One very distinct aspect of Traditional Chinese Medicine lies in its strong belief and ability in the realm of maintenance and preventative medicine. Since there is not much media exposure regarding life after menopause, many women tend to believe that once they pass menopause, life will return to normal, and may even be better without the annoyance of dealing with monthly menstrual cycle. In a sense, it is true. Life can be so much more enjoyable during the golden years if one is in good health.
The ideas behind balancing the Ying-Yang and harmonizing the symbiosis of the Zang-Fu organs are essential to the maintenance/preventative approach in TCM for post menopause. As previously mentioned, the Zang-Fu organ kidney plays a key role in human growth, development and reproduction. During menopause, the kidney yin and kidney yang as well as the main functions of the Zang-Fu organ kidney output declines; a woman goes through a physical and mental rollercoaster ride as the body tries to adjust to this change. Once this declivity comes to a gradual stop, it is the end of menopause.
Recalling some of the main functions of the Zang-Fu organ kidney: to store essence (for the nourishment of bones, marrow, and hair), and to govern the reproductive system and water metabolism. These functions reflect many of the common complaints from post menopausal women. Complaints such as low (sexual) energy, weak knees and lower back pains and aches, insomnia, water retention especially in the lower extremity, dry or easily fatigued eyes, and other similar symptoms can all be improved with an overall strengthening and boosting of the Zang-Fu organ kidney (yin and yang) and its associations with other affected organs.
Many of the post menopause issues often are addressed with the usage of herbs. As noted earlier, many of the mentioned complaints arise due to an overall declined output from the Zang-Fu organ kidney. Commonly used kidney strengthening herbal formulas like Genjie Da Bu Wan, Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan, Yao Kwei Pills, and Shi Quan Da Bu Wan are good kidney tonics that address the decreased output function of the Zang-Fu organ kidney as well as facilitating the the balance of kidney-ying and kidney -yang.
One of the basic principles of TCM lies in the theory of inter-consuming-supporting relationship between Yin-Yang as well as with the symbiosis of all the Zang-Fu organs working in harmony. Namely, the idea of achieving a balance with one’s surrounding and inner being. After menopause, the output function of Zang-Fu kidney is considerably decreased, therefore, other Zang-Fu organs are liable to be affected by this change as well. A common complaint from women after menopause is the inability to get a good nights sleep. Herbal formulas such as Tien Wang Pu Sin Tan, Gui Pi Wan, and DAAN’s Relaxation Tea are often prescribed to help with this because all three formulas address the need of creating a better link between the Zang-Fu organ kidney with the other affected Zang-Fu organs. Operating under the same principle of strengthening the relationship between the Zang-Fu organ kidney and liver, herbal formulas such as Ming Mu Di Huang Wan and DAAN’s Good Sight Pills are often used for dry and easily fatigued eyes after menopause.
From this brief overview of post menopause, it is easy to see that with some maintenance and preventative measures through the usage of herbs, a woman’s life during the golden years can really be golden.
