Menopause and Traditional Chinese Medicine: Evidence, Syndromic Perspectives, and a Self-Care Protocol Proposal
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Menopause is a physiological transition characterised by ovarian failure and hy-poestrogenism, leading to multisystemic symptoms that affect women’s physical, psychological, and social well-being. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provides a holistic framework for understanding this period through concepts such as Yin–Yang imbalance, Jing (essence) deple-tion, and Zang-Fu disharmonies. While Western medicine emphasises hormonal therapy and lifestyle modification, TCM offers complementary strategies aimed at systemic energetic regu-lation.Objective: To analyse menopausal care from the perspective of TCM, compare Eastern and Western therapeutic paradigms, identify predominant TCM syndromes, review available evi-dence on TCM interventions, and present a structured self-care protocol for climacteric women.Methods: A narrative review of classical TCM theory, Western biomedical literature, and 14 ex-perimental studies on acupuncture, Qigong, herbal medicine, auriculotherapy, moxibustion, and diet therapy. Additionally, a self-care protocol grounded in TCM theory was systematised based on established clinical principles.Results: TCM conceptualises menopause as a decline in Kidney Jing and Yin, leading to dishar-monies involving the Heart, Liver, Spleen, and key Extraordinary Meridians (Chong, Ren, Du). Reviewed studies showed that interventions such as Qigong, acupuncture (including ACE and la-ser), herbal formulas, and diet therapy significantly improved vasomotor symptoms, sleep, anxiety/depression, urogenital atrophy, metabolic parameters, and overall quality of life.A TCM-based self-care protocol was developed, integrating several relevant exercises targeting the core climacteric disharmonies by reinforcing Kidney energy, nourishing Yin, regulating the Heart–Kidney axis, and restoring Qi (vital energy) flow, supporting symptom relief and self-management.Conclusion: TCM offers a comprehensive and personalised approach to menopausal care, with evidence indicating effectiveness across vasomotor, psychological, urogenital, and metabolic domains. The proposed self-care protocol provides an accessible, low-risk tool for women to ac-tively regulate symptoms and maintain energetic balance. Future research should include larger, standardised clinical trials and long-term follow-ups to validate TCM interventions and support their integration into evidence-based, integrative menopausal healthcare
Authors: Santos, Sebastiana, e Sousa, Cláudia Pacheco, Moreira, Gabriela Ramos, Silva, Rafaela Oliveira, Montenegro, Raquel
Language: English
Subfield: Complementary and alternative medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7107946438
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