This section addresses the treatment of menopause based on differential diagnosis according to the theories of the traditional Chinese medicine. While all patients with menopause will have kidney yin deficiency, many will have other associated conditions that must be addressed. The differential diagnosis and treatments are as follows.
Kidney yin deficiency, one of the most common scenarios of menopause, is characterized by symptoms such as delayed menstruation (scanty in amount or ceased completely); hair loss; scanty vaginal discharge; dryness of vagina; dizziness; tinnitus; hot flashes; night sweats; five heart irritable heat (heat and irritable sensation in the chest, palms and soles); hot flashes; insomnia; increased dreams; itchy skin or formication (tactile hallucination with feeling of insects crawling on skin); and soreness and weakness of lower back and knees. The tongue is red with scanty coating, and there is a thready rapid pulse.
Kidney yang deficiency, probably the least common of all menopause diagnosis, is characterized by heavy menstrual bleeding; metrorrhagia or complete ceasing of menstruation; soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees; edema of the face and limbs; cold limbs; cold appearance; loose stools; polyuria; and urinary incontinence. There is a pale tongue with thin coating, and a deep-thready-weak pulse.
Blood deficiency can be diagnosed when the clinical manifestation shows dizziness; hot flushes; sweating; insomnia; dryness of skin; sallow complexion; emotional instability; and myalgia. There is a pale tongue with a thin coating, and a thready pulse.
