Menopause, Acupuncture and The Second Spring.

Our acupuncturist Lisa has a passion for supporting her patients through perimenopause and beyond. We asked her to tell us why working alongside women in this way is important to her and why her patients report such good outcomes.

" When thinking about writing a piece on peri-menopause and menopause, I had to ask myself: what is it that draws me to this time of life for women? So often, framing a question is the very thing that brings about clarity. My first response was that I feel women in these life phases are often fascinating. They have lived enough life to better know who they are, what they are interested in and, perhaps, have become more fully themselves. They often have more compassion, greater perspective and a wider, more sophisticated view of the world. I am also very aware that we live in a world that can be remarkably dismissive of women as they move beyond youth. I think it is time we addressed this for what it is: a mistake.

During the early stages of my acupuncture training, I was delighted to learn that, in Chinese medicine, menopause is often described as the ‘Second Spring.’ I find this a hugely positive and hopeful way of looking at it. Rather than seeing menopause simply as something to be endured or as the end of a particular phase of life, we can see it as a new beginning: a time of shedding, letting go of what no longer serves us and having the opportunity to explore who we are now and what we want from life.

Of course, none of this is to pretend that peri-menopause and menopause are a walk in the park. Hormonal changes can bring a whole host of symptoms - brain fog, fatigue, low mood, anxiety, disrupted sleep, night sweats, hot flushes and changes in the menstrual cycle, to name just a few. For some women, the impact can be profound, affecting work, relationships, confidence and how it feels to move through everyday life. These experiences deserve to be taken seriously. Women should not have to simply put up with feeling unlike themselves.

At the same time, I think there is something incredibly positive in recognising that this is a transition, rather than some sort of failure or decline. Symptoms can change and settle, and there are many ways in which women can be supported through this stage. As always with acupuncture, my aim is to work with the individual in front of me, looking at the whole person rather than simply a list of symptoms and supporting the body towards greater balance and wellbeing. For me, this is not about trying to turn back the clock. It is about helping women feel more comfortable, more grounded and more at home in themselves as they enter this new chapter. Perhaps that is what I find so compelling about the idea of the Second Spring: not becoming who we were, but discovering who we are becoming. "

Acupuncture is always a popular choice for women who are looking for additional support throughout the menopause years for both physical and mental changes that occur. It's safe, effective and you can increase or decrease your appointment frequency as needed. You can safely have acupuncture alongside HRT without feeling you have to choose between the two. Lisa works at our city centre clinic throughout the week with evening appointments available. Keen to try? Visit Lisa's booking page on our website or email us hello@theambryclinic.com and request a call back.