In Chinese medicine the physiological stages are defined in seven-year segments.
A woman’s first seven-year cycle is when “kidney” energy gets stronger.  In the second seven-year set, a pituitary gland and sexual hormone called Tian Gui arrives, the Ren meridian opens up, and the Chong meridian is full of energy. This brings on menstruation and other changes.

It is in the seventh cycle of seven years when this cycle begins to reverse. A woman’s Ren meridian energy drops, energy in the Chong meridian weakens and the Tian Gui hormone slows or stops production. Timing of all these changes varies because woman with stronger “kidney” energy will menstruate longer.
When a woman arrives at menopause the ovaries stop producing eggs and they stop manufacturing estrogen. During menopause these ‘retired’ ovaries transfer their function to the adrenal glands – which are already exhausted due to the intake of coffee, chocolate and birth control pills. This, in turn, causes the adrenal cortex to produce more cortisone which causes women to experience hot flashes, night sweats and/or mood swings.

It is wrong to suppress adrenal glands function by the ovaries, because this can reduce the risk of cancer and many other benefits. But if women learn to teach the adrenal glands to excrete estrogen and not cortisone, then there will be more balance and less problems.
Using adrenal gland cultivators such as Dan Gui (Chinese angelica root), Di Huang (Rehmenia root)  and others will let the adrenal glands gain more strength and work smarter over a three or four month period.

Since Menopause starts when the “kidney” essence drops, it is logical to increase kidney essence with herbal remedies. And, when it is recovered, the adrenal glands will produce more estrogen and less cortisone, so symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings will naturally diminish. In Chinese medicine this is called Treating the Root or Cause.