Professional Register of
Traditional Chinese Medicine
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), menopause is poetically referred to as the "Second Spring," a term that reframes this life stage as a time of renewal, transformation, and opportunity rather than decline. This perspective stands in contrast to many Western views, which often focus on menopause as a period of loss or difficulty.
The seven year life stages cycle is a fundamental concept in TCM. It describes the natural stages of growth, development, maturation, reproduction and decline in a person. The cycle changes every seven years for women and eight years for men.
For example, year 7 is when the baby teeth fall out. Year 14 is the beginning of the phase of menstruation, at year 21 childbearing is at its peak time.
All of these stages are governed by Jing. Jing is a substance described as precious essence or the substance that underlies all organic life. Jing regulates and is responsible for the overall processes of growth and maturation at all levels. It regulates all changes from conception and birth to decline.
Over the years our Jing declines and this is a natural part of aging. During menopause the focus is on preserving the Jing and nourishing and supporting it where possible. This can mean refraining from activities that might deplete your Jing further. Excess activity, whether its physical activity, overthinking or any type of overwork can deplete Jing. Stress especially can play a major part in its depletion.
Menopause is seen in TCM as a natural transition. Instead of focusing only on hormone levels, TCM looks at the person as a whole. It pays close attention to how the Qi is balanced or not, and how it can be supported as you move through this phase.
Practices such as Tai Chi, Qigong or simply taking more time to rest and nourish yourself can make a big difference and help support your Jing.
TCM encourages you to honour this phase of life. It is not something to be fixed, it is a transformation and with the right support you can move through it feeling more balanced, grounded and empowered.
By treating the root cause rather than just the symptoms, TCM aims to ease the transition and help women maintain health and vitality into their later years.
If you would like to book an appointment with a TCM Practitioner you can use the link below to find one in an area near you. Contact details are provided for you to contact the practitioner directly.
