Women are increasingly looking for natural remedies for hot flashes or “home remedies” to relieve them. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was the preferred treatment for hot flashes for many years. However, the medical community now recognizes the dangers associated with long-term HRT.
Symptoms
Some women experience hot flashes, hot sweats, and other symptoms of menopause five to six years before their period ends. They may also continue to have them for many years after that. It is not uncommon for a woman who has used HRT for more than ten years to find relief. HRT is more dangerous for women who use it longer than recommended.
This increases her chance of developing serious medical conditions such as cancer, heart disease, bloodclots, stroke, and heart disease.
Home Remedies
There are many home remedies that can be used to treat hot flashes. Avoid certain things as they can trigger hot flashes and make them worse. There are things you can do to reduce or prevent them from happening again. There are also herbs, botanicals, and foods that can provide relief from hot flashes. We’ll start by looking at what triggers hot flashes. These things should be avoided.
Stimulants include nicotine and caffeine. Stimulants can increase blood pressure and dilate blood vessels. Flushing is one of the body’s natural reactions. Hot flashes can be triggered by decreased estrogen production. This can happen during perimenopause or post-menopause. Although alcohol is not a stimulant but a depressant it can still dilate the blood vessels and increase blood pressure, which can cause hot flashes. Hot flash triggers can be different for each woman. A symptoms diary may be necessary to identify them.
Proper Diet
Many women find that spicy foods can trigger hot flashes. Hot flashes can be triggered by certain vitamins, prescription drugs, and illicit drugs (like cannabis), if they raise blood pressure or dilate blood vessels. It may not be possible for some drugs or vitamins to be avoided if they are required for other reasons.
Clothing
You can get hot flash relief by wearing looser fitting, lighter-weight or cotton clothing. Cotton allows sweat to evaporate faster, which helps cool the skin and makes you feel more comfortable. Layering can also be helpful. Layers can be removed as your body heats up. If you feel cold afterwards, you can put them back on.
Many women find that regular exercise provides hot flash relief. The heat that you generate from moving around may help your body maintain a comfortable temperature throughout the day.
Isoflavones
Hot flashes can also be caused by diet. Many people are talking about soy beans and their benefits for menopausal symptoms.Isoflavones are phytoestrogens and plant estrogens found in soy beans. These phytoestrogens can have an estrogen-like effect on women’s bodies, provide hot flash relief, and possibly relieve other symptoms. Experts suggest that adding soy to your diet is a better option than dietary supplements that contain this active compound. However, research has shown that dietary supplements reduce hot flashes more effectively than foods such as soy flour.
- Isoflavones are also found in other plants such as red clover, which is good news for women who are allergic.
- Black cohosh is a popular home remedy for hot flashes. Researchers have found it to be more effective than soy Isoflavones.
- Sarsaparilla, an ancient remedy for hormonal imbalances, may provide relief from hot flashes.
- Ginseng works for some women but not for others. Although often recommended, chasteberry does not reduce hot flashes but can be beneficial for other menopausal symptoms. Because wild yam contains a compound that can create synthetic hormones, it is sometimes recommended.
- Dong Quai root, another home remedy for hot flashes is also available. However, some scientific studies have shown that it is not effective for hot flash relief. However, it may improve other symptoms.