Alternative Remedies for Hot Flashes

HOT flashes refer to sudden and intense hot sensations on your face and upper body. Often hot flashes are preceded or accompanied by other symptoms such as a rapid heartbeat, excessive sweating, nausea, dizziness, anxiety, headache, weakness or a feeling of suffocation.

Here are the top alternative remedies for hot flashes in women:

Apple cider vinegar: apple cider vinegar is very helpful in treating hot flashes. Raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar helps regulate toxins that the body is trying to eliminate through perspiration.

This in turn reduces the incidence and intensity of hot flashes and night sweats. Dilute one to two tablespoons of organic and unfiltered apple cider vinegar in a glass of water, vegetable juice or fruit juice. Drink it once or twice daily until the symptoms subside.

Soy: soy foods help balance hormone levels and have some estrogenic activity and can effectively treat hot flashes. After analysing 19 studies, researchers concluded that soy isoflavone supplements may also help, at least over time. Try to have two servings of soy foods per day. This can be two glasses of soy milk, seven ounces of tofu or one-half cup of edamame.

Flaxseed: being high in phyto-estrogens, particularly legumes, flax-seed is another good home remedy for hot flashes. When 29 women with hot flashes were asked to eat 40g of crushed flax-seed daily for six weeks, the average number of hot flashes dropped by half and their severity fell by 57%. Plus, flax-seed helps improve mood, reduce joint and muscle pain, reduce chills and lessen sweating. Try to eat 40g of ground flaxseed daily. Simply add a few tablespoons to your oatmeal, yogurt, soup or smoothie every day.

Sage: an age-old remedy for hot flashes is sage, which can help reduce the symptoms of hot flashes to a great extent. Sage contains flavonoids, volatile oils and tannins that also promote overall health.

• Add one tablespoon of fresh sage leaves (or one teaspoon of dried sage) to a cup of boiling water.

• Let it steep for five minutes, then strain.

• Add some lemon and honey for taste. Drink this tea two or three times daily.

Red clover: an effective herbal remedy for hot flashes, as well as night sweats associated with menopause. This herb contains plant isoflavones that have estrogen-like properties that help relieve hot flashes.

• Add one or two teaspoons of dried red clover to a cup of boiling water.

• Cover, steep for 30 minutes and then strain.

• Drink up to three cups of this herbal tea daily. Note: as red clover can influence other medications, speak with your doctor before trying it.

Vitamin E: vitamin E has estrogen and can effectively eliminate or reduce the severity of hot flashes in menopausal women. It also replaces necessary electrolytes that the body loses through sweating. In a study, 54 patients were given 400 IU vitamin E soft gel capsules daily for several weeks. At the end of the study, there was a reduction in the severity of hot flashes among patients. A daily dose of 400 IUs of vitamin E capsule is recommended to reduce hot flashes. Take one 200 IU (International Units) capsule twice a day with meals. Also include leafy greens, tropical fruits and nuts in your diet as they are excellent sources of vitamin E. Note: vitamin E may take three to six weeks before you notice a difference.

B vitamins: B vitamins, such as B5, B2, B12, B6 and B3 can help to treat and reduce the severity of hot flashes. They help to regulate hormones like estrogen and progesterone. Also, B vitamins keep the mucous membranes of the vagina healthy, reduce depression, relieve anxiety and correct loss of appetite.

• Eat foods rich in vitamin B5 like fish, whole-grain breads, whole-grain cereals, legumes, avocados, nuts, eggs and bananas.

• Eat vitamin B2 foods like milk and eggs.

• Eat vitamin B12 foods like soy products, milk and fish.

• Eat vitamin B6 foods like sunflower seeds and bananas.

• Eat vitamin B3 foods like green leafy vegetables, nuts, beans and peas.

We will continue next week.