Navigating Menopause: The Wisdom of the Second Spring
By Dr. Calvin Crichton
As we move into the season of orange, red and yellow foliage on backdrops of blackened bark, we are reminded of the fact that all things change. Autumn changes can be likened to a ‘second spring’; not an ending, but a transformation. Colours flourish and plants begin a period of transition, shifting from flourishing to hibernation and rejuvenation.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, menopausal women are also thought to enter a season known as “second spring”, a season of transition and renewal that mirrors the changes of the seasons. Just as trees release their leaves to rest and restore, the body, too, begins to pivot inward, conserving energy and preparing for a new phase of vitality.
Theory states that women undergo several cycles of seven years throughout their lifetime. Each cycle reflects the cycles of birth, growth, maturation and aging, and passing as found in nature. The first spring, during puberty, around age 14, marks the arrival of menstruation. This marks a time of blossoming and great physical and emotional change, very much like winter surrendering to the sprouting of spring.
The ”second spring” is the seventh cycle of seven years, which often arrives around the age of 49 and signals another profound transformation: menopause. This is another time of great change, when a woman's body shifts away from natural reproduction, turning inward, to a time of deep reflection and an opportunity for self-cultivation.
This seventh cycle brings an invitation to slow down, reflect, and redirect energy that was once outward toward fertility and family, back toward oneself. It’s a period of rebalancing, where the body and spirit adjust to new rhythms. Like fall, it can be a tumultuous time of temperature fluctuations and the drying up of flourishing rivers (menstruation).
Chinese medicine views these symptoms not as problems to be fixed, but as signs of shifting energy. Through acupuncture, herbal medicine, Chinese massage, and food therapy, this second spring can become a time of deep nourishment and rejuvenation rather than depletion. Supporting the body’s yin (its cooling, grounding energy) helps ease hot flashes, calm the mind, and restore harmony to the body’s natural flow.
As the trees shed their leaves and prepare for renewal, so too can we embrace this season, both in nature and within ourselves, as a reminder that transformation is part of life’s rhythm. Menopause is not an ending, but an evolution. A second spring, rich with wisdom, vitality, and the opportunity to grow into our fullest selves.
Meet Dr. Calvin Crichton
Dr. Calvin discovered the benefits of Chinese medicine as an international athlete, using it to address stress, insomnia, and joint pain. Over the past 20 years, he has developed a broad expertise in mobility, women’s health, menopause, fertility, and digestive concerns, combining acupuncture, acupressure, cupping, and Chinese medicinals in his treatments. His approach emphasizes a spa-like, pleasant healing experience, helping patients move through life with greater ease, balance, and vitality.
