Continued from our Retreat & Renew Daily Tip.

By Dr. Butch Levy , MD, Integrative Medicine

In Eastern thinking, the reproductive energy is so much more than simply “menopause,” as Westerners tend to lump it together. The Chinese model is unique in its belief in the interconnection and communication between individual organ systems. Acting independently, each organ also controls or balances others, creating a cohesive whole.

Reproduction takes on broader connotations in the Eastern model, encompassing the kidneys as well as intertwining it with bone, spine and brain well-being. Is it any wonder that the decline of reproductive energy (or menopause, as Westerners are accustomed to calling it) causes osteoporosis, low libido, brain fog and spinal pain? Add to that that the classic weakness of “menopause,” or declining kidney energy, is night sweats and hot flashes. It’s much like a spider web that moves as a whole when any strand is pulled.

By looking at menopause as a whole, Chinese medicine can treat the acute symptoms and bring balance to the core of a woman’s aging process. It can alleviate the effects of hormonal change through evaluating symptoms, interpreting the wrist pulses and feeling on the abdomen. Taking pulses reflects the strengths and weaknesses of each organ, and the palpation of the abdomen shows individual muscle tension patterns (a classic Japanese development) which practitioners use to prescribe herbal formulas.

Combining these tools, the Chinese medicine practitioner develops a therapy plan that includes acupuncture and herbal formulas to relieve symptoms, as well as to help support and sustain associated age-related weaknesses.

Ultimately, the goal of Eastern tactics is not turning back the clock, but perceptively slowing its onward movement in a healthy approach to aging.

Butch Levy MD, L.Ac with Integrated Medical Care is board certified in both primary western care and Chinese medicine, and has been in private clinical practice for 35 years. For more information, visit www.drbutchlevy.com or call (303) 972 2727.

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