Please review the following steps before your appointment
How should we view changes in facial heat and cold extremities before/after menstruation or during menopause?
Sudden heat sensations and sweating in the face, neck, and chest, as well as changes in sleep, can occur before and after menstruation or during menopause, but not all temperature sensations can be attributed solely to hormones. By recording the relationship between your cycle and symptoms, changes in bleeding, palpitations, and coldness in the hands and feet, we can identify the direction of Korean medicine treatment by diagnosing the distribution of heat and cold if discomfort persists after necessary evaluations.
Guide for those experiencing temperature sensations coinciding with life stage changes
Those whose faces flush only before menstruation, or those who wake up from night sweats as their menstrual intervals change, menopauseand those who have experienced worsening coldness in the hands and feet despite being told it is menopause, are the intended audience for this guide. Even if the explanation that it is 'due to female hormones' is partially correct, it may not fully explain the specific location and intensity of the discomfort you are currently experiencing.
Mark your cycle and symptoms on the same calendar
On one calendar, mark the start and end dates of your period, whether the amount of bleeding was different from usual, and the days when heat sensations, sweating, or coldness were severe. Also note the time your face suddenly flushed, how many minutes it lasted, and whether it was accompanied by palpitations or dizziness. Identifying whether symptoms persist daily regardless of menstruation or repeat only during specific cycles makes it easier to structure the questions during your consultation.
We do not group all symptoms under the term 'menopause'
During the menopausal transition, heat sensations in the face and upper body, night sweatsand sleep problems may occur together. However, if rapid weight changes are accompanied by hand tremors or severe palpitations, other possibilities such as thyroid issues must be checked. Conversely, if tests show no significant abnormalities but there is alternating heat in the upper body and coldness in the lower body, we can examine the distribution of heat and cold as felt by the patient in more detail.
Prepare three sets of information before your appointment
- Menstrual intervals and changes in bleeding over the last 3 months
- The time and body parts where heat sensations, sweating, or coldness occurred
- Current medications, Korean herbal medicine, and supplements, including hormone therapy
Do not arbitrarily stop any ongoing treatment; please consult the medical professional who prescribed it. If new symptoms have appeared while receiving treatment, you should also provide the start date and any changes in dosage.
Do not delay other medical evaluations in these cases
If bleeding recurs after menopause, excessive bleeding different from usual, chest pain, shortness of breath, or dizziness as if you might faint occur, these symptoms must be evaluated first. Distinguishing these exceptions is not a procedure to turn patients away, but a necessary step to ensure that heat and cold consultations proceed safely.
In heat and cold consultations, we examine differences between upper and lower body, as well as day and night
Baekrokdam Heat and Cold Clinic does not simply cool the entire body based only on facial heat, nor does it unconditionally warm the body based only on coldness in the hands and feet. We diagnose the temperature sensations of the upper and lower body along with menstrual/menopausal changes, sleep, sweating, thirst, and digestion. Based on previous treatments and test results, we will explain the goals and progress monitoring criteria for Korean medicine treatment, including Korean herbal medicine.
Verified public medical information
Menopause Guide from the National Institute on Aging (USA)and NHS Menopause Symptoms Guidewere referenced for criteria regarding facial and upper body heat sensations, night sweats, sleep changes, and bleeding. Individual treatment choices must be determined during a medical evaluation after reviewing current conditions and medications.
Apply this to my symptoms
This is how we continue the evaluation during the consultation
Facial heat sensations and night sweats can occur before and after menstruation or during menopause, but cold hands and feet, palpitations, and changes in bleeding cannot all be attributed to the same cause. Tracking your cycle and symptoms on the same calendar helps distinguish between hormonal changes and other causes.
We ask these three things first
- When do heat sensations, sweating, or cold sensations worsen relative to your menstrual cycle?
- How have your menstrual intervals, bleeding amount, sleep, and palpitations changed?
- If you are receiving hormone therapy or thyroid treatment, have there been any changes before and after?
This is how the direction of Korean medicine treatment is determined
While continuing necessary evaluations for gynecological or thyroid conditions, we simultaneously perform a pattern identification (Byeonjeung) of upper body heat, lower body coldness, and changes in sleep, digestion, and energy levels. In Korean medicine, prescriptions are designed to reduce the imbalance of heat and cold and the daily discomfort that has intensified during that period.
We monitor these changes during treatment
- Number of times you wake up due to heat sensations and night sweats
- The range of symptoms and recovery speed before and after the menstrual cycle
- Whether cold hands and feet, fatigue, and palpitations change together
Frequently Asked Questions
If it is menopausal heat, can I receive treatment for heat and cold imbalance without tests first?
Even if age and menstrual changes are typical, there are details to verify, such as bleeding patterns, thyroid symptoms, and medications. If you provide information on tests you have already received and your current changes, we will guide you through the necessary evaluation sequence.
Is it a menopausal symptom to have a hot face but cold hands and feet?
These can occur together, but the cause is not determined by that alone. We distinguish the patterns of heat and cold by examining whether both symptoms appear at the same time and by looking at changes in sleep, sweating, and digestion.
We do not draw conclusions based on a single symptom name, but verify existing test results and the patterns in which symptoms appear together.