Main ClinicWomen's Health

MENOPAUSAL SYNDROME

Menopausal Syndrome

Do you suddenly feel hot and sweaty, or get angry for no clear reason?

Menopause is not an illness; it is a time when the body’s rhythm changes. Rather than enduring it alone, managing symptoms appropriately can help you prepare for the rest of your life in better health.

+82-2-792-1904

Menopausal Syndrome — **1904**Four generations
of Hoechundang care

POINT 01
Herbal medicine that helps correct sangyeol-hahan (Upper Heat and Lower Cold, 上熱下寒) — clear heat and replenish depleted essence-blood and fluids
POINT 02
We treat together according to your symptoms with jahageo pharmacopuncture, acupuncture, large moxibustion, and aroma thermotherapy
POINT 03
From Gyeongokgo · Sahyang Gongjindan to a menopause diet program, we support long-term aging care

01SELF CHECK

Do you have these concerns?

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Tap the items that apply to you.

02WHY IT HAPPENS

Why do menopausal symptoms occur?

When ovarian function weakens, secretion of estrogen, a female hormone, decreases. In gaengnyeongi (更年期), the character “gaeng (更)” means not only “again,” but also “to change” and “to become new.” Menopausal syndrome is a natural change in which hormonal changes and age-related decline in organ system function appear together.

01
Heat Sensation and Sweating — Sangyeol-hahan (Upper Heat and Lower Cold, 上熱下寒)
When kidney essence-blood decreases with aging, heart heat cannot descend and instead rises upward. Upward, this can appear as heat sensation, facial flushing, sweating, palpitations, and insomnia; downward, it can appear as coldness in the hands, feet, and lower abdomen, chilliness in the lower back and knees, and decreased sexual desire.
02
Hwa-byung and Body Pain
The late 40s to 50s are a time when family conflict, burnout, economic factors, and other health problems can easily overlap. When anger, anxiety, and depression persist for a long time, they may appear as physical symptoms such as reduced concentration, poor digestion, body pain, dizziness, headache, tinnitus, and fatigue. In Korean medicine, this is viewed as being caused by blood stasis that develops when circulation is blocked along with sangyeol-hahan.
03
Weight Gain Despite Eating Less
When female hormones decrease, body fat increases and muscle decreases, so metabolism slows even with the same amount of food. Fat accumulates in the abdomen and upper body while the lower body becomes thinner, and fluid metabolism declines, causing frequent swelling. Increased visceral fat raises the risk of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.
04
Abnormal Uterine Bleeding During the Menopausal Transition
The approximately 1 year before complete menopause is called the menopausal transition, and menstruation usually becomes irregular and changes in volume beginning in the mid-to-late 40s. When bleeding occurs during this period or after menopause, Korean medicine views it as a deficiency pattern in which the chong-ren mai (衝任脈), which governs the reproductive system, has weakened. If abnormal bleeding continues, symptoms related to blood deficiency may occur.

03WHY TREAT EARLY

Will it get better on its own if I just wait and endure it?

Menopausal symptoms do improve to some extent over time, but simply enduring them is not recommended. In principle, menopause is considered to last until 1 year after the final period (6 months to 2 years), but studies have found that many women struggle with symptoms for about 7 years and that some experience symptoms even in their 60s. Treatment tailored to your symptoms may help prevent secondary symptoms and other conditions.

Symptoms that may appear together

Insomnia
Hwa-byung
Depression · Anxiety
Abdominal Obesity · Visceral Fat
Edema
Risk of Metabolic Syndrome
Osteoporosis
Skin Changes

PROCESS

How Care Proceeds

01
Consultation · Pulse Diagnosis
We listen carefully to your symptoms, lifestyle habits, and treatment history, then assess your condition through pulse and tongue diagnosis.
02
Detailed Testing
We check organ function, energy level, and autonomic nervous system balance with tests suited to your condition.
03
Pattern Identification · Diagnosis
We combine your test results and constitution to find the underlying cause of your symptoms.
04
1:1 Customized Prescription
We design the needed treatments for each person, including herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and moxibustion.
05
Progress Management
We monitor your progress through regular tests and consultations and adjust prescriptions as needed.

04DIAGNOSIS

We check your current condition in these ways

TEST 01
Iris Genetic Constitution Test
We comprehensively examine genetic strengths and weaknesses, constitutional imbalance, emotional responses, and autonomic nervous system balance. We assess whether cold-heat (寒熱) balance, circulation, toxins, and stress are affecting your current symptoms and create a comprehensive treatment plan. The test can be performed comfortably even if you come wearing contact lenses.
TEST 02
Ryodoraku Meridian Function Test
We measure meridian function at major acupuncture points on the hands and feet to understand abnormalities in each organ system, overall energy level, and the deficiency or excess (虛實) pattern of the condition.
TEST 03
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Autonomic Nervous System Test
We check the activity and balance of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves. Because menopausal syndrome is greatly affected by stress, depression, and tension, stabilizing the autonomic nervous system is important.
TEST 04
Cellular Health Immunity Test (InBody S10)
We look at cellular function, immune, circulation, and nutritional status, as well as body water, body fat, and muscle loss. We check nutritional deficiency or excess, whole-body fluid distribution, body fat percentage, and visceral fat to find improvement strategies together.

If you let us know about existing test results, such as blood tests, and any medications you are taking, we can provide more thorough care.

05TREATMENT

Comprehensive Treatment Tailored to Symptoms

Considering your constitution, we help restore hormonal balance, replenish depleted body fluids, and manage symptoms of both body and mind. Centered on one-on-one personalized herbal medicine, we combine acupuncture, large moxibustion, and jahageo pharmacopuncture as needed. Because this is a time when emotions can become sensitive, we provide care by listening closely and empathizing with you.

One-on-One Personalized Herbal Medicine

We decide whether to focus mainly on treatment medicine that relieves menopausal discomfort, or to use a treatment and tonic approach that also replenishes weakened uterine and ovarian function, digestive function, and energy. When bleeding is severe, we use herbs that help support weakened uterine function and promote hemostasis. Herbs are added or adjusted (加減) according to each person’s symptoms.

Tonics for Aging Care — Gyeongokgo · Sahyang Gongjindan

These are tonics recommended for those who want to manage their health over the long term after menopause.

Gyeongokgo (瓊玉膏)This anti-aging tonic has been used for yeonnyeon-iksu (延年益壽: protecting health and supporting longevity) and is recorded as being used when, due to deficiency fatigue (虛勞), the hair turns gray early, teeth become loose, and fatigue comes easily. Known effects include strengthening vital energy, replenishing body fluids, and increasing immunity, and it is used for health care in middle-aged women entering menopause.
Sahyang GongjindanWe prepare it by adding the Hoechundang formula passed down since 1904 to the original prescription. With musk, deer antler, angelica root, and cornelian cherry as the main herbs, it has long been used as a tonic to ease chronic fatigue and support vitality. Following the original formula, each pill contains 100mg of musk, and we use CITES-certified Russian musk approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

Jahageo Pharmacopuncture

Jahageo (紫河車: placenta) is a representative nourishing and strengthening medicinal substance used for chronic fatigue, menopausal disorders, and menstruation-related conditions to replenish energy and essence-blood. One report found that administering jahageo pharmacopuncture made from human placenta 3 times per week for 2 weeks relieved facial flushing, heat sensation, palpitations, skin symptoms, and muscle pain.

Acupuncture · Large Moxibustion · Aroma Thermotherapy

Steady acupuncture and moxibustion treatment after menopause helps restore uterine health and support aging care. Acupuncture points on the abdomen, back, arms, and legs help lower abdominal circulation and autonomic nervous system balance, while smokeless (無煙) large abdominal moxibustion addresses lower abdominal coldness and metabolic imbalance. For those who have both heat sensations and severe coldness, we provide aroma thermotherapy that warms the hands, feet, and abdomen together.

Menopause Diet Program

Middle-age dieting is slower because metabolic rate decreases, and extreme diets that harm health are also difficult to maintain. Because visceral fat and metabolic syndrome become concerns, an approach that does not overburden the body is needed.

Bigam CapsuleA diet herbal medicine researched and developed by our in-house Herbal Medicine Research Lab, it helps inhibit fat absorption, control appetite, and break down and eliminate body fat.
Customized detox decoction: When other menopausal symptoms also need to be managed, it is prepared with the combined goals of weight loss and symptom relief.
Wild ginseng obesity pharmacopuncture: A pharmacopuncture combining wild ginseng, musk, bear bile, and bezoar, with studies by the Korean Academy of Oriental Medicine for Obesity and the Korean Society of Immuno-Pharmacopuncture reporting effects on lipolysis, cellulite dissolution, and improved lymphatic circulation.
Fat-dissolving electroacupuncture: Used together with wild ginseng obesity pharmacopuncture for localized fat management in areas such as the abdomen, upper arms, thighs, and hips.

Most patients take herbal medicine while receiving acupuncture and moxibustion treatment 2 to 3 times per week.

06TREATMENT STEPS

Treatment proceeds in 3 steps

STEP 1
Clear Heart Heat and Replenish Essence-Blood
The first 6 months after symptoms begin are commonly considered the optimal time for treatment. Menopausal symptoms result from a disruption in suseung-hwagang (水升火降: the balance in which cool energy rises and warm energy descends), so we do not simply cool heat; we also replenish body fluids and essence-blood.
STEP 2
Bowi (補胃) and Bogung (補宮) Treatment to Help Slow Aging of the Organ Systems
During menopause, not only reproductive function but also other organ system functions decline, leading to chest tightness, palpitations, poor digestion, and abdominal obesity. We gently regulate symptoms caused by hormonal changes and care for autonomic nervous system balance, blood circulation, and cardiovascular function.
STEP 3
Healthy Aging Care
Severe heat sensations, emotional changes, pain, and fatigue tend to recur even after correction, and postmenopausal osteoporosis, skin changes, and increased visceral fat cannot be prevented with short-term treatment. With herbal medicine, we help support osteoblast function, healthy blood vessels, and replenishment of body fluids, warm the body, and continuously manage stress, obesity, and pain.

CONSULTATION

Consider a consultation before symptoms become long-standing

If you bring your test results, we will review your current condition together.

+82-2-792-1904 KakaoTalk

07EXPERTISE

We listen with empathy, so you do not have to endure this alone

First author of an SCI-level paper on Women’s Health Clinic patients

4th-Generation Married Korean Medicine Doctors · First Author of an SCI-Level Paper on Women’s Health
Dr. Seungwon Baek, Director
- Entered Sangji University College of Korean Medicine at the top of the class · Graduated salutatorian
- Master’s Program in Clinical Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University
- Specialist Training Program, Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine (Facial Palsy Center · Spine and Joint Center), Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital at Gangdong
- Certified Korean Medicine Doctor in Korean Medicine Obesity Treatment
Women's HealthDiet & BeautyPediatricsFacial PalsyPain · Traffic Accidents

Menopause is a time that can make you reflect on your identity as a woman. Because empathy is needed more than ever, we listen fully and prescribe in a personalized way.
Dr. Seungwon Baek, Director, trained at Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital and is the first author of an SCI(E)-level paper on the relationship between tongue diagnosis (舌診: examination of the tongue) and cold-heat pattern identification in patients at a women’s health clinic.
We bring into care the women’s health formulas of Hoechundang, carried on for 4 generations since 1904, honoring the wishes of our great-grandmother, who was a pillar of Hoechundang.

Related research

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Article ID 6841460)2018
Relationship between Tongue Temperature Estimated by Infrared Thermography, Tongue Color, and Cold-Heat Pathological Patterns: A Retrospective Chart Review Study
Seung-Won Baek, Jin-Moo Lee, Young-Bae Park, Young-Jae Park
This was a study that retrospectively analyzed medical records of patients at a women’s health clinic and examined the correlation between tongue temperature and tongue color measured by infrared thermography and cold-heat (寒熱) pattern identification.

disclaimers.paper

WHY HOECHUNDANG

Why Choose Hoechundang Kyunghee Ryu Korean Medicine Clinic

01
For 4 Generations Since 1904
For 4 generations, we have carried on Hoechundang’s treatment principle of seeing the stomach and intestines as the foundation of health.
02
Family Medical Team from Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital
Dr. Bongha Ryu, Honorary Director, who twice served as director of Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital and as a presidential physician; Dr. Hansung Ryu, Chief Director, a Korean medicine internal medicine specialist; and Dr. Seungwon Baek, Director, first author of an SCI-level paper on women’s health, provide care together.
03
Prepared In-House at Our Herbal Medicine Research Lab
Based on the research of our affiliated Herbal Medicine Research Institute, we prepare prescriptions in-house and use verified herbal ingredients at a level supplied to Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital.
04
15 Acupuncture and Moxibustion Treatment Rooms
We expanded our treatment rooms so patients can receive a variety of treatments, such as acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, Cupping, large moxibustion, radiofrequency, thermal dome therapy, Chuna Manual Therapy, and traction therapy, with minimal waiting.

08FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

QIf I endure menopausal symptoms, won’t they pass?

They do improve to some extent over time, but simply enduring them is not recommended. Studies have found that many women struggle with symptoms for about 7 years and that some experience symptoms even in their 60s. Many patients become healthier by receiving treatment tailored to their symptoms and improving their lifestyle habits.

QWhen is the best time to start treatment?

The first 6 months after symptoms begin are commonly considered the optimal time for treatment. Responding early can help reduce discomfort in daily life.

QI feel concerned about hormone therapy.

Hormone therapy requires careful attention to risks such as breast cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, stroke, and embolism, so thorough consultation with your treating doctor is needed. Many people also report difficulties while taking it. Korean medicine treatment is tailored to your constitution, helping replenish body fluids and essence-blood and reduce excessive heat to manage symptoms. Please be sure to tell us about any medications you are taking during your visit.

QI have bleeding after menopause.

In Korean medicine, this is viewed as a deficiency pattern in which the chong and ren vessels have weakened. We use herbs that help support uterine function, promote circulation, and, when symptoms are more severe, help stop bleeding. Because it is important to identify the cause of bleeding after menopause, we also recommend receiving a gynecologic examination.

QI keep gaining weight. Can I also do a diet program?

Yes. Weight and menopausal symptoms can be addressed with combined management using Bigam Capsule or a customized Detox Decoction, and for localized obesity, we combine Wild Ginseng Obesity Pharmacopuncture with fat-dissolving electroacupuncture.

CONSULTATION

Consider a consultation before symptoms become long-standing

If you bring your test results, we will review your current condition together.

+82-2-792-1904 KakaoTalk

RESERVATION