HOT flashes are probably one of the most irritating symptoms of menopause. It drives many women up the wall and in desperate search of a cure or at least relief.

Hot flashes are typically experienced as a feeling of intense heat with sweating and rapid heartbeat. It may typically last from two to 30 minutes for each occurrence.

The sensation of heat usually begins in the face and chest, although it may also appear on the back of the neck and spread throughout the body.

Some women pass out if the effects are too strong. In addition to being an internal sensation, the surface of the skin, especially on the face, becomes hot to the touch. This is the origin of the alternative term "hot flush", since the sensation of heat is often accompanied by visible reddening of the face.

Over the ages, women have tried a variety of ways that involved herbs, spices, animal by-products, vitamins and minerals to ease this sensation.
There were also processes such as bio feedback, counselling, stress management, meditation, massage and of course, acupuncture.

Of late, they have been using modern medicines.

It seems that acupuncture works as well as a major drug commonly used to combat hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms that can accompany breast cancer treatment. This was reported at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology meeting in Boston, Massachusetts in September.

Actually the benefits of acupuncture last longer than the effects of the drug that is the current "gold standard" in the treatment. Also, acupuncture is without any negative side effects.

After 12 weeks of treatment, symptoms were reduced for 15 additional weeks for women who had undergone acupuncture, compared with just two weeks for those who had taken the drug.

Not only were there no side effects associated with acupuncture, women who underwent the treatment reported increased energy and a overall sense of well-being.

On the other hand, those taking the drug reported side effects including nausea, headache, difficulty in sleeping, dizziness, increased blood pressure, fatigue and anxiety.

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years in China and other Asian countries, notably Japan. Studies continue to show its benefits for a variety of health problems.

The type of acupuncture most widely used and studied involves penetrating your skin with thin needles that are then manipulated by hand or electrical stimulation. The idea is that inserting needles at certain points in your body will unblock the flow of qi (or vital energy) along your body's meridian pathways.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, if qi cannot flow along your body's meridians -- due to an imbalance in yin (cold, slow) and yang (hot, excited) forces -- this is when disease develops.

Western studies, meanwhile, have shown that the use of acupuncture on pain-relief points cuts the blood flow to key areas of your brain within seconds, which may explain how this ancient technique might help relieve pain and even treat addictions.

It has also been suggested that acupuncture may help support the activity of your body's natural pain-killing chemicals.

The National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine states that over eight million American adults have used acupuncture, with relatively few complications.

Acupuncture is helpful not only for pain, addictions and hot flashes, but also:

- Headaches

- Nausea

- Fertility problems

- Arthritis, and

- Morning sickness during pregnancy

Give the shift back to nature and things natural, this ancient procedure is clearly going to play a more significant role in future health and wellness management. A sign of its increasing popularity is that major medical schools in the US now offer acupuncture as part of the curriculum to undergraduates and as update courses to doctors.

Datuk Dr Rajen M. is a pharmacist with a doctorate in holistic medicine. Email him at health@po.jaring.my