Menopause

In Western medicine, menopause is identified as the cessation of menstruation due to the ovaries' diminished hormonal activity, usually occurring around the age of fifty. Diagnosis is confirmed after a year of amenorrhea and marks the end of a woman's childbearing years (Greendale et al., 1998, "The Menopause," Lancet). Symptoms such as hot flashes and mood swings often precede this phase during the period termed perimenopause. In contrast, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) ascribes menopausal symptoms to three distinct patterns of disharmony: Liver yin deficiency, characterized by "empty fire" symptoms and often arising from lifestyle-related liver blood deficiencies (Zhou et al., 2014, Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine); Kidney yin deficiency, presenting with symptoms like tinnitus and night sweats (Lai et al., 2017, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine); and phlegm due to spleen deficiency, which manifests as dizziness and mood swings (Zhong et al., 2011, Journal of Ethnopharmacology). Both paradigms offer unique diagnostic and treatment perspectives for managing menopause.