How to Survive Menopause

Let’s be honest. Menopause has a reputation — and not always a flattering one. Hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, brain fog, anxiety, unexpected weight gain, and moods that swing harder than a jazz drummer on espresso.

But here’s the secret: you’re not broken. You’re becoming.

Menopause isn’t a disease to be treated — it’s a transformation to be supported. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), we don’t see menopause as the end of something. We see it as a rebirth — a powerful shift in Jing, Qi, and Shen — that can bring wisdom, vitality, and even deeper connection to yourself.

And yes, it’s possible to feel like yourself again (maybe even better). Here’s how to survive — and thrive — during menopause.

1. Pause for the “Pause”

Menopause invites a slowing down — not in a defeated, giving-up way, but in a coming-home-to-yourself way. If you’re feeling more tired or stretched thin, it’s not weakness. It’s your body saying, “Please notice me.”

→ Try this: Slow down. Tune in. Care intentionally.
Set boundaries. Say no. Make space for rest. Even five minutes of breathing in your car before you walk in the house can recalibrate your nervous system.

2. Calm the Chaos: Your Nervous System Comes First

You can’t pour from an empty teapot — and during menopause, it often feels like someone keeps turning up the heat beneath it. The ups and downs of fluctuating estrogen can hijack your nervous system, pushing you into sympathetic overdrive — also known as “fight or flight” mode. This makes stress hit harder, sleep gets choppy, and your usual go-to tools suddenly feel like they’ve stopped working. Your parasympathetic system — the one responsible for “rest and digest” — needs intentional support to come back online and bring your body into a state of ease and repair.

→ Support tip: At Acubalance, we love layering therapies to bring your system back into balance. Come lie down on our vibroacoustic sound table, experience an emotional mindset shift with a NeuroVIZR session, or restore inner calm with a nutritional IV packed with B vitamins and magnesium.

Acupuncture and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) help regulate your nervous system, shift you out of fight-or-flight, and bring back the ease. Add in breathwork, Chinese herbal medicine, gentle movement, and conscious work like Dr. Brown’s Conscious Work / Energy Psychology, and you’re not just surviving — you’re landing back in your body.

3. Let Food Be Your Fuel (and Your Fire Extinguisher)

What you eat matters more now than ever — not just for symptoms like weight, sleep, or energy, but for calming inflammation, supporting hormone metabolism, and keeping you feeling more like you.

Go-to guidelines:

  • Embrace whole, unprocessed foods rich in polyphenols (think berries, dark leafy greens, olives).

  • Include protein at every meal to stabilize blood sugar and reduce hot flashes.

  • Skip the alcohol or caffeine if sleep is suffering — your body’s whispering (or shouting) for support.

Want a head start? Download our free Longevity Diet — it’s an anti-inflammatory, low-glycemic-index plan designed to balance hormones, lower inflammation, boost energy, and support graceful aging. You’ll feel better, clearer, and more resilient — inside and out.

4. Know Your Body Type

Not all menopausal experiences are the same. Are you more of an “Adrenal Type” (wired and tired)? A “Cold Type” (always chilly and bloated)? Or a “Tired Type” (fatigued, flat, and brain fog)?

Each has a different TCM pattern and treatment approach. This is why cookie-cutter solutions often fail.

→ Pro tip: A custom herbal formula can make all the difference. Chinese herbs gently support hormone balance, calm heat, improve sleep, and boost energy without forcing the body.

5. Consider Hormone Therapy — With the Right Lens

Sometimes we need a little extra help. Micronized progesterone (bioidentical) can be especially helpful for sleep, anxiety, and night sweats during perimenopause. Estrogen therapy may be appropriate too — but it’s not a one-size-fits-all.

→ It’s important not to self-prescribe with bioidentical hormones. You want to work with a healthcare provider who has specific training in hormone therapy and years of clinical experience using it safely and effectively.

Talk to our naturopathic doctors at Acubalance to find out if hormone therapy is a treatment option that could support you with minimal side effects — and how it can be best integrated with acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and lifestyle medicine for a holistic plan.

6. Honour the Inner Shift

Menopause isn’t just a physical transition — it’s a deep internal awakening. Many women describe it as a time when what’s no longer aligned becomes harder to ignore. Old patterns surface. Emotional sensitivity increases. And the call to live more authentically becomes louder.

→ This is not a breakdown. It’s a breakthrough.

While hormones shift in your body, something else is happening too — your mind and spirit are also being asked to rebalance. This is your chance to tune in and ask: What do I need now? Who am I becoming?

Acupuncture and LLLT to ground the body and calm the nervous system:

  • Energy psychology and conscious work to release limiting beliefs

  • Journaling, breathwork, and guided meditations to reconnect with inner wisdom

This is a powerful window to reimagine your life from the inside out. You’re not just managing symptoms — you’re reconnecting with the truest version of yourself.

This Isn’t the End — It’s the Deepening

Menopause isn’t something to “get through.” It’s an invitation to realign — with your body, your rhythm, and your wisdom.

This is your time to feel strong in your choices, calm in your nervous system, and connected to who you’re becoming.

You’re not losing yourself. You’re returning to yourself — with deeper clarity, softer strength, and a whole lot more self-respect.

Let’s walk that path together.