Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine for hot flushes in menopause: a randomized trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effect of acupuncture combined with diet therapy and Tuina self-massage on reducing hot flushes and other menopause-related symptoms.
Results Summary
Acupuncture significantly reduced hot flushes and sudden sweating (p<.001) and improved other symptoms like sleep disorders, irritability, and bone pain. The integrated approach, including self-massage, showed positive outcomes for postmenopausal women.
Population
One hundred women in spontaneous menopause experiencing at least three hot flushes daily.
Effective Dosage
Acupuncture was administered twice weekly; self-massage details (frequency/duration) were not specified.
Duration
6 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
acupuncture | decrease | occurrence of hot flushes and sudden sweating | women in spontaneous menopause with at least three episodes of hot flushes daily | - | significantly reduced | #1 |
acupuncture | increase | sleep disorders | women in spontaneous menopause with at least three episodes of hot flushes daily | - | significantly improved | #2 |
acupuncture | increase | tightness in the chest | women in spontaneous menopause with at least three episodes of hot flushes daily | - | significantly improved | #3 |
acupuncture | increase | irritability | women in spontaneous menopause with at least three episodes of hot flushes daily | - | significantly improved | #4 |
acupuncture | increase | bone pain | women in spontaneous menopause with at least three episodes of hot flushes daily | - | significantly improved | #5 |
acupuncture | increase | feeling depressed | women in spontaneous menopause with at least three episodes of hot flushes daily | - | significantly improved | #6 |
acupuncture in an integrated system that includes therapeutic techniques such as diet therapy and Tuina self-massage | decrease | hot flushes and selected symptoms | postmenopausal women | - | can be used to treat | #7 |
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of acupuncture on hot flushes and other menopause-related symptoms used in an integrated system, including such therapeutic techniques as diet therapy and Tuina self-massage. DESIGN: Randomized trial. SETTING: Outpatient center. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred women in spontaneous menopause with at least three episodes of hot flushes daily were randomly allocated to two treatment groups (50 per group): Women in group A were given diet, self-massage training, and treatment with acupuncture, and women in group B (the control group) were given the same diet and self-massage training, but treatment with acupuncture started 6 weeks after they were enrolled into the study. INTERVENTION: Acupuncture treatments were scheduled twice weekly for 6 consecutive weeks. OUTCOME MEASURES: Mean change in frequency and/or intensity in menopause-related symptoms were estimated by questionnaire after treatment at week 4. RESULTS: Treatment with acupuncture significantly reduced the occurrence of hot flushes and sudden sweating (p<.001). Other symptoms (sleep disorders, tightness in the chest, irritability, bone pain, feeling depressed) significantly improved. CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture in an integrated system that includes therapeutic techniques such as diet therapy and Tuina self-massage can be used to treat hot flushes and selected symptoms in postmenopausal women.