Hormone replacement is having a renaissance. The demand for hormones has gone up so fast that manufacturers cannot keep up, causing a shortage on estradiol patches in the United States. To be sure, hormone replacement has many benefits. But menopause has been here a lot longer than Western medicine. Like childbirth, it’s a natural process. As a midwife, I can’t help but wonder how we can midwife that process rather than jumping too quickly to pathologizing it. How can we expand our approach to perimenopause to include more than meds?
Yesterday I sat down with chiropractor, acupuncturist and herbalist Sara Scrivano to talk about the Chinese medicine perspective on menopause. Sara shared some expansive and poetic ways to think about this life stage which defy the youth-obsessed messages we get from mainstream culture.
She characterized menopause as a gateway or a portal, rather than an ending. She explained how in Chinese medicine, there is a connection between the heart and the uterus. Because of that connection, when we stop menstruating, this results in increased nourishment for the heart. Since the blood no longer leaves the body but instead goes up into the heart, this is thought to be a time when the spirit becomes enriched.
If you’re curious about a more holistic and affirming approach to menopause, I highly recommend watching the replay of this conversation. In addition to the concepts I shared, Sara also gives her top recommendations and resources for healthy aging, and explains what it looks like to receive care during perimenopause that includes both Western medicine and Chinese medicine.
About Wise Body Women’s Health
Wise Body Women’s Health is an integrative gynecology practice in New York City founded by Jane Riccobono, CNM, WHNP. Appointments blend evidence-based medical care with attention to the body’s deeper signals—intuition, emotion, and the wisdom often dismissed by conventional medicine. Whether you’re navigating perimenopause, chronic symptoms, or simply want a provider who sees the whole picture, Wise Body offers unhurried, whole-person care. We are currently accepting new patients for both telehealth (anywhere in New York State) and in-person visits in NYC. Learn more here.
