This Episode Dr Shiroko Sokitch MD was generous enough to give up her time to chat about Menopause and Chinese Medicine. It is very clear that Dr Shiroko is a doctor who really cares about her patients and here we chat about the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Menopause and how TCM can help. I was also excited to hear all about her new book Healing When It Seems Impossible – 7 Keys to Defy the Odds.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
TCM is holistic with an emphasis on the integrity of the human body and the close relationship between a human and their environment. TCM focuses on health maintenance and in the treatment of disease the emphasis is on improving the body’s resistance to diseases. Ai-Ping at al,(2004)
Chinese medicine is a perfect example of integrated medicine, with a whole systems approach.Increasingly Western Medicine is taking an interest in TCM.
‘Qi’ and Yin and Yang
Two concepts that are unique and fundamental to Chinese medicine are Qi which is usually translated as “vital energy”. And yin and yang which describe the relative qualities of all things which exist in harmony. Yin is the feminine, cool, night-time and Yang is the masculine, heat and daytime. These two concepts form what we might call the “roots” of Chinese medicine. *Read more about the attributes of yin and yang in this article.
TCM and Menopause
In Chinese Medicine all organs have a function and the kidneys are the organ of menopause. The kidneys hold the Jing or life essence and the secret to staying balanced and preserving the Jing essence is ‘right living’. Not too much of any one thing, sex, food, stress and work for example. Jing is acquired from birth and some lifestyle choices can deplete the Jing, According to TCM Premature menopause may be attributable to poor lifestyle, chronic infections or traumatic childhood events; all of which can damage the life essence.
The kidneys rule energy, big transitions of life, regulate hearing, the brain chemistry, the power of will and the emotions of fear and anxiety. This certainly goes a long way to describe my experiences of menopause!
Menopause is a time where energy is shifting and the Yin energy begins to drop. Normally as night time approaches yin energy should be rising and yang should be declining. However the yin deficiency leaves us with more of the yang energy which explains the nighttime hot flashes.
Menopause and Meaning
A time of physical and emotional shift and TCM tells of energy shifting from the uterus to the heart. This shift brings with it an emotional time. We might begin to consider our own mortality and contemplate how we can finally be true to our hearts. It’s a time of review and reflection. Who do I want to be? and what do I want the rest of my life to look like? This is definitely something that I have felt through my transition and according to Doctor Shiroko LOVE might just be our saviour. Why not listen to our chat as you chop your veggies or take some air.
Dr Shiroko Sokitch MD trained in general surgery, and working as an Emergency room Doctor for 10 years while attending acupuncture school. This gave Dr. Shiroko a broad range of medical experience. Her new book – Healing When It Seems Impossible – 7 Keys to Defy the Odds is about her unique and comprehensive healing approach. Now available on Amazon.
She is the owner of Heart to Heart Medical Center in Santa Rosa, California, since 1993, Dr. Shiroko is an expert at using many modalities to bring your body to balance and wholeness. Her specialty is Healing When It Seems Impossible. She brings hope and healing to difficult health conditions by blending Chinese and Western medicine with a deep spiritual and emotional healing approach.
Disclaimer: any advice we provide in this podcast is for information only, and if you are unsure of its suitability for your specific circumstances you should consult your medical practitioner before making any lifestyle changes.
