Acupuncture does not appear to reduce hot flushes during the menopause, the results of new research indicates.

According to a team of international researchers, a significant minority of women look for alternative treatment when it comes to symptoms of the menopause, such as hot flushes. However these alternatives are often untested and it can be difficult or impossible to balance the risks and benefits of these treatments against the risks and benefits of conventional treatments or the discomfort of untreated menopause.

The researchers from the UK and South Korea reviewed studies on the use of acupuncture for the relief of hot flushes during the menopause. They identified 106 studies in total, which they eventually narrowed down to the six most relevant to their research.

These six studies included testing the effects of real acupuncture against the effects of sham acupuncture.

The researchers found that only one of the six studies reported a favourable effect of acupuncture on the frequency and severity of hot flushes. The other five studies demonstrated no such effects.

The team did however point out that as the quality of some of the studies was not at a very high standard, the use of acupuncture cannot be completely ruled out. However they added that the available literature indicates that acupuncture does not seem to be effective in the treatment of menopause-related hot flushes.

“We would always recommend that women wanting relief from menopausal symptoms consult their clinician before undertaking any course of treatment,” said lead researcher, Dr Myeong Soo Lee of the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine.

Details of these findings are published in Climacteric, the journal of the International Menopause Society. Commenting on the findings, Dr David Sturdee, president of the society said that women need to make sure that the treatment they choose works ‘and is right for them’.

“I would always recommend that a woman consult her clinician before starting any treatment,” he added.