Address:

8218 Wisconsin Ave.
Suite 318
Bethesda, MD 20814

Hours:

Mon–Wed 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Thurs-Fri 9:00 am – 9:00 pm

Sat 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Contact Us:

Tel. 301-347-0146

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“In the seasons of one's life, if the ending of the menstrual cycle means the winter of a woman's ability to bear children, then what comes after menopause is the second spring - the season of rebirth when she is empowered to live the way she dreamt.

There are infinite possibilities for creativity and personal growth. This can be both an exciting and challenging time in a woman's life.”

--Dr. Maoshing Ni, Licensed Acupuncturist

Menopause is defined as the time when menstruation has ceased. Most women stop menstruating between the ages of 48 to 52, but uncomfortable symptoms of peri-menopause or pre-menopause can begin as early as 40 and last until 55 years of age. This means that if a woman lives into her 80's, she may spend a third of her life in menopause!

During menopause, there is a change in the balance of hormones (especially estrogen) which may result in any of the following symptoms:

• Hot flashes

• Depression, irritability, mood swings

• Irregular, heavy, or light menses

• Disturbed sleep patterns

• Night sweats

• Decreased sexual desire

• Vaginal dryness

• Nausea

Because Western Medicine essentially defines menopausal problems as a lack of estrogen production, the main Western therapy prescribed for menopausal women is estrogen replacement therapy (ERT).  While ERT can diminish or eliminate many of the troublesome symptoms of menopause, many women have become wary of the potential side effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), including the increased risk of certain cancers. For women concerned about the side effects of HRT, Chinese medicine can provide an effective therapy without side-effects. 

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) emphasizes that menopause is not a disease or disorder, rather a part of the natural progress of life. Menopause is considered important as a homeostatic mechanism which slows down the aging process in women. While itself a sign of aging, menopause actually slows down the aging process by preventing the unnecessary loss of blood and essence (or jing, the material basis for the physical body).

For Chinese women, hot flashes and night sweats are uncommon experiences and very few are prescribed hormone replacement therapy by their doctors. In fact, only 10% of Asian women experience noticeable menopausal symptoms, compared with 75% of the women in the United States. From a TCM perspective it is a combination of diet, lifestyle, acupuncture, and Chinese herbal medicine that is the determining factor in maintaining the health of Asian women through menopause.

Menopause is an opportunity to experience life from a new perspective, fostering a renewed sense of self, with an emphasis on prevention and maintaining quality of life. Acupuncture and TCM offer the opportunity to bring the body and mind back into balance naturally and holistically, eliminating or minimizing the need for conventional hormone replacement therapy.