Hot Flushes During Menopause

Common symptoms of menopause are hot flushes, excessive perspiration, night sweats and heat based symptoms. Other symptoms women may experience are a loss of sexual desire, dry skin and vagina, nervousness and anxiety, headaches, insomnia, fatigue, irritability, urinary frequency and muscle and joint pain.

Menopause is not a condition/ disease but rather a shift in hormonal status (change of life). The symptoms are seen when there is a drop in estrogen production in the ovaries, the adrenal glands will compensate for this drop in estrogen and produce small amounts to sustain the decline in this hormone. Estrogen contributes to the female menstrual cycle by building endometrial tissue, sustaining bone density and the nervous system, maintaining the quality of the skin, sustaining libido and for the regulation of the female reproductive system.

DIET TIPS TO REDUCE HOT FLUSHES

  • Ensure proper hydration as there is a chance of electrolyte imbalance and dehydration when experiencing heat symptoms
  • Increase Isoflavones in your diet, foods which contain these hormone balancing effects include tofu, red clover, soya beans, soy milk, Maca powder and tempeh
  • Drink chamomile tea, coriander water and sage tea to symptomatically reduce the heat symptoms of the body

LIFESTYLE FACTORS TO REDUCE HOT FLUSHES

  • Address Kidney insufficiencies due to stress or adrenal exhaustion
  • Consider a gentle liver detoxification program to help take the burden off the liver. If the liver is constrained it will cause heat in the body and contribute to hot flushes
  • Speak to your Healthcare practitioner concerning a hormonal status test as well as liver and kidney function
  • Exercise may help to improve general health, promote liver function and burn off excess heat
  • Acupuncture may be of assistance to improve circulation and reduce energetic blockages of Qi (energy) which may affect reproductive health
  • Reduce aggravating triggers such as stress, spices, alcohol and caffeine beverages
  • Consider a wellbeing program which incorporates meditation, exercise and yoga to reduce nervous system stimulation which aggravates hot flushes

NATURAL REMEDIES TO HELP REDUCE HOT FLUSHES IN MENOPAUSE

  • The herbs Kudzu, Phellodendron, Rehmannia and Black Cohosh may be of benefit due to their hormone modulating and cooling effects to clear heat and relieve toxicity
  • Wild Yam has an Oestrogen effect due to it containing steroidal saponins. This herb may help to alleviate symptoms of oestrogen withdrawal through the binding of its steroidal saponins to vacant receptors in the Hypothalamus (master hormone control gland in the brain).
  • Sage tea is a traditional remedy to cool the blood and reduce heat in the body
  • Vitamin B6 and B3 is the specific nutrient needed to reduce sweating and flushing
  • Tissue salts to clear stagnation and cool the body are Silica and Nat. Phos.
  • Vibrational Essences such as the Australian Bush Flowers remedy Womens Essence or the Bach Flower Remedy She Oak are womens balancing and may help to relieve hot flushes when used in combination with hormone modulating herbs
  • Hormone modulating herbs to address the decline in estrogen are Ashwaganda, Black Cohosh, Kudzu, Anemarrhena, Horny Goat Weed, Morinda, Dong Quai, Chaste Tree, Paeonia and Curculigo. A combination of these herbs is often recommended by Naturopaths to address decreased estrogen levels while providing symptomatic relief to menopausal complaints. These herbs have much empirical research and great success in helping to support a woman through the change of life.

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