Acupuncture for menopausal symptoms in Chinese women: a systematic review

Menopause-related symptoms are common problems of middle-aged women that can seriously affect their quality of life. Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) for climacteric symptoms is the first choice recommended by the International Menopause Society and likewise by other societies and institutions covering this field. However, non-hormonal therapies can be an alternative effective option, especially for women who are not suitable for MHT. Acupuncture is one of the most important methods. With deepening experience of the use of traditional Chinese acupuncture and moxibustion in the improvement of menopause symptoms, more clinical evidence has been obtained to support the effectiveness and safety of this treatment concept that is very often used in China. This review summarizes the evidence for effective treatment of climacteric complaints by acupuncture in recent years, shares the clinical experience of the authors of this review, all of whom head or work in units with daily large numbers of outpatients, and includes, in particular, results from studies performed in the Department of Acupuncture--Moxibustion of Tsinghua University Chuiyangliu Hospital, Beijing, China. In addition, there is a summary about the safety of acupuncture treatment in traditional Chinese medicine.