| Hot flash remedies that are proven. | | | | to concentrate. |
| Hot flash remedies fall into two broad | | | | HF's often begin when periods are still regular or just |
| categories--hormonal and herbal. Recent research has | | | | starting to get irregular. They are frequently the first |
| discovered heretofore unsuspected dangers inherent | | | | sign that one is approaching menopause. The intensity |
| in hormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT has been | | | | and frequency of hot flashes usually decreases as the |
| shown to significantly increase the risk of breast | | | | body (and brain) get used to the changing levels of |
| cancer, heart disease and a number of other health | | | | hormones secreted by the ovaries. |
| problems. | | | | HF's can start 2 to 5 years before menopause. They |
| Since HRT is no longer an option for most women, we | | | | are often most intense at the onset of menopause, |
| are left with the task of finding a safe remedy that | | | | when the brain is adjusting to the decline in hormone |
| can reliably relieve the symptoms of menopause. The | | | | secretion by the ovaries. HF's and night sweats affect |
| most common complaint of perimenopause and | | | | 75% of women over age 50. HF's are generally |
| menopause is hot flashes (HF's) and sweats. These | | | | experienced up to 5 years after menopause. 10% of |
| two complaints are really two sides of the same coin. | | | | women experience hot flashes for up to 10 years |
| Let's first learn about HF's and sweats--what they feel | | | | after menstrual periods stop. |
| like. Then we'll look at a natural remedy for them that | | | | Hot flash triggers to avoid. |
| has been found to be both effective and safe. | | | | Here are some common triggers for hot flashes... |
| What are hot flashes and sweats? | | | | - Being in a hot climate or room |
| A hot flash (HF) is a sensation of heat followed by | | | | - Drinking a hot drink |
| sweating and a sensation of chill lasting from 30 | | | | - Wearing too warm clothing |
| seconds to 10 minutes or more. They often cause | | | | - Caffeine from coffee, tea, colas and chocolate |
| temporary red blotches on the face, neck, chest, back | | | | - Stress |
| and arms. They can be disorienting, followed by | | | | - Exercise (yet being in good shape makes hot flashes |
| anxiety, nervousness and nausea. | | | | less likely) |
| Here is one woman's description of one of her HF's. | | | | - Eating a large meal or eating too quickly |
| "All of a sudden I feel an intense surge of heat moving | | | | - Eating spicy foods |
| up through my body to my neck and face. My face | | | | - Drinking alcoholic beverages |
| gets red and beads of sweat form on my forehead | | | | Avoiding the triggers listed above can help to reduce |
| and temples. Soon my entire body seems drenched | | | | the number and severity of HF's for some women. |
| with a cold sweat. | | | | Remedies for hot flashes. |
| Often my heart races and I feel dizzy or nauseous. | | | | Other remedies include hormone replacement therapy |
| Different variations on this theme happen many times | | | | and herbal remedies that contain phytoestrogens. |
| a day, more than 10 times a day." | | | | Hormone replacement therapy was the therapy of |
| HF's can be mild or so intense that they are disabling. | | | | choice for relief of HF's until evidence emerged that it |
| They can occur a couple times a week to 10 and 20 | | | | significantly increases the risk of breast cancer, heart |
| times per day. They can last as little as 30 seconds or | | | | disease and a host of other conditions. Safer solutions |
| as long as 10 minutes or more. | | | | have been sought in natural remedies such as herbs. |
| The experience of HF's can be very different from | | | | But herbal remedies for HF's have not provided nearly |
| woman to woman. They are universally described as | | | | the relief that hormone replacement therapy did. That |
| unpleasant. They are one of the most profound | | | | is not until recent clinical research documented the |
| symptoms of menopause and are associated with a | | | | benefits of an herbal extract from Europe called |
| number of the other symptoms of menopause: night | | | | Siberian rhubarb root. |
| sweats, anxiety, nervousness, insomnia and the inability | | | | |