Q: I read an article about acupuncture and hot flashes that mentioned your name. I would like to get off the hormone replacement therapy (HRT) that I am currently using, but because of my job I cannot tolerate having hot flashes. Before HRT, I would experience more than 20 hot flashes a day. I have been on various forms of HRT for the past six years. Currently I am using the Climara Pro patch. I am 56 years old and, up until 18 months ago, have never had a weight problem. I have gained more than 20 pounds in the past 18 months. I have changed nothing in my exercise routine or my eating habits (if anything I eat less). I had a basic thyroid test, which came back normal. I don't know if the HRT affected these results.
Can you give me any advice on finding someone to treat menopausal symptoms with acupuncture?
A: Hot flashes and weight gain are extremely common symptoms during menopause. Adding synthetic hormones is a very effective way to manage most of the symptoms, but because of potential increases in breast cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease, many women are deciding to try a more natural route. There has been some literature on herbs and food, such as black cohosh and soy products, for many of the symptoms associated with menopause, but the most dramatic improvements I have seen in hot flashes occur with acupuncture. My recommendation is to begin acupuncture and then gradually wean yourself from the synthetic hormones (more than a month or two). Be sure to discuss bone-density issues with your physician. This will need to be followed since the hormones have a protective effect on bone density and (as far as we know) acupuncture does not.
To find a board-certified acupuncturist in any state, check with the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at www.nccaom.org. It maintains a listing of the acupuncturists in the country who have met the requirements for board certification in this field. Next, make sure that your practitioner is licensed in your state and that he/she has some experience in treating women's health.
Q: I took a flaxseed oil capsule (1000 mg, cold compressed). I seemed to itch later in the morning. Can a person be allergic to those?
A: Yes, people can be allergic to many types of foods. There are a few case reports of severe reactions to flaxseed (linseed), as well as reports on allergic reactions among farmers harvesting flaxseed. I could find no reports on reactions to the oil, and although possible, it would be very uncommon.
Q: I was diagnosed with endometriosis last fall and possible adenomyosis. I'm 28 years old and have not had any children yet. My doctor was unable to remove any of the adhesions due to their location, which is on one ovary and the cul-de-sac. I refused Lupron treatment, but I have been on a continuous birth-control therapy. Is there anything else I can to do battle this disease, to help relieve the pain when I do have a cycle and to preserve my fertility? How would I go about finding a holistic doctor who has some knowledge in this area? My husband and I are hoping to have a child in the next year.
A: Endometriosis is a disease where cells from the lining of the uterus are found in other areas of the body, usually within the pelvis. These cells respond to your body's female hormones, just like the cells within the uterus. They grow in response to estrogen, mature and become more complex in response to progesterone, and bleed at the end of the month when you are having your period. This monthly bleeding into the pelvic cavity can cause severe pain and scarring (adhesions). Lupron causes the body to stop producing the female hormones, thus cutting off the stimulation to these “implants.” Some research supports the use of low saturated and trans fat diets (presumably because these fats tend to increase inflammation in the body), fish oil supplementation, exercise and acupuncture for painful cycles and endometriosis. Researchers also are looking into the effects of phytoestrogens (as in soy and black cohosh), which are much weaker than your own estrogen and compete with your estrogen. This may lower the overall effect that your estrogen has on the endometrial implants. More clinical research needs to be done in this area, however.
Ed Miller, MD, is a local obstetrician/gynecologist who practices out of Lakewood Hospital. He is a member of the American Holistic Medical Association and may be helpful in guiding you through alternatives for this serious disease. He can be reached at (216) 529-8683.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this column is not meant to diagnose or treat any condition. Seek the advice of a medical professional before making any changes to your diet, supplements or medication.
Tanya Edwards, M.D., M.Ed., is the Medical Director for the Center for Integrative Medicine and is a staff member in the Department of Family Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. As a Family Practice physician, she sees patients at the Cleveland Clinic Independence Family Health Center, and will begin wellness consultations at the new Cleveland Clinic Wellness Center. For the past seven years, she has been teaching complementary and alternative medicine courses at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
Some questions in the “Ask Dr. Edwards” column appear courtesy of NetWellness.org.
NetWellness.org - Consumer health information that's unbiased and credible from university health professionals. Ask university faculty questions. It's completely confidential, anonymous, unbiased and free.
