Norwegian researchers have concluded that acupuncture can help reduce the frequency and severity of menopausal hot flushes. In a multicentre, randomised, controlled trial involving 267 women, the effects of acupuncture plus self-care, were compared with the effects of self-care alone.
In the acupuncture group, hot flush frequency decreased by 5.8 flushes per 24 hours, compared to 3.7 per 24 hours in the control group. Similarly, the acupuncture group experienced a decrease in hot flush intensity of 3.2 units, compared to 1.8 units in the control group.
Women in the acupuncture group also reported significant improvements in other quality of life indices such as sleep. (The Effects of Acupuncture on Hot Flushes among Menopausal Women (Acuflash) Study, A Randomised Controlled Trial. Menopause 2009 May-June.)