Written by Dr. Lee Seung Hwan, Chief Director at Tong-in Korean Medicine Clinic
"A few years ago, one acupuncture session was all it took whenever my back hurt — why is it taking so long this time?"
A patient in their 40s who had been coming to Korean Medicine Clinic for eight years tilted her head, puzzled. She'd visited for a similar complaint, seen the same practitioner, and received the same treatment. So why was the recovery so much slower?
I pause, then answer gently.
"Even the finest car loses performance and breaks down more often as it gets older. Our bodies are no different — which is exactly why they need more attention and care as the years go on. It's a hard truth."
Today, I'd like to walk you through three reasons why energy drops after 40 from a Korean medicine perspective — along with the solutions we actually use in practice.
Hormonal Decline and Slowing Recovery
The Huangdi Neijing(황제내경) — one of the oldest texts in Korean and East Asian medicine — describes aging through cycles of seven for women and eight for men. Here's what it says about the 40s:
- Women: At 42, the face begins to look drawn and hair starts to turn grey. At 49, menopause arrives and fertility declines.
- Men: At 40, hair loss begins and the teeth weaken. At 48, the face grows drawn and the hair around the ears turns white.
Korean medicine attributes these changes to a decline in Shin-gi (신기) — the body's foundational energy, which governs growth, reproduction, and aging. In modern terms, this corresponds to a decrease in hormone production and a decline in cellular function.
Menopausal Symptoms in Your 40s — For Both Women and Men
While timing varies from person to person, hormone levels in both women and men gradually decline from the 40s onward, bringing with them a range of menopausal symptoms.
Women may experience irregular periods, changes in menstrual flow, hot flashes, facial flushing, mood swings (depression, irritability), fatigue, digestive issues, insomnia, and recurrent urinary tract infections. The hormonal upheaval can affect body and mind as profoundly as puberty.
Men, too, may face a decline in libido, erectile dysfunction, loss of motivation, anxiety, depression, and chronic fatigue — changes that can strain intimate relationships and create emotional distance between partners.
In Korean medicine, these symptoms point to what's called kidney yin or yang deficiency — a depletion of the body's foundational energy. Treatment typically involves herbal formulas to replenish the body's vital reserves — along with Jahageo pharmacopuncture.
Jahageo — A Medicinal Preparation Derived from Human Placenta
For these conditions, Korean medicine draws on herbal formulas and Jahageo pharmacopuncture.
- Jahageo (자하거) is derived from dried and processed human placenta. It is rich in cell growth factors, coagulation factors, hormones, and their precursors — and works to replenish qi (vital energy), blood, and the body's foundational reserves.
Jahageo preparations have also been used in clinical settings to support overall health in older adults, ease menopausal symptoms, manage chronic liver conditions, and prevent herpes virus recurrence. Research has also shown benefits for ligament and tendon regeneration when applied to musculoskeletal injuries.
In Korean medicine, applications extend beyond musculoskeletal care to include endocrine disorders, immune-related conditions, and gynecological health — with particular effectiveness for menopausal hot flashes and facial flushing.
