| Gloria Provitola M.S. L.Ac. L.M.T. Diplomate of Acupuncture (NCCAOM) Licensed Massage Therapist |
For the latest information about Acupuncture in the news please visit AcuNews
By Appointment Only 917-502-4566 Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Location: Health On 57 The Garden Level 448 W. 57th St. New York, NY 10019 |
Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for hot flashes due to menopause, anti-
estrogen therapy for breast cancer and for men undergoing hormone treatment for prostate
cancer.
Hot flashes---that sudden feeling of a flash of heat that causes one to break out in a full sweat. When
this happens at night we call them night sweats. Anyone who has had night sweats can tell you they
significantly disturb sleep and often result in feeling fatigued during the day which causes a negative
impact on the quality of their life.
Until recently hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was usually recommended for women who had
menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes. We now know though that HRT (estrogen plus progestin) is
associated with a greater incidence of breast cancer as well as an increased mortality from breast
cancer. http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/304/15/1684 In addition, it has been known for
several years now that HRT can increase a post-menopausal woman’s risk of heart disease and is
therefore no longer recommended to protect post-menopausal women from heart disease.
Acupuncture is an effective course of treatment for hot flashes and night sweats as well as other
menopausal symptoms such as insomnia, fatigue, digestive problems, decreased libido and mood
changes. And acupuncture has none of the risks of HRT.
The most recent study of acupuncture for hot flashes was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology
http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/28/4/634.abstract. The study’s subject group was breast cancer
survivors who get hot flashes as a result of antiestrogen hormone treatment. The drug therapy of choice
for hot flashes in breast cancer survivors is Venlafaxine (Effexor). The study directly compared
acupuncture treatment for hot flashes in this subject group to drug therapy with Venlafaxine (Effexor).
The study found that acupuncture was more effective than Venlafaxine (Effexor) in reducing hot flashes.
Many in the Venlafaxine (Effexor) group suffered adverse side effects such as nausea, dry mouth,
dizziness and anxiety and their hot flashes increased after week 2 of the study. The acupuncture group
faired significantly better as not only did they have a reduction in hot flashes, but they also received
additional benefits from their treatment. The study noted that: “Acupuncture had the additional benefit
of increased sex drive in some women, and most reported an improvement in their energy, clarity of
thought, and sense of well-being.” The study concludes that acupuncture “is a safe, effective and
durable treatment for vasomotor symptoms” (hot flashes) for breast cancer patients receiving
antiestrogen therapy.
Acupuncture helps your body auto-regulate. If you are experiencing hot flashes or other symptoms
associated with menopause, or hot flashes from antiestrogen therapy for breast cancer a good choice
for treatment is acupuncture. It does not have the negative side effects of HRT or Venlafaxine
(Effexor). And it not only will help relieve the hot flashes but brings other benefits that can lift your spirits
and bring you a sense of well-being that improves your quality of life.
Eating a well-balanced diet, reducing intake of alcohol and caffeine, taking herbal and vitamin
supplements, exercising, and reducing stress by practicing meditation, yoga, qi gong or tai chi are
excellent ways along with acupuncture to help control the symptoms of menopause.
By the way, acupuncture has been found to be effective for men with hot flashes too. If you know men
undergoing hormonal therapy for prostate cancer they may be getting hot flashes regularly. A recent
study has shown that these men can benefit from receiving acupuncture for hot flashes. http://www.ncbi.
nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20494414
Disclaimer: Although recent studies indicate that acupuncture is safe and effective treatment
for hot flashes there is no guarantee that everyone will benefit from treatment with
acupuncture for this condition. As with all modalities of treatment individuals respond
differently and some may benefit more than others, and some not at all. No guarantee is made
or intended otherwise in this article. Check with your M.D. to see if acupuncture is a viable
alternative treatment for you.
estrogen therapy for breast cancer and for men undergoing hormone treatment for prostate
cancer.
Hot flashes---that sudden feeling of a flash of heat that causes one to break out in a full sweat. When
this happens at night we call them night sweats. Anyone who has had night sweats can tell you they
significantly disturb sleep and often result in feeling fatigued during the day which causes a negative
impact on the quality of their life.
Until recently hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was usually recommended for women who had
menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes. We now know though that HRT (estrogen plus progestin) is
associated with a greater incidence of breast cancer as well as an increased mortality from breast
cancer. http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/304/15/1684 In addition, it has been known for
several years now that HRT can increase a post-menopausal woman’s risk of heart disease and is
therefore no longer recommended to protect post-menopausal women from heart disease.
Acupuncture is an effective course of treatment for hot flashes and night sweats as well as other
menopausal symptoms such as insomnia, fatigue, digestive problems, decreased libido and mood
changes. And acupuncture has none of the risks of HRT.
The most recent study of acupuncture for hot flashes was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology
http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/28/4/634.abstract. The study’s subject group was breast cancer
survivors who get hot flashes as a result of antiestrogen hormone treatment. The drug therapy of choice
for hot flashes in breast cancer survivors is Venlafaxine (Effexor). The study directly compared
acupuncture treatment for hot flashes in this subject group to drug therapy with Venlafaxine (Effexor).
The study found that acupuncture was more effective than Venlafaxine (Effexor) in reducing hot flashes.
Many in the Venlafaxine (Effexor) group suffered adverse side effects such as nausea, dry mouth,
dizziness and anxiety and their hot flashes increased after week 2 of the study. The acupuncture group
faired significantly better as not only did they have a reduction in hot flashes, but they also received
additional benefits from their treatment. The study noted that: “Acupuncture had the additional benefit
of increased sex drive in some women, and most reported an improvement in their energy, clarity of
thought, and sense of well-being.” The study concludes that acupuncture “is a safe, effective and
durable treatment for vasomotor symptoms” (hot flashes) for breast cancer patients receiving
antiestrogen therapy.
Acupuncture helps your body auto-regulate. If you are experiencing hot flashes or other symptoms
associated with menopause, or hot flashes from antiestrogen therapy for breast cancer a good choice
for treatment is acupuncture. It does not have the negative side effects of HRT or Venlafaxine
(Effexor). And it not only will help relieve the hot flashes but brings other benefits that can lift your spirits
and bring you a sense of well-being that improves your quality of life.
Eating a well-balanced diet, reducing intake of alcohol and caffeine, taking herbal and vitamin
supplements, exercising, and reducing stress by practicing meditation, yoga, qi gong or tai chi are
excellent ways along with acupuncture to help control the symptoms of menopause.
By the way, acupuncture has been found to be effective for men with hot flashes too. If you know men
undergoing hormonal therapy for prostate cancer they may be getting hot flashes regularly. A recent
study has shown that these men can benefit from receiving acupuncture for hot flashes. http://www.ncbi.
nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20494414
Disclaimer: Although recent studies indicate that acupuncture is safe and effective treatment
for hot flashes there is no guarantee that everyone will benefit from treatment with
acupuncture for this condition. As with all modalities of treatment individuals respond
differently and some may benefit more than others, and some not at all. No guarantee is made
or intended otherwise in this article. Check with your M.D. to see if acupuncture is a viable
alternative treatment for you.
Research: Acupuncture for Hot Flash Relief
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