The Chinese Herb Dang Gui pictured in Center
New research has confirmed that Chinese herbs for menopause are effective in addressing various menopausal symptoms. In particular the symptoms of night sweats and hot flashes were improved with the formulation known as Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang. This formula is known in English as Tang Kuei Decoction to Tonify the Blood and has been used for hundreds of years in China for many conditions, not only menopausal hot flashes.
The findings were reported in the Journal of North American Menopause Society which noted that the researchers used the Green Climatic Scale Score, Vasomotor symptoms and the Menopause Specific Quality of Life Score.
This is good news for women in the West, many of whom still resort to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) which has been shown to cause heart disease and increase breast cancer risk.
Unfortunately, release of research news like this on Chinese herbs for menopause, is not really portraying an accurate understanding of the true value of Chinese herbs in the treatment of disease. Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang is just one on numerous Chinese herbal medicine formulations that can benefit menopause and the same formula can in fact treat many other symptoms including
- Tiredness
- Pale complexion
- Fever
- Irritability
- Headache
However, it will only help these symptoms if the diagnosis unique to that individual requires that specific formulation. For example Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang could actually aggravate the menopausal symptoms if it was inappropriately prescribed. Hence it is not advised for those women suffering from menopausal heat symptoms to rush and buy Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang.
Take heed of the old saying: one person’s medicine is another person’s poison!
Dang Gu Bu Xue Tang has already been the topic of much research in the past both in China and in the West. Other researchers have found that the formula demonstrated to help in the treatment of osteoporosis, improves immune response and it also regulates estrogen levels.
Chinese herbs give optimum results when they have been prescribed by a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner who is qualified in Chinese herbal medicine. Chinese herbal medicine training requires additional fours years of training on top of acupuncture training. In Australia, Chinese herbal practitioners are registered separately to acupuncture physicians.
Heiko Lade, of The Acupuncture Clinic – Hastings holds a masters degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the University of Technology, Sydney and has had nearly 30 years experience. He worked for many years in Sydney’s Chinatown with renowned Chinese herbalist Dr Kevin Zheng Ping Lu at the Chinese Ginseng and Herbs Company.
