Menopause leads to bodily changes that may have an impact on well-being. Many perimenopausal women report symptoms of hot flashes, sudden sensations of intense heat with sweating and flushing. In a Danish study of perimenopausal women, 87.2% reported hot flashes.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was previously the treatment of choice for hot flashes, but studies have shown that it may increase the risk of breast cancer. Postmenopausal women who take combined estrogen plus progestin menopausal HRT for at least five years double their risk of breast cancer.
 
Complementary and alternative therapies (CAM), including acupuncture, have become increasingly popular for menopausal hot flashes. Results of randomized control trials on acupuncture for hot flashes are inconclusive but sufficient to justify further studies.

Researchers recently set up a randomized control trial to describe the experiences of changes in health reported by postmenopausal women who had undergone acupuncture treatment for hot flashes. Patients received Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupuncture treatment that was provided by 10 experienced acupuncturists in three different cities in Norway. In this RCT, outcome measurements included changes in number and intensity of hot flashes, health-related quality of life, and urine calcitonin gene-related peptide excretion.

Eighty-three of the 112 participants reported a substantial impact from the treatment with respect to a reduction in frequency and intensity of hot flashes both by night and by day. Sixteen participants reported improved sleep after treatment. Thirty-seven of the women described positive bodily changes beyond the hot flashes and related problems: improvement of energy, balance, or relaxation, as well as resolution of various health problems (migraine, digestive problems, hypertension, emotional instability, and pain syndromes). Twelve participants were not sure if they could ascribe their change, if any, to the acupuncture treatment, 15 reported no change at all, and 2 described feeling worse.

This new study demonstrates that acupuncture might provide a safe and effective alternative to harmful hormone replacement therapy. 
References:
1. Terje Alraek, Kirsti Malterud. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. February 2009, 15(2): 153-158. doi:10.1089/acm.2008.0310.