Acupuncture for Menopause: Is It Really Useful?

• Research shows that acupuncture might help ease menopause symptoms, especially hot flashes and night sweats, but the results can vary from person to person.
• The evidence leans toward acupuncture improving life quality and sleep, though some studies suggest the benefits might partly come from the placebo effect.
• Acupuncture is generally safe, and each session usually costs between $50 and $150, depending on where you are and how many treatments you need.
• Other alternative therapies include hypnosis, cognitive behavioral therapy, herbal remedies (like black cohosh and red clover), and certain non-hormonal prescription medications.
• If your symptoms are really affecting your daily life or you notice unusual bleeding, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor.

Menopause is a natural part of aging that typically strikes women between 45 and 55, signaling the end of menstrual cycles. It’s a time when hormones shift, often bringing unwelcome guests like hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, sleep troubles, and vaginal dryness. These symptoms can throw a wrench into daily life, prompting many women to search for relief¹.

While hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a go-to option, it’s not without risks—like blood clots or even certain cancers²—which has sparked growing interest in alternatives.

Enter acupuncture, a practice rooted in traditional Chinese medicine that uses tiny needles to target specific points on the body. But does it really work for menopause? Let’s dig into the benefits, research, risks, costs, and other options to help you figure out if it’s worth a try.

What Is Acupuncture and How Does It Help Menopause?

Imagine your body as a network of energy highways, called meridians in Chinese medicine. Acupuncture is like a traffic cop, using needles to keep the energy—or qi—flowing smoothly³. For menopause, it’s thought to balance hormones and calm symptoms by targeting key spots tied to reproduction, relaxation, and overall health⁴.

In traditional Chinese medicine, menopause isn’t just about ovaries winding down—it’s a dance between yin and yang energies going out of sync. Acupuncture steps in to choreograph that dance, offering a tailored approach that’s been practiced for thousands of years⁵.

• Chinese Herbs for Menopause: What the Research Says
• Cupping during menopause: does it work?
• Chinese Medicine for Menopause: An In-Depth Look + Simple Guide
• Rhubarb Root for Menopause: What Does the Research Say?

Potential Benefits of Acupuncture for Menopause

Could acupuncture be your ticket to fewer hot flashes and better sleep? Some research says yes. A 2015 meta-analysis of 12 studies with 869 women found that acupuncture cut down the frequency and intensity of hot flashes, while also boosting sleep and mood⁶.

A Treatment That Fits You

What makes acupuncture stand out is its personal touch. In Chinese medicine, it’s all about “differentiation of syndromes and treatment”—fancy words for customizing care to your specific needs. Here’s how it works⁷:

• Yin deficiency: If you’re prone to dizziness or irritability, your acupuncturist might focus on calming your system.
• Yang deficiency: Struggling with bloating or fatigue? They’d tweak the plan to warm things up.

Common acupuncture points for menopause include⁸:

• Baihui (top of the head)
• Yintang (between the eyebrows)
• Tongli and Shenmen (wrist areas)
• Qihai and Guanyuan (lower belly)
• Sanyinjiao (inner ankle)
• Taixi (near the foot)

Sessions typically happen daily or every other day, sometimes paired with extras like ear acupuncture, moxibustion (think warm herbs near your skin), cupping, or acupoint injections. Unlike HRT, which can come with side effects, acupuncture is billed as a gentle option with no toxic baggage⁹.

Plus, it’s not just about symptom relief—it’s said to tune up your whole body, possibly even lowering risks for conditions like osteoporosis down the road.

A Real-Life Example

Take Huang, a 44-year-old woman battling menopause for over two years. She had hot flashes hitting more than 10 times a day, plus insomnia, and her FSH levels (a menopause marker) were sky-high. After acupuncture¹⁰:

• Week 2: Hot flashes dropped to 5-10 daily, and sleep got better.
• Week 4: Down to under 3 hot flashes, with normal sleep.
• Week 8: Hot flashes were rare, sleep was solid, and her period even returned faintly.
• Week 12: Periods were steadier, FSH levels fell below 20 IU/L, and she felt balanced again.

This story shows acupuncture’s potential to ease symptoms step-by-step, though results can vary.

Summary: Acupuncture may help reduce hot flashes and improve sleep during menopause. It’s personalized, targeting different syndromes. Common points are used. It’s gentle, with a real – life example showing its step – by – step effects, though results vary.

What Does the Research Say?

The science on acupuncture for menopause is a bit like a half-finished puzzle—some pieces fit, but gaps remain. Here’s the rundown:

• Good News: A study found real improvements in hot flashes and quality of life¹¹. A meta-analysis backed this up for symptoms like night sweats¹².
• Not So Fast: A 2019 review saw no big difference in hot flash frequency compared to fake acupuncture, though severity dipped slightly¹³. The evidence? Pretty shaky, calling for better studies.
• Longer View: The AIM study showed a 36.7% drop in symptoms after six months, with some benefits sticking around at a year¹⁴. Still, skeptics wonder if the placebo effect is at play.

Bottom line: Acupuncture might help, but it’s not a slam dunk. More solid research could clear up the picture.

Summary: The science of acupuncture for menopause is like an incomplete puzzle. Some studies show it helps with hot flashes, night sweats and quality of life, but others find little difference from fake acupuncture. More research is needed to confirm its real effects.

Is Acupuncture Safe for Menopausal Women?

Good news—acupuncture’s safety record is strong when done by a pro. You might feel a pinch, see a bruise, or get a little woozy, but serious issues are rare. In the AIM study, just 1.4% of women had minor complaints like temporary soreness¹⁴. For menopausal women, there’s no extra risk—just make sure your acupuncturist is legit.

Read more: Acupuncture Risks and Side Effects: What You Need to Know

How Much Does Acupuncture Cost?

Ready to give it a go? Costs depend on where you live and who’s holding the needles, usually landing between $50 and $150 per session. You might start weekly, then ease off as symptoms fade. The AIM study used up to 20 sessions over six months. Since insurance often sits this one out, expect to foot the bill yourself—which can add up.

Other Options for Menopause Relief

Not sold on needles? Here are some alternatives:

• Mind-Body Tricks: Hypnosis, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) (great for mood and hot flashes), meditation, or aromatherapy¹⁶.
• Herbal Helpers: Black cohosh, soy, or red clover—though proof is thin, and they might mess with meds¹⁷.
• Holistic Systems: Think reflexology or homeopathy, blending mind and body approaches.
• Prescription Fixes: Drugs like antidepressants or gabapentin can tackle hot flashes, but watch for side effects¹⁸.

Talk to your doctor before diving in, especially with herbs, to dodge any surprises.

When to See a Doctor

Menopause is normal, but some signs scream for a check-up¹⁹:

• Brutal hot flashes, sleepless nights, or mood dips wrecking your day
• Wacky periods—too close together or dragging on
• Weird bleeding, like spotting between cycles or after sex
• Dryness down there causing pain or pee problems

Plus, menopause ups risks for osteoporosis and heart disease, so regular health chats are smart²⁰. Your doc can weigh HRT or other fixes with you.

The Bottom Line

Acupuncture might just be a gentle, natural way to tame menopause woes—think fewer hot flashes and sweeter dreams. Studies hint at promise, and its custom-fit style is a big plus, especially with almost no downsides. But the jury’s still out—research isn’t rock-solid yet. Thinking of trying it? Chat with your doctor first and pick a skilled practitioner. It could be a handy piece in your menopause puzzle, blending ancient wisdom with a modern twist.

Trusted Source

1. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/menopause/what-menopause ↩︎
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493191/ ↩︎
3. https://www.britannica.com/science/acupuncture ↩︎
4. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4874921/ ↩︎
5. 刘晓伟, 邓虹蛛. 更年期综合征中医辨治研究进展[J]. 现代中西医结合杂志, 2001, 10(008): 792-792. ↩︎
6. Chiu HY, Pan CH, Shyu YK, Han BC, Tsai PS. Effects of acupuncture on menopause-related symptoms and quality of life in women in natural menopause: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Menopause. 2015 Feb;22(2):234-44. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000000260. PMID: 25003620. ↩︎
7. https://www.hanspub.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=69923 ↩︎
8. https://m.baidu.com/bh/m/detail/ar_15910761308411424349(Sun Haitao, Attending Physician, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University) ↩︎
9. https://www.chengping.com.tw/feature/ins.php?index_id=167&index_m_id=6 ↩︎
10. “Acupuncture – the golden key to open the door to menopausal health” Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, International Committee of the Red Cross Hospital, Hangzhou February 11, 2025 22:56 https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/R4KvAC7BwGHWRBqFXLd3Jw ↩︎
11. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4874921/ ↩︎
12. 平慧强. 桂枝甘草龙骨牡蛎汤加减联合针灸治疗更年期失眠的临床研究[J]. 哈尔滨医药, 42(5): 131-132. http://www.hrbyybjb.org.cn/CN/article/downloadArticleFile.do?attachType=PDF&id=760 ↩︎
13. Dodin S, Blanchet C, Marc I, Ernst E, Wu T, Vaillancourt C, Paquette J, Maunsell E. Acupuncture for menopausal hot flushes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Jul 30;2013(7):CD007410. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007410.pub2. PMID: 23897589; PMCID: PMC6544807. ↩︎
14. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4874921/ ↩︎
15. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4874921/ ↩︎
16. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6419242/ ↩︎
17. https://patient.info/womens-health/menopause/alternatives-to-hrt ↩︎
18. https://www.themenopausecharity.org/2021/10/20/alternatives-to-hrt/ ↩︎
19. https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/womens-health/later-years-around-50-years-and-over/menopause-and-post-menopause-health/signs-and-symptoms-of-menopause/ ↩︎
20. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21841-menopause ↩︎