Hot flashes are the most common symptom reported by women in menopause. Marked by sudden feelings of intense heat accompanied by excessive perspiration and a rapid heartbeat, hot flashes can last anywhere from 2 to 30 minutes, often occurring multiple times throughout the day.

 

Researchers at Taipei Medical University monitored 869 participants who were going through menopause while using 12 different treatment methods. One of the 12 treatment methods was acupuncture, which proved to be the most effective at relieving the discomfort associated with menopause. Participants who were treated with acupuncture experienced fewer and less severe hot flashes than participants who were not treated with acupuncture. The study also showed that acupuncture may help treat insomnia and sleep-related problems in women going through menopause. The results were more inconsistent, however, with some participants experiencing greater results than others. Further research is needed before any conclusive statements can be made regarding acupuncture and menopause-related sleep problems.

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Most treatment options for hot flashes offer only temporary relief, if any, allowing the issue to resurface and come back. In contrast, acupuncture has been proven to reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes for at least three months post-treatment. This means that menopausal women only need to consult a licensed acupuncturist once every 3 months to achieve lasting relief from hot flashes.