Natural Relief for Hot Flashes

    So what's the solution?  Hormone replacement therapy?  Cold showers? Why do we have to suffer with them in the first place?  And why do some women suffer from them more than others?

In Japan and India, hot flashes are almost unheard of.  Why? Diet and lifestyle have a lot to do with it.  Women in India live a simple, rural lifestyle with less stress and a diet rich in phytoestrogenic spices and plant based foods.  These foods help keep hormones balanced while the body adjusts to changing levels of estrogen.  Harmonious balance is essential for women to navigate transition successfully. And diet and lifestyle are the simplest and most important considerations for a natural and symptom-less menopause.

In our normal daily life we put many demands on our hormonal system which can lead to an overload and subsequent imbalance. When the bodies heat-regulatory system becomes overwhelmed the brain believes it needs to release heat so it stimulates the initiation of normal responses to overheating like the opening of sweat glands, increase in heart rate, dilation of blood vessels, etc. This is what causes the flush of heat, redness, and perspiration, known as a hot flash.

The demands that can cause this imbalance are varied: smoking, overweight, hot spicy foods, sugar, caffeine, nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, and the biggest contributor: stress!  Statistics show that women who experience anxiety are up to five times more likely to experience hot flashes.

The solutions may seem pretty straightforward: lose weight, stop smoking, avoid caffeine, sugar and hot spicy foods and take a multivitamin, but how do we avoid stress?  How do women manage the higher levels of stress experienced living in the 21st century?  Learning some simple techniques for managing stress and focusing on achieving balance through specific mind and body work is the place to start.

To help with managing stress I have created a free report called "The Top Ten Stress Management Techniques".  This is a great first step in taking control of your menopause symptoms. Just fill in the form below and you'll receive the complimentary report so you can get started right away. 

Bodywork

    In rural India most women experience menopause as a smooth transition into the wise woman years. They rarely experience hot flashes and simply move from having a period to not having a period easily and painlessly. Their diet is the key. They consume spices and foods rich in phytoestrogenic compounds, spend time in quiet meditation, live a simple, slower life and are part of a supportive community and family. Shall we all move to India? No. But we can learn from their wisdom and the science of natural medicine.

    Here are some simple suggestions for naturally dealing with hot flashes:

• Increase your consumption of soy as it has been found to help with hot flashes. To find out more about the right soy for you, click here.
• Add the spices cumin, coriander, tumeric, and fennel to your foods. They aren't overly spicey and add a lovely exotic flare to your cooking.
• Consume sprouted red clover and garbanzo beans. These are high in phytoestrogens.
• High quality herbs like chasteberry, black cohosh, dong quai, burdock, licorice, and motherwort can be helpful. As well as Chinese herbal combinations or AyurVedic herbs like sarsaparilla, ashwaganda, and asteofida.
• Consuming a diet lower in animal products can also help. As we age our protein needs change and a more vegetarian diet will provide more than enough protein and a wealth of health benefits.
   

Avoid

• Stimulating drinks like coffee and alcohol.
• Hot spicy foods if you are one of the women who are affected by these kinds of foods. It is interesting to note that women who consume high quantities of hot peppers rarely experience hot flashes. Listen to your body!
• White sugar. Our bodies are more sensitive now to poor dietary choices and sugar can cause a myriad of negative events from heart palpitations to diabetes.
• Stress can cause your hormones to do all sorts of weird and wonderful things. Practice stress reduction techniques as much as possible and avoid stressful situations.
   

Mindwork

    Blocked energy, repressed emotions, and unexpressed anger can all have a negative effect on how your menopausal transition is manifested. As we enter these years our emotions seem to rise close to the surface. It's like all the years we spend focusing on reproducing, nurturing, building a career and tending relationships keeps a blanket over many of our strong emotions. As we hit the menopausal years that blanket is lifted. Repressed memories or past hurts suddenly start coming to the surface demanding attention. Unfortunately, in our Western culture we are told that the mood swings and excessive emotions are caused by fluctuating hormones rather than valid reactions to real challenges and the minds desire to clear up past issues.
 

Final Word
    You need to listen to what your body is telling you and you need to tend to those emotions, memories, and blocked energy channels. Both Ayur Vedic and Chinese medicine encourage meditation and energy work that stimulates the free flow of energy throughout your emotional centers and chakras. This can help still the mind, calm the hormones, and modify the hot flashes.

Have a question about menopause you want answered?

As your body changes symptoms manifest that may have you puzzled or concerned. If you have questions, we will do our best to answer them. We have Dr. John Yim, naturopathic physician, a specialist in women's health available to answer your questions. Just fill out this form and look for his answer on our menopause blog!

Click below to see other questions as they come in...