Acupuncture Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Acupuncture, including details on alternative medicine, uses, benefits, treatment, chinese medicine.

Acupuncture in managing menopausal symptoms: hope or mirage?

Alfhaily F, Ewies AA

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, Suffolk, UK.

There is an increased interest amongst women in seeking alternatives for hormone replacement therapy because of their fear of side-effects. It is claimed that acupuncture is effective for curing menopausal symptoms, and to be a safe treatment in the hands of well-trained and qualified practitioners. About one million acupuncture treatments are given in the National Health Service and two million privately each year in England for various indications. However, because its mechanism of action is not fully understood in physiological terms, acupuncture is considered by many clinicians to be of no value. This article reviews the currently available evidence as regards the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in treating menopausal symptoms.

Published 13 September 2007 in Climacteric, 10(5): 371-80.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

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