TCM
Helps Hot Flashes
Author: Aliza Adar
Levine
Chinese
Medicine: Looks Deeper! Chinese Medicine sees Menopause Very differently.
The focus is more that the Symptoms indicate Imbalances that need
to be addressed.
TCM
sees Menopause Symptoms as Blood and Fluid Deficiency. Estrogen
Production is High when there there is enough Spare Blood to have
a Period. I personally, have seen Young Women Skip Periods after
Heroically Donating Blood! The TCM Explanation... Hot Flashes
are caused by an Imbalance in the Body of Fire and Water.Yep!
The Fire is Metabolic Heat. The Water is in the body's Fluids.
Although calling it "Kidney Yin Deficiency with Flaring - Liver
Fire" may sound Wierd or Exotic, It really simply means DEHYDRATION.
Imagine
a kettle over a fire with not enough water in it. As the water
gets consumed by the heat. Heat (which rises) starts to flare
up as the kettle starts getting scorched. Hot Flashes!
OK,
let's get more specific. Menopause Symptoms like Hot Flashes,
Night Sweats, Sleep disturbances, even Emotional Stuff are Classic
Symptoms of Deep Dehydration. Dehydration of the Blood itself.
This can happen also to someone after a Prolonged Fever, or Viral
illness.
Fire
and Water in the Blood Western Medicine tells us that the Stuff
we call "Blood" is a liquid that should be 2 parts Red Blood Cells
to 3 parts Water. White Blood Cells take up only 1-2%. What we
are talking about is reduced and even thckened blood volume. Not
enough Water. Not enough Blood. (Dr.'s like to give Aspirin for
this. It thins and Cools the Blood. Stops Fever).
The
Brain is Smart and Sensitive enough to recognize Serious Fluid
Depletion. There's Wisdom to Shutting down Reproductive Functions
when there is not enough Blood.
The
body is getting too Dry. Old Age Symptoms are Dryness Symptoms.Wrinkles
Shrivelling. Chinese and Ayurvedic Herbal Medicine would treat
this by "Coolng and Nourishing the Blood". You can translate that
to: "Expand Blood Volume and Treat Underlying Inflamatory Process".
Herbs
that do this are Carefully Combined in Chinese Medicine to TREAT
the Dehyration in the Blood. and then the Hot Flashes GO AWAY.
Thats Why Dong Quai(Angelica Sinensis) has gained a reputation
for Menopause symptom relief. It is not Estrogenic at all! This
Herb, traditionally used by Chinese Women for Centuries, is a
Nourishing BLOOD Tonic! They use it in Soups as FOOD! And they
are primarily Menopause Symptom free!
But
it's not so Simple. DonQuai actually Warms and Stimulates the
Blood. It contains Coumarins, that can encourage Blood Flow. Therefore
should Not be taken Alone by Women with Heavy Periods or taking
prescription AntiCoagulants. And because it Warms the Blood can
increase Hot Flashes,probably the most distressing menopause symptom!
Combined with cooling herbs, though it can help alot. Herbs that
are Cooling and Highly Nourishing like Chinese Stellaria(YinChaiHu)
or, Chinese Asparagus Root(TaiMenDong) really help!
The
related Herb, Shatavari (Asparagus Racemosa) is Famous in India
as Deeply Nourishing to Fluids and Blood. Another Incredible Fluid
and Blood Builder and my personal favorite for so many reasons
is Spirulina,helpful for practically Any menopause symptom.. As
soon as you even suspect that you are having Hot Flashes, or if
they are already full blown, Herbs Really help! Which herbs? First,
lets look into how a Traditional Herbalist looks at Hot flashes.
Hot Flashes are viewed as a streaming-up of internal heat. The
source of this heat is understood to be chronic dryness that has
become inflamatory.
A Deep
and chronic Dehydration state. Like a Kettle on a flame with inadequate
water. The heat starts to scorch and inflame. The herbal strategy
will be to give herbs that are Cooling and Fluid-Nourishing. To
turn off the Fire, cool the Kettle off, and fill it with water.
TCM calls these herbs "Yin" Tonics. Ayurveda would describe them
as nourishing "Kapha".
These
herbs Hydrate, coat,and soothe parched,inflamed muccous membraines.
Common herbs are: Marshmallow (Althea), Asparagus ROOT, Great
Ayurvedic herbs are Shatavari(Asparagus Racemosa), and Amla (Emblica
Myrobalani). My favorite TCM herbs for this purpose are: Chinese
Stellaria(YinChaiHu), Lycium Root (DiguPi), White Peony Rt. (BaiShao)
and many others.
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