Acupuncture for Hot Flashes: Does It Work?

Key Takeaways:

• Research shows mixed results on acupuncture for menopause symptoms, but many women report hot flash relief, better sleep, and improved well-being.

• Acupuncture usually comes with minimal side effects, making it a good option for women who can’t use hormone replacement therapy (HRT), including some breast cancer patients.

• While promising, acupuncture may work best as a complementary approach alongside lifestyle adjustments. Or medical treatments like HRT,  to treat persistent and severe symptoms of menopause.
  

Hot flashes can throw off your sleep, your mood, and your overall quality of life.  According to research, they’re also the most common reason women going through perimenopause and menopause seek medical help. The good news is that a number of options exist for treating hot flashes, one of which is acupuncture.

Acupuncture — a traditional Chinese medicine practice — has become a popular complementary option for finding relief from hot flashes. Here’s what to know about how the treatment works, what the science says about its efficacy for handling hot flashes, what to expect if you try it, plus alternative medical options.

Hot flashes are sudden waves of warmth in the face, neck, and chest, and they’re often accompanied by sweating, a faster heartbeat, anxiety, and feelings of faintness or weakness. They can last anywhere between 30 seconds to several minutes.

And while some women only experience occasional and mild flashes, others deal with frequent or severe episodes that disrupt sleep, daily routine, and overall quality of life.

Hot flashes happen mainly because estrogen levels rise and fall — and eventually permanently decline — during perimenopause and menopause. Estrogen helps regulate the body’s version of an internal thermostat. So when levels of the hormone drop, the body can become more sensitive to temperature changes. This situation can also trigger blood vessel dilation, sweating, and other cooling responses.

While there are effective medical treatments for hot flashes, acupuncture is a popular complementary approach. Let’s look at how it may offer relief.

→ Learn More: What Is Perimenopause?

Acupuncture involves gently inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to help restore balance and support overall well-being. With roots in Confucianism and Taoism, acupuncture is a cornerstone of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It’s an ancient treatment that practitioners have been using for thousands of years to address a wide range of health concerns — including menopause symptoms, like hot flashes.

Researchers are still studying exactly how acupuncture treatment works for hot flashes, but theories include that it may help by:

• Regulating neurotransmitters. Acupuncture may influence chemicals like endorphins, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which affect mood, pain perception, and temperature regulation.

• Modulating hormones. Some studies on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS, an endocrine disorder) and acupuncture suggest the treatment — in conjunction with other therapies — may support the endocrine system and influence hormone activity.

• Improving blood flow. Research suggests that acupuncture may affect blood vessel dilation and constriction, which could impact how you experience hot flashes.

• Reducing stress. By promoting relaxation and easing anxiety, acupuncture may help reduce stress levels, which in turn can lessen the frequency or intensity of hot flashes.

And while that all sounds great, you may still wonder whether acupuncture can actually be effective for making hot flashes go away — or at least feel less intense. The short answer is maybe.

Research shows mixed results.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses indicate that acupuncture can raise the level of estradiol equivalent to hormone therapy, and at least one small study found that acupuncture reduced the bothersome nature of hot flashes for participants. Some studies also report improvements in sleep quality and overall well-being during perimenopause, with benefits lasting weeks or even months after treatment ends.

However, other research has found no difference in the experience of hot flashes between traditional acupuncture and sham acupuncture (where needles are placed superficially or at non-therapeutic points). This raises the possibility that the positive effects of acupuncture could, in some cases, be partly due to the placebo effect.

Overall, acupuncture appears to be a safe and potentially helpful complementary option for managing hot flashes during menopause, especially for women with breast cancer who can’t use treatments like hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

A typical course of acupuncture for treating hot flashes may involve weekly sessions for several weeks in a clinical practice setting, with the frequency tapering as symptoms improve. Acupuncture protocols can vary, given that acupuncturists tailor plans to each person’s needs and response.

Here’s what you can expect from an acupuncture session to treat hot flashes:

1. Your first visit includes a detailed discussion of your health history, hot flash patterns, lifestyle, and other symptoms. The practitioner may also observe your tongue and feel your pulse, which are diagnostic tools in TCM that help guide treatment.

2. You’ll lie comfortably while very thin, sterile needles are inserted at specific points on the body — commonly on the hands, feet, arms, legs, back, or ears. Most people feel little to no pain, though some may notice a dull ache, tingling, or heaviness at the points. In TCM, this sensation, called deqi, is considered a good sign that the treatment is working.

3. The needles typically remain in place for 20 to 30 minutes. During this time, you can relax, listen to music, or even take a short nap.

4. Once the acupuncturist gently (and painlessly!) removes the needles, you can continue going about your day.

Acupuncture can be a promising option for managing hot flashes, but like any treatment, it comes with both advantages and potential drawbacks:

While acupuncture can be a promising option, it’s helpful to know about additional treatments for vasomotor symptoms, like hot flashes and night sweats, in order to pick the best therapy for your needs.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

HRT is an evidence-based treatment for hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause, including mood swings and night sweats. It works by delivering estrogen — and sometimes progesterone, which protects the uterine lining — directly into the bloodstream. HRT is available in multiple forms, including oral pills, transdermal patches, gels, and sprays.

Compared with acupuncture, HRT generally provides more consistent and robust relief, though it may not be suitable for everyone, depending on medical history and individual risk factors.

If you’re interested in learning more about HRT for menopause or perimenopause, you can connect with a healthcare provider through Hers. They can walk you through the best treatment options for your health needs and goals.

→ Learn more: What Is HRT?

Non-Hormonal Medications

For those who cannot or prefer not to use HRT, several other prescription options may help:

• Antidepressants. Certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) can reduce hot flashes by influencing neurotransmitters involved in temperature regulation, while also helping with mood changes.

• Gabapentin. While approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an anti-seizure medication, gabapentin can be an effective off-label treatment for reducing hot flashes.

• Clonidine. This is a blood pressure medication that might also help some people manage hot flashes.

Lifestyle Adjustments

While lifestyle changes may not fully eliminate severe hot flashes, such shifts may provide additional relief and support overall well-being:

• Avoid triggers. Identify and limit personal triggers, such as spicy foods, cigarettes, caffeine, alcohol, or hot drinks.

• Wear layers. Loose, breathable clothing worn in layers could make it easier to adjust to temperature changes when a hot flash hits.

• Use cooling strategies. Keeping fans and cooling compresses handy while on the go, and your home cool at night, could help.

Acupuncture can be a promising therapy for managing hot flashes, particularly for women with symptoms of menopause who may have limited treatment choices.

While it may not work for everyone, research suggests acupuncture can reduce the magnitude of how bothersome hot flashes are, with minimal side effects and potential additional holistic benefits. Working with both a healthcare provider and a licensed acupuncturist can also help you determine if acupuncture is a suitable complementary or alternative approach for your individual needs.

Can acupuncture help breast cancer patients with hot flashes?

Yes. Hot flashes can be particularly challenging for breast cancer patients to treat, especially those on hormone-blocking therapies who cannot use systemic hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Clinical studies have shown that acupuncture can reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes in breast cancer survivors, while also improving quality of life. It’s best to work closely with your oncologist to determine the safest approach for your situation.

Can acupuncture help with menopause hot flashes?

Research suggests acupuncture can reduce hot flashes for some individuals, though evidence is mixed. Benefits often build over multiple sessions and may persist for several weeks or months after treatment ends.

Can acupuncture help with weight gain during menopause?

While acupuncture may support overall wellness, stress reduction, and sleep, there’s no strong evidence that it directly causes weight loss or prevents menopause-related weight gain.

Where do acupuncture needles go for treating symptoms of menopause?

Acupuncturists typically target points on the lower abdomen, back, arms, legs, and ears for treating menopause symptoms. However, the exact acupuncture points used can vary depending on an individual’s symptoms and the practitioner’s approach.