2019/03/16

I want to be healthy during this time of change! Chinese medicine for menopause prevention

All women go through menopause. During this time, your physical condition may become unstable, but symptoms vary from person to person, depending on your constitution and living environment. It is said that menopause is particularly likely to appear in areas where your constitution is weak.

What's going to happen? What should I do? A workshop to answer such concerns, "Chinese Medicine Course for Women: Menopause Edition," was held at the end of February.

The lecturer was Dr. Hayashi Mitsuki, a pharmacist and international Chinese medicine practitioner. Many of the participants were new to Chinese medicine, so the lecture began with a talk on "What is Chinese medicine?"

"Today's lecture is not about Chinese herbal medicine," said Professor Hayashi.

Eastern medicine believes that all of nature is interconnected and exists in balance. The human body, which is part of nature, is also in a "healthy" state when the organs and functions are in balance. When this balance is disrupted, physical and mental disorders occur.

Kampo medicine helps to restore the axis of the body when it becomes unbalanced and tilted. "Kampo medicine is the wisdom to understand what the body is telling you, and a tool to understand your own body. So the first step is to listen to what it is telling you and respond to its needs."

When you feel unwell, there are many things you can do yourself before turning to medicine, including herbal medicine, says Dr. Hayashi. You might realize that you're not feeling well and wonder why. Maybe it's because you've been staying up late lately. Then you might improve your lifestyle by trying to go to bed earlier. Then you might reassess your diet and pay attention to what you eat and drink. And finally, you can try herbal tea, which uses the power of herbal ingredients.

All of these are part of the foundation of Chinese medicine, called "Yōsei." This yōsei helps to restore balance to the body and draw out the body's natural healing powers.

Now, let's talk about the "menopause" for women. How can we prevent discomfort during this time, and how can we restore balance when symptoms appear? This is what we explored in the workshop.

First, you will learn the fundamental concepts of Chinese medicine, such as the two aspects of nature "yin and yang," the three elements that circulate through the body "qi, blood, and water," and the "theory of the five elements," which divides the human body into five "organs."

A particularly important keyword for menopause is the "kidneys" in the theory of the five elements. According to Professor Hayashi, the "kidneys" are the "storehouse of life energy" that stores the "essence" that controls a person's life. When the function of the "kidneys" declines and it also affects the "liver" and "heart" that are closely related to the "kidneys," various symptoms appear.

"Kidneys," "Liver," and "Heart." Check the items of symptoms you are currently experiencing to see where the balance is out of whack, perform a menopausal diagnosis according to type, and learn how to take care of each.

Symptoms of kidney problems include sensitivity to cold and swelling. Furthermore, depending on the balance of yin and yang, symptoms such as dry skin, dizziness, and hot flashes may also occur. A liver disorder can cause irritability and migraines, while a heart disorder can cause anxiety and insomnia.

Once the type of illness has been identified, the appropriate health regimen will be explained. Recommended ingredients to invigorate the "kidneys" are sticky or dark-colored foods. If you are prone to feeling cold, avoid raw foods. If you suffer from dryness or dizziness, avoid spices. To maintain the "liver," make effective use of fragrances to regulate the flow of "ki." And the best way to maintain the "mind" is simply to relax. Soak in a bathtub before going to bed to warm your body and get a good night's sleep. Furthermore, women are prone to blood deficiency at any time, regardless of menopause, so it is important to replenish blood. Red foods, which replenish blood, are also recommended.

Even though it is simply called menopause, the type of "care" you need varies depending on your symptoms and physical condition! The participants were eagerly taking notes.

At the end of the class, we made herbal teas that are good for menopause. We chose our favorite toppings from rose tea, jasmine tea, and chrysanthemum tea, such as black beans, jujubes, and goji berries, which are suited to each symptom.

It is said that things with good fragrances improve the flow of "chi." Indeed, your favorite scent can suddenly soothe your mind, and a gorgeous scent can lift your spirits.

In addition, we also prepared black wolfberry, which is said to have the world's highest antioxidant effect, and butterfly pea tea. The beautiful blue and purple colors that appeared the moment the hot water was poured in drew exclamations of admiration from everyone.

"When you feel good and think 'I'm beautiful,' your 'ki' will flow," says Professor Hayashi. "The mind and body are connected. If you can get your mind in order, your body will also get better. Before you go to sleep, try thinking about the good things that happened that day and try to sleep." Her advice was impressive.

Souvenirs from the workshop included butterfly pea tea, tea based on the Chinese herbal medicine "Shimotsuto" that improves "blood" deficiency, and jujube snacks containing "Akyou", which is full of collagen and replenishes "Qi" and "blood". Professor Hayashi said with a smile that changing your snacks to these kinds of snacks is also a way to take care of yourself. "Taking care of yourself" is a daily activity. Why not start a healthy menopausal life with Chinese herbal medicine, within the scope of what you can do from your everyday life?

Home Chinese medicine @ Hong Kong
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