Acupuncture may help reduce the severity of hot flashes — a typical symptom of menopause — in nearly 50% of women, say researchers. These women were further randomised to receive up to 20 acupuncture treatments within six months or to a control group. “Women who had a reduction in their hot flashes saw a benefit beginning after about three to four weeks of weekly treatments,” Avis added. Of the 170 women who received acupuncture, a small group of women (11.9%) had an 85% reduction in hot flashes by the eighth week of the study, Avis said. However, 37% showed only a minimal reduction of 9.6% in frequency of hot flashes, while 4% reported a 100% increase in hot flashes, the researchers concluded in the paper published in the journal Menopause.

Source: Hindustan Times September 29, 2016 13:18 UTC