Acupuncture for Women
Finding Balance Through Life’s Hormonal Shifts
By Dr. Sarah Hennessey, Acupuncturist & Herbalist
Dr. Sarah has over a decade of experience in postnatal and peri-menopausal care, stress management, and sleep support. Schedule a consultation today to explore how acupuncture may support you through life’s beautiful and natural changes.
Life’s major transitions—such as post-natal recovery and peri-menopause—bring about profound changes in a woman’s body. These experiences are deeply personal, and the symptoms and flow-on effects to mental and spiritual wellbeing vary widely from woman to woman. For many, understanding what’s happening in their bodies and why can be a challenge, especially when education around these changes is limited. This lack of information often leaves women uncertain about how to manage effectively.
As an acupuncturist, I’m dedicated to supporting women through these critical stages, helping them better understand and respond to their unique needs. Acupuncture is known to first and foremost, treat the whole person. As a practitioner, I won’t focus on just one symptom, rather look at the body as a whole system and offer gentle, natural ways to help restore balance, support the body, and bring a sense of calm and clarity.
Let’s explore how acupuncture may support women through these important life transitions.
Why Acupuncture for Women’s Hormonal Health?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), health is seen as a harmonious balance of body, mind, and spirit. During times of hormonal transition, acupuncture may offer support by working with the body’s natural energy (Qi) to address symptoms and promote overall wellness.
Here’s how acupuncture can support women through two of life’s most personal—and often misunderstood—transitions.
Supporting Post-natal Recovery
After childbirth, the body undergoes profound changes as it shifts from pregnancy to post-partum. Hormones fluctuate, energy levels dip, and emotional shifts are common.
Acupuncture may provide relief from common post-natal concerns.
1. Boosts Energy and Supports Recovery
Postnatal fatigue is common as the body recovers from pregnancy and labor. By helping to support energy levels, improve sleep quality, and encourage overall recovery, we can help new mothers feel more lively and resilient.
2. Promotes Relaxation and Reduces Stress
Adjusting to new motherhood can be overwhelming, with emotional highs and lows. Acupuncture may help support emotional balance, encouraging calm and relaxation.
3. Supports Hormonal Balance
Hormonal fluctuations can often surprise new mothers. Emotions can run high. Returning menstrual cycles can be heavy, irregular, or painful. Supporting a smoother hormonal transition means managing mood swings, emotional stability, and regular cycles.
Easing the Transition through Peri-Menopause
As women enter peri-menopause, they may experience a variety of symptoms such as hot flushes, mood swings, and changes in sleep. Often, women are unprepared for these changes and don’t fully understand why they’re occurring. Acupuncture could be a supportive therapy for managing many of these symptoms:
1. Ease Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
Reducing the intensity of hot flashes and night sweats can improve quality of sleep and make daily life more comfortable. Acupuncture can be used to support the 'yin' aspect of the body, which is the body's natural hydrating and cooling system.
2. Supports Quality Sleep
Insomnia is a common issue during peri-menopause, often caused by hormonal shifts. Acupuncture may encourage relaxation, supporting better sleep and helping women feel more rested.
3. Helps Support Emotional Wellbeing
Peri-menopause can impact mood and emotional balance. Acupuncture is known to support a calm state of mind, helping women feel more emotionally grounded during this time.
4. Enhance Overall Vitality
During peri-menopause, many women experience low energy. Acupuncture may help boost vitality and improve the circulation of 'qi' providing women with a sense of renewed energy and balance.
A Personalised Path to Balance
Acupuncture offers a gentle and personalised approach to women’s wellness. By addressing each woman’s unique symptoms, it can empower women to feel more connected to their bodies and bring awareness to the “what” and “why” behind their experiences. This understanding forms the basis of “how” to support the body naturally, offering both physical relief and emotional clarity.
Acupuncture can also be used alongside Western treatments if you choose to utilise both.
The post-natal and peri-menopausal experience isn’t something you have to face alone. If you’re navigating these transitions, acupuncture may be a natural and effective way to help you feel more balanced, grounded, and empowered.