Menopause

Question 1

Normal age of menopause

Answer 1

48 to 55, the median age is 51

Question 2

How long does it take to establish a diagnosis of menopause ?

Answer 2

6-12 months necessary to establish a diagnosis

Question 3

What is the western medical view of menopause?

Answer 3

Decrease in estrogen: main endocrine change
Ovary main source of estradiol, a form of estrogen produced during reproductive years
Post menopause, ovaries produce less estrogen; estrone becomes the main circulating form of estrogen derived from adipose tissue
Conversion of androstenedione (produced in adrenal glands) to estrone
Thin women convert (1.5%), obese women (7%)

Question 4

What is the most common symptom of menopause?

Answer 4

HOT FLASHES

85% of women suffer, 45% do so for up to 10 years
Increase in temperature, pulse rate and blood flow in hand, lasting 2.7 minutes
Mechanism to dissipate heat through vasodilation and perspiration
Fluctuation of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) rises to abnormal levels to provoke ovulation
HRT deceives pituitary that normal ovulation occurs so that FSH production stops

Question 5

aetiology

Answer 5

Decline of Kidney Essence
Yin, Yang or Yin & Yang deficiency of Kidneys
Often complicated by Phlegm, Damp, Qi and Blood stasis

Emotional Stress
Worry, anxiety, fear weaken the Kidneys=Yin def.
Kidney Yin deficiency fails to nourish Heart Yin
Heart Yin deficiency leads to Heart Empty Heat

Overwork, many childbirths closely spaced
Long hours, little rest, poor diet, worry=Yin def.

Question 6

Severity of Symptoms depend on…

Answer 6

Kidneys, Diet, Lifestyle

Question 7

Are herbs or acupuncture better at nourishing the Essence?

Answer 7

HERBS- it is a slow process

Question 8

Dizziness, tinnitus, malar flush, night sweats, hot flashes, 5 palm heat, sore back, dry mouth, dry hair, skin; itching, constipation

Answer 8

KD Yin deficiency

Question 9

T: Red, no coating
P: Floating-empty, Fine-rapid, or Deep-weak in rear, overflowing in front positions

Answer 9

KD Yin deficiency

Question 10

Nourish Kidney-Yin, subdue Yang, calm the Mind, clear Heart-empty Heat

Answer 10

KD Yin deficiency

Question 11

LU 7 r, KD 6 l, KD 3, KD 10, CV 4, SP 6, HT 6 + KD 7, LI 4

Answer 11

KD Yin Deficiency

Question 12

Hot flashes, but cold hands and feet, night sweats in the early morning, pale face, depression, chilliness, backache, edema of ankles

Answer 12

KD Yang Deficiency

Question 13

T: Pale
P: Fine, Deep

Answer 13

KD Yang Deficiency

Question 14

: Tonify and warm the Kidneys, tonify Yang, warm the Centre, strengthen the Spleen

Answer 14

KD Yang Deficiency

Question 15

BL 23, BL 52, KD 3, LU 7 r, KD 6 l, CV 4, CV 15, KD 7

Answer 15

KD Yang Deficiency

Question 16

Hot flashes but cold hands and feet, night sweating, frequent pale urination, flushed at neck when speaking, slightly agitated, chilliness, dry throat, dizziness, tinnitus, backache

Answer 16

KD Yin and Yang deficiency

Question 17

T: Pale or red, depending on predominate def.
P: Floating-empty, Fine-rapid if Yin
Weak, deep if Yang

Answer 17

KD Yin and Yang Deficiency

Question 18

Tonify KID, nourish Yin, tonify Yang, calm Mind

Answer 18

KD Yin and Yang Deficiency

Question 19

KD 3, LU 7, KD 6, CV 7, HT 6, CV 4, BL 23, BL 52, SP 6

Answer 19

KD Yin and Yang Deficiency

Question 20

Irritability, dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision, dry eyes, dry skin hot flashes, ache in joints, night sweating, sore back, headaches.

Answer 20

KD and LV Yin deficiency with LV Yang Rising

Question 21

T: Red, no coating
P: Floating-empty, Wiry on left middle position

Answer 21

KD and LV Yin deficiency with LV Yang Rising

Question 22

TX: Nourish Kidney and Liver Yin, subdue Liver Yang, calm Mind, settle the Ethereal Soul.

Answer 22

KD and LV Yin Deficiency with LV Yang Rising

Question 23

KD 3, LV 8, CV 4, LU 7, KD 6, LV 3, GV 24, GB 13, GB 20, PC 7

Answer 23

KD and LV Yin Deficiency with LV Yang Rising

Question 24

Hot flashes, palpitations, insomnia, night sweats, blurred vision, dizziness, tinnitus, anxiety, mental restlessness, backache, malar flush, feeling of heat in the evening, dry mouth and throat, poor memory, dry stools

Answer 24

KD and HT not harmonized

Question 25

T: Red body, no coat with a redder tip
P: Rapid-fine, or Floating-empty, or Weak-deep in rear positions, Overflowing in front positions

Answer 25

KD and HT not harmonized

Question 26

TX: Nourish Kidney Yin, calm the Mind, clear Empty heat

Answer 26

KD and HT not harmonized

Question 27

LU 7 r, KD 6 l, KD 3, CV 4, SP 6, KD 13, HT 6+KD 7, HT 8, PC 7, CV 15, GV 24

Answer 27

KD and HT not harmonized

Question 28

Obesity, a feeling of oppression of the chest, sputum in the chest, feeling of epigastric fullness, breast distention, irritability, depression. This pattern appears in premature menopause in young women; possible obstruction of lower Jiao

Answer 28

Accumulation of phlegm, Qi stagnation

Question 29

T: slight Red sides, sticky coating
P: Wiry

Answer 29

Accumulation of Phlegm, QI stagnation

Question 30

TX: Resolve Phlegm, pacify Liver, eliminate stagnation, free Connecting channels

Answer 30

Accumulation of Phlegm, Qi Stagnation

Question 31

CV 17, PC 6, LU 7, CV 6, CV 10, TW 6, ST 40, SP 6, SP 9, ST 28 CV 4,

Answer 31

Accumulation of Phlegm, Qi Stagnation

Question 32

Hot flashes, mental restlessness, menopause preceded by a period when menses are very irregular stopping for a long time then starting again, dark-clotted blood, insomnia, hypertension, abdominal pain

Answer 32

Blood Stasis

Question 33

T: Purple
P: Wiry or choppy

Answer 33

Blood Stasis

Question 34

TX: Invigorate Blood, eliminate stasis, calm the Mind, clear orifices, move Qi, eliminate stagnation

Answer 34

Blood Stasis

Question 35

SP 4 r, PC 6 l, KD 14, SP 10, BL 17,CV4, CV 6, LV 3, PC 7

Answer 35

Blood Stasis