my periods ended abruptly about 5 months ago and the symptoms started staight away, i suffered severely with hot sweats during the day sometimes up to 20 and night sweats which would leave me needing to change the sheets and nightwear, i have been taking isoflavanes for a few months and i didnt have any reduction with my problems i became pretty desperate and didnt want to resort to HRT as my family history would most probably stop me from having it, i was at a physiotherapist for a neck problem and as part of the treatment i was given acupuncture, i picked up a leaflet on my way out as there was a GP there that specialised in acupunture and mentioned how it could help with the menopause, so i am now on my fourth treatment, one a week and have had no further hot flushes or night sweats since the first treatment, i can now prolong the period between treatments to see if any symptoms reappear, i have spoken with my own GP who runs her own menopause clinic and she has asked me to keep her informed of my progress, i am not saying it will work for everyone but it has at the moment changed my everyday life, my husband is astonished as i realy was not good to be around, i hope someone else benefits from this.