For most women, menopause occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, when the production of female hormones (estrogen and progesterone) begins to decline. These hormonal changes can cause any number of the following to occur: irregular periods, hot flashes, mood changes, forgetfulness, cardiovascular disease.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the Kidney is the organ responsible for growth, maturation and aging. Therefore, the fundamental changes that occur during menopause can be attributed to Kidney deficiency, and Kidney deficiency is the universal diagnosis among all women with menopause. TCM offers a gentle yet effective way to address menopause and related conditions.

Most importantly, herbs are gentle on the body and safer than current allopathic options. While western medicine claims that more time is necessary to determine how menopause can best be treated, Chinese herbal medicine (that has already been time-tested for over 3,000 years) prevails to ensure optimal quality of life in those who are reaching their golden years.

Menopausal women are encouraged to consume a diet with a high content of raw foods, fruits and vegetables to stabilize blood sugar. The Asian diet may contain qualities that modulate estrogen responses, and strong evidence indicates that how the body handles estrogen is far more important than how much estrogen it handles.

Researchers have extensively investigated three aspects of an Asian diet advantage: soy, vegetables, and green tea. Each is associated with a dramatically lower risk of breast cancer. Soy contains isoflavones that neutralize "strong" estrogens, converting them to estrogen metabolites that protect against breast cancers. Some key foods of the western diet may actually promote hot flashes and aggravate mood swings and should be avoided such as: dairy products, red meats, alcohol, sugar, spicy foods, caffeine.

It is worth noting that stress, tension and anxiety (all prevalent qualities of the Western lifestyle) should also be avoided by menopausal women as much as possible.

Overall, menopause is not a disease. It is a normal process of life that can be disturbing and discomforting. Even so, a woman can choose to restore and build her health. Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a natural way to do this through the use of acupuncture, acupressure, herbal remedies and diet.

Dr. Gao is a Colorado and California licensed Acupuncturist and is also nationally certified to practice Acupuncture. She is an instructor at the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine as well as a member of Divine Physics' Integrative Health Care Team.

Many people suffer from allergies without realizing either the causes of their discomfort or the healthful ways they might experience relief while also alleviating symptoms. Some common symptoms include: burning, itching, and tearing eyes; stuffy nose accompanied by nasal mucous, sneezing, coughing, wheezing; dry mouth and throat; abdominal pain and bloating, as well as vomiting and diarrhea. No wonder the sense of dread for those who feel prone to allergies.

Many people don't understand that allergies can come as a direct result of the toxic overload we experience as a society. Some common toxins that can upset us through the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink include: pesticides, heavy metals, fumes, synthetic materials, cigarette smoke, caffeine and food preservatives.

When the body suffers overload of toxic substances, consequences can be varied. Some questions you might ask yourself to see if you are in a process of toxic overload and the subsequent allergies are: Do you often eat processed foods? Do you often drink soda? Do you use artificial sweetener? Do the foods you eat have preservatives, additives, dyes, or sweetener added? Do you drink unfiltered tap water? Do you gain weight? Do you often feel fatigue? Do you have poor digestion? Do you have poor sleep? Do you have low libido?

The general way of dealing with allergies is to mask symptoms with temporary relief. But the alternative approach of detoxification offers a powerful process for becoming symptom free. Through a process of detoxification, the body can be restored to a condition of unburdened potential.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an effective way to detoxify. TCM believes that human beings have a natural flow of energy through the body and that pain, disease, and allergic reactions can be caused by an imbalance or blockage of vital energy. This energy is called Qi (chi). The goal of TCM is to help restore the balance, or harmony, to the optimal flow of Qi and thus return the body to a healthy state.

The Chinese system of natural medicine includes the use of Acupuncture, Herbal Remedies, Food Therapy, and Acupressure. As you take treatments, you may experience the following benefits to your well-being: increased energy; better quality of sleep; improved digestion; clear skin; shiny hair; less allergic symptoms; and more smiles!

Contact Divine Physics for a complimentary consultation. Go Beyond Just Treating Your Symptoms.