Hot Flashes Solutions

Hot flashes are the most frequent menopause symptom.

Each woman experiences menopause and its symptoms differently. The duration and intensity of hot flashes varies. Some women have them for a very short time during menopause; sometimes they last for a year or so, or you may never have them; you may have them once every hour or only occasionally; they can occur any time during the day or night. They might feel like a brief warm flashing on your face, or an intense heat on your whole upper body, with intense sweating.

Hot flashes are our body's response to a decreased supply of estrogen. At natural menopause, the production of estrogen decreases gradually, producing few flashes. At surgical menopause, when ovaries stop working abruptly, hot flashes become severe.

Dropping estrogen levels confuse the hypothalamus (the part of the brain that controls appetite, sleep, sex hormones and temperature), also known as heat regulatory area of the brain, or the thermostat, and it makes the body think it is too hot. This activates the body's heat releasing mechanism where it causes the blood vessels to dilate, the heart rate to increase, and sweat glands to open, in the effort to cool the body off.

The result is the unpleasant rush of heat, perspiration, dizziness, and pounding heart. Your skin temperature rises, a feeling of warmth moves upwards from your chest to your shoulders, neck and head. Your face looks flushed with red blotches. You may sweat, and as the sweat evaporates from your skin, you may feel chilled, weak and slightly faint. The sudden feeling of heat may be followed by a cold sensation, as evaporation of perspiration occurs. If it happens during your sleep, they are called night sweats and they may lead to insomnia.

Though these symptoms may be very severe, they are not life-threatening and they are temporary.

Treatment Solutions

prescription medication - Hormone Replacement Therapy.
non-prescription medication - Vitamin E.
Dietary changes.
Controlling stress and anxiety.

Herbal Remedies

Phytoestrogenic herbs - plants containing a plant hormone called phytoestrogen, whose chemical structure is nearly identical to the estrogen produced in the human body. These herbs help the body to raise the hormonal level, especially at surgical menopause.
- Black Cohosh - has a significant estrogenic effect.
- Soy - is very rich in phytonutrients.
- Wild Yam - has a steroid-like substance that is believed to convert into the female hormone progesterone.
- Sarsaparilla - contains the male hormone testosterone as well as progesterone, the hormone produced by the ovaries, so it is a natural hormone regulator.
- Red Clover - Hot flashes deplete Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Magnesium and Potassium. This plant helps the body to replace these nutrients.
- Dong Quai (also known as "Angelica herb") - it helps stabilize the blood vessels and it increases oxygen utilization in the liver.
- Licorice root - has historically been used for a variety of female disorders. It reduces estrogen while increasing progesterone.
- Other plants in this category: Blue Cohosh, Ginko Biloba, Garlic, Parsley, Pomegranate seeds, Fennel Squaw.
Non-estrogenic herbs - facilitate and stimulate the body's own hormonal production, normalizing hormonal levels. These herbs are helpful for natural menopause and are increasingly being used as a natural alternative to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). The best known plant in this category is Maca Root.
Anti hydrolyc plants - like Sage Leaf, which reduces the excessive sweating.

Tips to prevent Hot Flashes

Try to identify your hot flashes triggers; keep a record and avoid those triggers. Dietary triggers could be sugars, spicy food, caffeine or alcohol. Lifestyle triggers could be hot showers, saunas or hot tubs.
Reduce your stress level by exercising and meditating.
Wear layered cotton clothing and use cotton bed linens.
Keep your environment cool, and you will fell better!

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