Acupuncture may simultaneously ease perimenopausal depression and insomnia by influencing hormonal and neuroendocrine regulation with few adverse effects.
This review synthesized clinical and animal research examining acupuncture for depression, insomnia, and menopausal symptoms during perimenopause. It considered reported treatment effects, adverse effects, hormone regulation, and proposed biological mechanisms, including changes in sex hormones, neurotransmitters, stress-response systems, oxidative stress, and cellular signaling.
Clinical studies generally suggested that acupuncture improves depressive symptoms, sleep problems, and broader menopausal complaints while causing minimal adverse effects and influencing circulating hormone levels. Animal studies similarly found longer sleep and fewer depression-like behaviours, supporting neuroendocrine regulation as a central explanation, although weaknesses in the design of many clinical studies limit confidence in the findings.
