Natural relief, under one roof.
Medical acupuncture, physician-prescribed Chinese herbal medicine and an honest look at supplements, coordinated with your hormone and primary care so nothing you take works against anything else.
- Same clinicians every visit
- Bridgewater, Nutley & telehealth statewide
- Just about every insurance, including Medicaid
Integrative care, medically directed
Many women want to start with natural approaches, or use them alongside medicine. The difference here is that the person recommending them is part of your medical team and can see everything you take.
Medical acupuncture
Performed by our medical director, who is board-certified in medical acupuncture. Many women find it helps with sleep, anxiety and stress, and some find it eases hot flashes. Acupuncture for women's health
Chinese herbal medicine
Custom formulas in easy-to-take capsules, prescribed by a board-certified physician who checks them against every medicine you take and adjusts them as you change. Chinese herbal medicine
Mind-body treatment
Cognitive behavioral therapy and clinical hypnosis have the strongest evidence of any non-drug approach for hot flashes and sleep. We refer you to a therapist who offers them.
An honest word about the evidence
We think you deserve to know what the research shows before you spend time or money on something.
- Strong evidence: CBT and clinical hypnosis for hot flashes and sleep. Weight loss reduces hot flashes in women carrying extra weight. Regular exercise helps mood, sleep, bones and heart.
- Mixed evidence: acupuncture for hot flashes. Studies against no treatment show benefit, but studies against sham acupuncture are mixed, and the Menopause Society doesn't recommend it on its own for hot flashes. Many women still find it helps, and it is a good fit for sleep, anxiety and stress.
- Weak or no evidence: most supplements marketed for menopause, paced breathing, and "hormone-balancing" diets.
That's why we offer natural approaches alongside proven medical treatment, not in place of it. If hot flashes are severe, hormone therapy or a non-hormonal medicine is usually the fastest relief.
Supplements, reviewed
- Black cohosh: mixed results, with rare reports of liver injury
- Soy and red clover: small effects at best in most studies
- Magnesium: may help some women sleep; generally safe
- Calcium and vitamin D: important for bone health if your diet falls short
- St. John's wort: interacts with many medicines, including birth control
Bring everything you take to your visit. We'll check it all.
Natural and medical, working together.
Most new patients are seen within a week, in person in Bridgewater or Nutley, or by video anywhere in New Jersey.
What an acupuncture course looks like
- A medical visit first
We make sure nothing else explains your symptoms, and talk through every option, not just acupuncture.
- A course of sessions
In our office, on a schedule we plan together based on your symptoms and how you respond.
- Check how it's working
If it's helping, we space sessions out. If not, we change course rather than keep going.
Everyday habits that help
- Strength training two or more days a week protects muscle and bone.
- Regular aerobic exercise helps mood, sleep and heart health.
- Limiting alcohol in the evening reduces night sweats and 3 a.m. waking for many women.
- A cool bedroom and layers make hot flashes easier to live with, even if they don't stop them.
- Enough protein and calcium, with help from our nutrition team if weight is a concern.
More from our clinic
Perimenopause & Menopause Clinic
An overview of everything we treat, plus a six-question symptom check.
Learn moreNatural relief questions
What natural remedies actually help menopause symptoms?
The best-supported non-drug approaches are cognitive behavioral therapy, clinical hypnosis, regular exercise and, for women carrying extra weight, weight loss. Acupuncture helps some women, especially with sleep and anxiety. Evidence for most supplements is weak or mixed, and we're honest about that before you spend money on them.
Does acupuncture help with hot flashes?
Some women find it helps, and studies comparing acupuncture with no treatment have shown benefit. Studies comparing it with sham acupuncture are mixed, and the Menopause Society does not recommend it on its own for hot flashes. We offer it alongside proven treatments, where it can also help with sleep, anxiety and stress.
Is black cohosh safe?
Studies of black cohosh for hot flashes have had mixed results, and there are rare reports of liver injury. If you want to try it, tell us first so we can check it against your other medicines and your liver health.
What supplements help with perimenopause?
Few supplements have strong evidence for menopause symptoms themselves. Calcium and vitamin D matter for bone health if your diet falls short, and magnesium may help some women with sleep. We review what you take, stop anything that could interact with your medicines, and help you avoid paying for products that don't work.
Can I use Chinese herbs with hormone therapy?
Often, yes. Our herbal formulas are prescribed by our medical director, a board-certified physician in family medicine and medical acupuncture, who checks them against every medicine you take. That coordination is the main safety advantage of getting herbs from a medical practice.
Does insurance cover acupuncture?
Coverage varies by plan. Some insurers cover medical acupuncture and some do not. We'll check your benefits before your first session.
- The 2023 Nonhormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause 2023;30(6):573–590.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Black Cohosh. nccih.nih.gov.
Contact MyPremierMD Today
We'll reach out within 24 hours to answer your questions and help you schedule an appointment.