Acupuncture for hot flushes and
night sweats in London
Hot flushes and night sweats can be disruptive, frustrating and surprisingly exhausting. For some women they are an occasional wave of heat; for others they interrupt sleep, affect confidence, disturb concentration and leave the body feeling permanently on high alert.
Acupuncture offers a calm, practical and whole-person approach to supporting women through peri-menopause, menopause and post-menopause. In clinic, treatment is tailored to your symptoms, your cycle or menopause stage, your sleep, stress levels, digestion, temperature patterns and overall health picture.
What Are Hot Flushes and Night Sweats?
Hot flushes and night sweats are often described as vasomotor symptoms. They are common during perimenopause and menopause and are linked with changing hormone levels, particularly fluctuating and declining oestrogen. The British Menopause Society notes that hot flushes and night sweats are among the most common menopause symptoms, with many women also experiencing sleep disturbance, low energy, mood changes and anxiety alongside them.
They can feel like sudden heat rising through the chest, neck and face, sweating, palpitations, clamminess, anxiety or waking drenched at night. Even when they are medically “normal”, they are not something you simply have to put up with.
How Acupuncture Can Help
Acupuncture aims to regulate the body rather than override it. From a Western perspective, acupuncture is understood to stimulate sensory nerves under the skin and in the muscles, influencing the nervous system and the release of natural substances such as endorphins. The NHS describes acupuncture as a treatment that may stimulate the body’s own pain-relieving and regulatory responses.
For hot flushes and night sweats, this may be relevant because many women feel as though their internal thermostat has become over-reactive. Acupuncture treatment often focuses on calming the stress response, supporting sleep, reducing heat sensations, easing palpitations and helping the body move out of a constant “fight or flight” state.
Research is encouraging with a BMJ Open pragmatic study found that a brief course of standardised acupuncture was associated with clinically relevant reductions in hot flushes, day and night sweats, general sweating, sleep problems and emotional symptoms in women with moderate-to-severe menopausal symptoms. In real-world practice, many women seek acupuncture because they want support that is personalised, non-drug based and focused on the whole picture, not just one symptom.
A Western and Chinese Medicine Perspective
In Western medicine, hot flushes and night sweats are commonly linked to hormonal fluctuation and changes in the brain’s temperature regulation during perimenopause and menopause. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, they are often understood through patterns such as Yin deficiency, Kidney Yin deficiency, Heart-Kidney imbalance, Liver Qi constraint or deficiency heat, depending on the individual presentation. In practical terms, this means two women with “hot flushes” may receive different acupuncture treatments: one may need deeper support for sleep and cooling, another may need help with stress, irritability and heat rising, while another may need rebuilding after long-term exhaustion or heavy periods.
What Treatment Looks Like
Your first session will usually include a detailed consultation covering your symptoms, menstrual or menopause history, sleep, digestion, temperature, stress, medical history and any medication or HRT you are using.
Treatment may include body acupuncture, lifestyle guidance, breathing or nervous-system regulation techniques and sometimes dietary suggestions from a Chinese medicine perspective. Where appropriate, acupuncture can sit well alongside HRT, CBT, nutrition, pelvic health support, herbal medicine or GP-led care. NICE currently recommends HRT as a key treatment option for menopause symptoms and also discusses non-hormonal approaches, so an integrated approach can be very sensible depending on your needs and preferences.
When to Seek Extra Support
Please seek medical advice if your sweating is new, severe, unexplained, occurs with weight loss, fever, chest pain, fainting, unusual bleeding, or if you are under 45 and suspect early menopause. It is also worth speaking to your GP if symptoms are affecting your sleep, mood, work or relationships.
Acupuncture is not about ignoring medical care. It works best when used intelligently: as part of a supportive, joined-up approach that helps you feel more comfortable, steady and in control.
Local Women’s Health Acupuncture in South London
I support women experiencing hot flushes, night sweats and wider menopause-related symptoms from Camberwell, Peckham, Herne Hill, Kennington, Elephant & Castle, Waterloo and surrounding South London areas.
If your sleep is being disrupted, your temperature feels unpredictable or you simply do not feel like yourself, acupuncture is a positive and practical step. You do not need to wait until symptoms become unbearable before asking for help.
Book a consultation to discuss how acupuncture can support your hot flushes, night sweats and wider hormonal health.
Frequently asked questions
Can acupuncture stop hot flushes completely?
Some women notice a significant reduction in frequency, intensity or recovery time after a course of treatment. Others find that sleep, anxiety, sweating and overall resilience improve first. The aim is to reduce the burden of symptoms and support your body’s regulation.
How many acupuncture sessions will I need?
This depends on severity, how long symptoms have been present and your wider health picture. Many women start with a short course of weekly treatments, then review progress.
Can I have acupuncture if I am taking HRT?
Yes, in many cases acupuncture can be used alongside HRT. You should not stop or change prescribed medication without speaking to your GP or menopause clinician.
Is acupuncture suitable if I cannot take HRT?
Many women who cannot take HRT, or prefer not to, explore acupuncture as part of a non-hormonal support plan. It can also be combined with nutrition, stress management, sleep work and medical advice where needed.
Do night sweats always mean menopause?
No. Menopause is a common reason, but night sweats can also be linked to infection, thyroid changes, medication, anxiety or other medical conditions. If symptoms are new, severe or unexplained, speak to your GP.
Further Reading
NICE Menopause: Identification and Management — UK guidance on menopause diagnosis and treatment options.
Cochrane Review: Acupuncture for Menopausal Hot Flushes — a cautious evidence review on acupuncture for vasomotor symptoms.
BMJ Open ACOM Study — research on acupuncture for moderate-to-severe menopausal symptoms, including hot flushes and night sweats.
Have a Question?
If you have a question, email hello@deborahwarden.com one of our expert team will be happy to answer. If you are able to, please leave a phone number as it can be easier to chat about your questions.