Just as the New Year starts, for some of us at least, the news is wonderful. For those women who have been taking medication to deal with hot flashes, a new study led by Dr. Eleanor Walker of Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, finds that acupuncture is just as effective as medication.
Acupuncture was just as effective as the drug Effexor, also called venlafaxine, in managing symptoms including hot flashes and night sweats. But when you add in the fact that not only were there no side effects from acupuncture but instead women reported increased energy, overall sense of well-being and sexual desire, then in my book it works better!
In contrast those taking Effexor reported side effects including nausea, headache, difficulty sleeping, dizziness, increased blood pressure fatigue and anxiety.
I would recommend reading the article on MSNBC that goes into more detail.
