’t even sleep- particularly harms the Yin energy creating an effect of excessive heat and over-activity of the Yang aspect even if it has also been damaged. This is the basic root of symptoms that are typically seen during the menopause: symptoms of heat (yang) especially in the afternoon and night, the times when the yin is supposed to be strongest, night sweats, excessive emotions, dryness, etc. Individual factors like long-standing stress or other health issues will affect the symptom picture differently depending on the case, but an experienced Chinese Medicine practitioner should be able to get an accurate diagnosis and offer the appropriate treatment.

 

Acupuncture provides space for Yin recovery as it induces a restful state where Yin can replenish. Points can be selected to tonify the organs that are suffering from exhaustion while the excessive heat is cleared. There are also specific points that can calm the emotions (the Heart in Chinese Medicine), induce restful sleep and alleviate excessive sweating. Several Chinese herbal formulae can be used during the menopause. They can produce noticeable effects, sometimes amazingly quickly. Many of my patients have found relief with only herbs after having only one or two courses of acupuncture.

 

So there is help at hand for our menopausal symptoms. However, we should re-consider our whole definition of the menopause and perhaps make an effort to let go of our fear of aging. I know it is scary and we want to carry on looking and feeling young and beautiful. We can still be beautiful, but it is a whole different beautiful from the youthful fresh beauty that not even plastic surgery can bring back. With a little work, we could finally see beauty in our grey hairs and in our lines and then something exciting might happen: we may find ourselves living our second spring!

 

Happy Women’s day beautiful women of the world!

M.E/CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME


Myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.) , also known as Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and Post-viral fatigue, is a condition characterised by fatigue made worse by exercise, which  is accompanied by a range of symptoms that may be severe and disabling. There are many different working definitions of CFS. According to studies (1) definitions such as the Oxford criteria used in the UK, that regard prolonged fatigue as the most important symptom for diagnosis, create confusion between CFS and other types of fatigue. Attempts have been made to find a single neurological, immunological, endocrinological, and genetic cause, but research has so far failed to explain the the cause of M.E. (2). Nevertheless, 60-80% of cases are triggered by infection, and viral infections have been suspected to be the cause for many years while more recently gut infections, including candidiasis have been regarded as possible triggers (3). 

 

There are around 250,000 CFS sufferers in the UK, including men and women of all ages and from all social and ethnic groups. Treatment aims to manage symptoms and, although studies have shown that none of the current interventions has shown consistent effectiveness (4). 

 

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the diagnosis of CFS may involve Residual pathogenic factor, Latent heat, Lesser yang pattern, and Yin fire (5). Damp pathogens are also regarded as a significant primary cause of the disease (6), while it is thought that all CFS sufferers have underlying deficiency.

References to “Chronic fatigue syndromes” found in classical TCM texts do not reflect the current condition that presents neurological, immunological and endocrinological dysfunction; and which may be influenced by pollution, vaccinations, and other modern-day practices. This is were the experience and keen eye of your practitioner plays a crucial role. Because M.E. is a condition that presents differently from one individual to the next, you have to re-learn it every time you treat it. Of course after treating several sufferers you become more aware of certain aspects of the condition, but still there is no saying how an individual will react to treatment until you get to know them well. In my experience, M.E. needs to be treated with a combination of clearing the pathogenic factors (you may call it a virus or a bug, in TCM it would be Heat, Damp and so on); while strengthening the vital energy and the immune system. This has to be done very carefully because if you clear too harshly the patient will become even more exhausted, while too much strengthening may result in the reinforcement of the pathogen and worsening of flu-like symptoms. The most important thing in the treatment of M.E. though, is to listen to the patient. Each M.E. sufferer is an expert in his/her own condition and they can hold the key to successful treatment.

 

 

References:
1- Carruthers et al., 2003
2- Baker&Shaw, 2007
3- Lakhan & Kirchegessner, 2010
4- Whiting et al., 2001
5- Maciocia, 2008
6- Jiang & Franks, 1994

Welcome to my blog!
I seem to be updating my communication skills this year so why not begin with brand new blog!
2011 may not be looking very bright yet but with some positive thinking we will make the most of it. Last year I started an MSc in Chinese Medicine which was suddenly curtailed when the college went into administration at the end of October. I lost the money for the yearly fees but somehow managed to keep thinking positively, maybe there was a reason for it? I haven't found that reason yet but thankfully- and thanks to the efforts of my supervisor-the University of East London has now accepted me so that I can finish my course! This came as more of a surprise that you can imagine. Now I'm back working on it and looking forward to doing research using Chinese herbal remedies for M.E.
I hope everyone else can have some good news and positive energy this year.