Menopause arrived in my life during one of the most painful moments I’ve ever lived, when my mother was in the hospital, and shortly after, when she passed away.
In those months, I felt so unlike myself.
I was tired, foggy, emotional, waking up drenched in night sweats. I kept wondering: “Is this grief? Is this menopause? Is this both?”
Looking back, it was the perfect storm: my Kidney Yin was naturally declining (as happens in perimenopause), while grief weighed heavily on my Lungs, and my emotional world was shaken to its core. And yet, even in that chaos, the practices I leaned on — natural remedies, tai chi, and qi gong — quietly held me together.
Today, with more calm and clarity, I see menopause for what Traditional Chinese Medicine calls it: The Second Spring, a new season of life, a shift from giving outward to nourishing inward.
Menopause in TCM: A Rebalancing, Not a Decline
In TCM, menopause isn’t a loss; it’s a redirection of energy. As menstruation ceases, qi and blood flow inward, supporting the Heart, the Shen (Spirit), and deeper emotional wisdom. But when the transition is sudden, stressful, or layered with grief or burnout, the qi may struggle to flow smoothly.
This can lead to:
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Insomnia
- Irritability or emotional swings
- Fatigue and brain fog
- Vaginal dryness
- Digestive discomfort
- Feeling “unmoored”
And yes… this was me.
The beauty is that TCM gives us tools, simple, daily practices, to soften the transition and support the body with nourishment rather than force.
Lifestyle & Nutrition to Support Your Second Spring
In Chinese Medicine, the foundation is always Yang Sheng: nourishing life. Here’s what helps the body move through menopause with more balance:
1. Rest (real rest)
Burning the candle at both ends depletes blood and fluids, the very things you need most right now.
2. Eat warm, cooked, grounding meals
Soups, stews, broths, leafy greens. During menopause, digestion prefers warmth. Cold salads, raw foods, iced drinks make the body work harder and dry the fluids needed to cool hot flashes.
3. Reduce heat-producing foods
Excessive alcohol, spicy foods, caffeine, smoking, fried foods: they all increase internal heat.
If hot flashes are your nemesis, this matters.
4. Choose gentle, daily movement
Nothing extreme, like walking, stretching, tai chi, qi gong. These are practices that nourish rather than drain.
5. Tend to your emotions
What you feel during menopause isn’t “too much.” It’s Qi trying to express itself. Journaling, breathwork, therapy, movement, creativity, anything that helps emotions move instead of stagnate will help you feel more stable.
6. Ask yourself: What can I let go of?
Menopause naturally invites a shedding. Not adding more, but removing what drains you.
Qi Gong for Menopause: A Gentle Reset
Qi Gong was what kept me grounded during my own transition, especially when grief and hormonal changes overlapped.
Qi Gong helps by:
- Nourishing Kidney Yin (cooling the hot flashes)
- Calming Heart Fire (emotional swings)
- Regulating Liver Qi (irritability, frustration)
- Supporting Lung Qi (grief, sadness)
- Grounding scattered energy
Just 10–15 minutes a day can ease heat, calm the mind, and bring your energy “down and in,” where it can rebuild and replenish you.
Your Second Spring Is a Beginning, Not an Ending
Menopause is not something you “survive.” It’s something you move through gently, intentionally, supported by wisdom, nourishment, and community.
Your body is not failing you. It is transitioning, offering you a new season of clarity, intuition, and inner strength.
Join Me for a 7-Day Qi Flow Challenge!
If this article resonated with you, I’d love to support you in nourishing your energy gently, day by day.
From 8 to 14 December, I’m hosting a 7-day Qi Flow challenge designed to:
- rebalance Liver, Spleen, Lung, and Kidney Qi
- soften perfectionism and mental tension
- help your energy move freely again
- reconnect you with your body, breath, and inner calm
- build small, consistent habits that nourish you
The practices are short (15 minutes), gentle, and beginner-friendly.
Just show up as you are, for a few minutes a day, and give your energy space to breathe.
👉 You can register to the challenge here: THE FREE 7 DAY QI FLOW CHALLENGE
f this article resonated with you and you’d like to keep exploring the gentle connection between body, mind, and energy, I’d love to stay in touch. Every Sunday, I send out a slow, soulful newsletter with reflections and practical tools on health, self-care, Qi Gong, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the art of living in tune with your body. Think of it as your weekly pause — a moment to breathe, learn, and reconnect with yourself.
👉 Subscribe to my Sunday newsletter and be the first to know when a new article is out.
Let’s keep walking this path of awareness and transformation — one mindful step (and one gentle breath) at a time
You might also be interested in my book Take It Slow: The Slow Revolution for Deeper Connection and Mindful Living, available on Amazon.
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