There are quite a few ways to relieve menopausal hot flashes. Hot flashes that occur at night are typically called night sweats. There are herbal remedies sold over the counter, compounded hormone replacement therapy your pharmacist can create, and even lifestyle changes that can help with these symptoms. The Mayo Clinic reports three out of four women have hot flashes at some point in their lives. If you are plagued with hot flashes or night sweats, some of these remedies may work for you.
Herbal Remedies
There are many herbal remedies sold over the counter for menopausal hot flashes and other menopause symptoms. These include evening primrose oil, soy, black cohosh, and red clover. While soy has shown promise in helping hot flashes in clinical trials, the others are getting mixed reviews. Herbal remedies can have side effects such as an allergy and can interfere with some medications. Always check with a doctor before starting an herbal supplement routine.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, is compounded from estrogen or, at times, a combination of estrogen and progesterone. These are direct replacements to the loss of estrogen occurring in a menopausal woman. They can have side effects such as an increased risk of some cancers, including breast cancer and endometrial cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, “Several observational studies have found that the use of estrogen alone is associated with a slightly increased risk of ovarian cancer for women who used this hormone for 10 or more years.”
Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes to control menopausal hot flashes include dressing in layers and using fans. Fans can be a quick way to cool down. Layering your clothes so that when the hot flash hits you can easily remove clothing means that a hot flash can cool down more quickly. Others like to use cool cloths or go for a quick cool shower, when applicable. Dietary changes such as eating less red meat and increasing foods with phytoestrogens can help relieve some menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes.
Eastern Remedies
Some women can have relief from symptoms from acupuncture and acupressure. These eastern medical treatments have helped some women in decreasing the frequency and the intensity of menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes.
Menopausal hot flashes are the most common menopause symptom that women get. Modifications to lifestyle, herbal remedies, eastern practices, or medication can help ease the severity and the frequency of hot flashes.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Tina Samuels - Tina Samuels specializes in health, animal, and gardening articles. She authored "A Georgia Native Plant Guide".
