Acupuncture & Menopause: The Natural Relief You Didn’t Know You Needed
- Melissa Nichols
- Jul 3
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 3
Perimenopause and menopause can feel like a full-time job. One minute you're sweating through your sheets at 3 a.m., the next you're snapping at a coworker, and by lunchtime, you can't remember where you put your phone... again.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. And if you're like many of the women I work with, you're not looking for a band-aid, you’re looking for real, sustainable relief.
A popular tool for managing these transitions naturally?
=> Acupuncture
Yes, tiny needles. But stay with me. Acupuncture has been used for centuries, and modern science is finally catching up to what Eastern medicine has known all along: it works really well for many women.

What Can Acupuncture Actually Do for Menopausal Symptoms?
Acupuncture isn’t just for stress and relaxation (though it helps with that too). When it comes to hormone shifts, acupuncture has been shown to:
Reduce hot flashes and night sweat
Balance mood swings and ease anxiety or depression
Improve sleep quality
Increase circulation and support blood flow (hello, libido)
Support Qi (your life force energy)—restoring vitality when you feel depleted
Relieve headaches, joint pain, and back pain
Lower blood pressure and improve heart health
Sounds like magic? It’s not. It’s just tapping into your body’s ability to heal itself when given the right support.
What Does the Literature Show?
PubMed has an article from 2016 that discusses a randomized controlled trial in 209 women age 45-60 with 4 or more vasomotor symptoms (VMS) consisting mainly of night sweats and hot flashes. The Conclusions showed acupuncture had a positive benefit at reducing hot flashes and improving sleep which were the most common VMS. This was observed after just a few acupuncture visits and persisted for many months after acupuncture was discontinued.
An additional randomized controlled trial from 2019 in 84 menopausal women ages 45-60 with vasomotor symptoms (VMS) showed that acupuncture is effective and safe for insomnia.
There really isn’t any downside to trying it!
How Does It Work?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), symptoms of perimenopause and menopause are often linked to imbalances in Qi (energy), blood, and organ systems, especially the kidney and liver. Acupuncture helps clear blockages and restore balance, so your body can regulate temperature, mood, sleep, and hormones more efficiently.
In Western terms?Acupuncture stimulates the nervous system, boosts circulation, and encourages the release of natural painkillers and mood-regulating neurotransmitters. It also affects the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (yes, the HPA axis that controls stress and hormones).
Why I Recommend It to My Clients
Whether you're deep in perimenopause or on the other side of menopause, acupuncture can be an amazing addition to your natural health toolkit. Many insurance providers cover it also which is a huge cost savings.
Most of my clients come in with a mix of symptoms such as hot flashes, low energy, headaches, sleep struggles, joint pain. Some are told that it’s just part of aging. Others are offered hormone replacement therapy and want to try more holistic other options first.
What I love about acupuncture is that it treats you as a whole person, not a checklist of symptoms. And when paired with nutrition, movement (like Pilates), and strategic lifestyle changes, it becomes a powerful part of your wellness foundation.
What You Should Know Before You Book
Look for a licensed acupuncturist with experience in women’s health or hormonal support.
You may need a series of sessions to see full benefits (usually 6–12).
It’s safe, minimally invasive, and usually very relaxing (You may even nap).
Side effects? Maybe a little post-session fatigue or a mild bruise, but that’s it.
Bottom Line
Acupuncture is one of the most gentle, effective, and holistic ways to manage menopause and perimenopause symptoms, especially if you’re trying to treat your symptoms naturally.
If your body's asking for help, listen. You don’t have to push through or “tough it out.” You deserve to feel clear, rested, and balanced again. Acupuncture can be a powerful step toward that.
Want to learn more about natural ways to manage hormone shifts?
Check out the resources on my website at www.ReformingYou.com
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