Menopause Symptoms
Overview
Around menopause, kidney qi gradually declines and the thoroughfare and conception vessels weaken, upsetting yin-yang balance and producing menstrual irregularity, hot flushes and sweating, five-center heat, dizziness and tinnitus, palpitations and insomnia, irritability or low mood, weak aching lower back and knees, and skin-tingling. Chinese medicine centers on kidney deficiency—predominantly kidney yin or yang deficiency, or both—often combined with ascending liver yang, non-interaction of heart and kidney, or liver constraint with spleen deficiency.
Pattern differentiation (clinical patterns)
Kidney Yin Deficiency
Hot flushes and night sweats, heat in palms/soles, dry mouth and throat, dizziness, tinnitus, weak lower back/knees, early or irregular periods, red tongue with scant coating, fine rapid pulse.
Nourish kidney yin and harmonize yin-yang.
Non-Interaction of Heart & Kidney
Palpitations, insomnia with many dreams, poor memory, hot flushes, night sweats, five-center heat, dizziness, tinnitus, weak lower back/knees, red tongue with scant coating, fine rapid pulse.
Nourish yin and downbear fire; connect heart and kidney.
Connections
Daily care & prevention
Keep regular hours and exercise moderately (brisk walking, Baduanjin, yoga); eat a light balanced diet with soy foods as tolerated and limit spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine, and hot drinks to reduce flushes. Layer clothing and keep rooms cool. Prioritize mood and sleep with breathing practices; massage Taixi (KI3), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Shenmen (HT7), Neiguan (PC6), and Taichong (LR3). Significant symptoms can be assessed for hormone therapy in gynecology/endocrinology.
When to seek medical care
Postmenopausal bleeding always requires evaluation to rule out endometrial disease. Seek care for flushes/sweats with unexplained weight loss, persistent palpitations, severe low mood or self-harm thoughts, abnormal discharge, or heavy bleeding.