Transition Stage: Menopause

Many women suffer when the hormonal shifts of menopause begin. They may be stuck in this transition for years, suffering from anxiety, hot flashes, insomnia, loss of satisfaction in love making, irritability and pain. Traditional medicine offers little help or hope for this phase of a woman’s life. I offer strategic planning and natural treatment for the perimenopausal years. You will feel relieved of stress and menopausal symptoms and empowered to take your life to this next step with joy, pleasure and freedom that menopause brings. I invite you to step out of the struggle and into yourself with information, natural therapies, insight and support instead of overwhelm, discomfort, pain and irritation.

My name is Abigail Thomas and I am a board certified acupuncturist at Balance Acupuncture in Ithaca, NY. What I have seen over two decades in practice is that many women in menopause are having a common experience, yet they are suffering from symptoms alone. I want you to know that menopause is a natural transition and that there are time tested strategies to relieve symptoms and help you move forward into this next phase of your life. Click the link below to schedule a one on call where we can discuss how I can offer you the care that you need to meet the challenges and thrive during your menopausal years.

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Hot Flashes
Night Sweats
Dryness
Low Libido
Irregular Periods
Heavy Periods
Mood Swings
Brain Fog
Fatigue
Difficulty Focusing
Weight Gain

Patient Success Stories

Awakening Serenity: 58-Year-Old Overcomes 6-Year Menopausal Battle with Anxiety and Insomnia through Acupuncture

Alice was 58-year-old who when she came to see me for help with anxiety. She began to suffer from anxiety at the same time as her periods became irregular and she entered her perimenopausal transition around the age of 52. Her anxiety was significantly impacting her life. She was waking during the night feeling anxious and sweaty. She noticed dryness in her hair and skin, and she felt like she was stuck in perpetual PMS. She had been offered hormone replacement therapy by her doctor, but she did not want to take it as her mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer in her 50’s and Alice was not comfortable with the risks of hormone therapy. She had tried increasing her exercise through walking and yoga, which she enjoyed but these activities did not reduce her stress and anxiety level the way they had in the past. When she came to see me, she had started to limit her time outside of her home due to anxiety and she was sleeping only 4 to 5 hours per night, which made her exhausted, on top of feeling anxious. After doing a personalized assessment, I created a comprehensive treatment plan for Alice, which included regular acupuncture, a review of her vitamins and supplements and a referral for counseling. After 6 weeks of care, she was feeling significantly better. She was sleeping 6-7 hours per night and experienced fewer night sweats. She developed strategies to cope with her anxiety. The plan was effective in calming Alice’s nervous system and balancing her hormones and allowed her body to fully transition into menopause. A year later, Alice told me that she felt like a different woman – she had resumed all of her daily activities and was able to enjoy her life again.

Reclaiming Digestive Freedom: 52-Year-Old Peri-Menopausal Woman Finds Relief from IBS and Acid Reflux Without Drastic Diets

Suzanna came to see me because she had experienced a significant downturn in her health over the past three years. She was 52 years old with teenage children and a busy work life in academia. While she had always been healthy and active, she had recently been struggling with constipation, loose stool, and indigestion. She had seen medical specialists, who had diagnosed irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and acid reflux. She had met with a nutritionist who recommended an extensive elimination diet, but she felt hesitant about making such dramatic changes and didn’t know if she would stick to such a limited diet. Her primary care doctor had prescribed a short course of medication for the reflux and suggested that she see an acupuncturist for the IBS symptoms. In our first meeting, I learned that Suzanne had been through a series of stressful events at work and that parenting her teenage son had become increasingly difficult for her. She also explained that her periods had become more irregular and while she had not thought much about how it might affect her health, she assumed she was heading for menopause soon. After doing my acupuncture assessment, I identified that Suzanna’s digestive pattern was linked to emotional stress and menopausal changes. Her body needed support to regulate digestion. I explained that acupuncture could help to regulate her digestive system as well as calm her nervous system, which has a significant effect on both hormones and digestion. As her digestive symptoms lessened, I began to help Suzanna to find simple strategies for managing her stress level. She also felt more open to exploring how what she ate was affecting her body, and I supported her to make small but significant dietary changes that allowed her to have much more control over her symptoms, while not sacrificing the pleasure of eating and cooking for her family. After three months of care, Suzanna rated the intensity of her symptoms at a 2 out 10, compared to 8 out of 10 when she started treatment.