Herbal Remedies For Hot Flashes

With menopause around the corner, health adjustments need to be made! Depending on each woman, the intensity of the symptoms of menopause varies. For instance, for some women the worst symptom might be excessive vaginal dryness, whereas for others hot flashes might be absolutely unbearable. Speaking of the later symptom – hot flashes, that is – all we know about them are two things: they are caused by estrogen surges, and they are really uncomfortable!

In addition to mind and body cooling techniques (such as taking deep breath, thinking positively, yoga, etc.) some natural remedies have been proven to be worthy of praise when it comes to turning the heat down.

Sage

Sage is a terrific herb for hot flashes, and I mean…terrific. Sage has long been used in alternative medicine to manage fever. A study published in 2011 in Advances in Therapy demonstrated that sage could help reduce the occurrence of hot flashes by 50% within only 5 weeks of use. Whether you drink it as a tea, use it as a spice or consume it in supplement forms (capsules and liquid extracts), sage is one of the best and most efficient herbs for hot flashes. Besides, it is generally well tolerated by women, so the risk of side-effect is lower.

Black Cohosh

Black cohosh is a potent herbal estrogen substitute, well effective for the management of postmenopausal symptoms, especially hot flashes. One key ingredient of black cohosh, fukilonic acid, is thought to be the component that harbors the estrogenic activity. Consequently, taking black cohosh is almost like taking a natural version of estrogen.

Chasteberry

Also known as Vitex, Abraham’s balm or Monk’s pepper,chasteberry is very effective in managing hot flashes. In fact, this plant diminishes the hormones fluctuations (namely the estrogen surge) responsible for those hot flashes. However, it will take quite some time before you start seeing the effects (about two months or three), so have patience!

Dong Quai

Dong Quai, an indigenous herb originating from China; is known for its calming effects. Herbalists claim that this herb, in combination with other menopausal remedies, is able to decrease the intensity of hot flashes. However, according to the herbalist Susun Weed, Dong Quai might not be as effective for women who experience severe and intense hot flashes.

Motherwort

Is this plant really worth it? Yes, it is! Motherwort is a medicinal plant that belongs to the Mint family. It has been proven to relieve night sweats, hot flashes, insomnia and anxiety associated with menopause. The recommended dosage for this herb is 25-40 drops of the tincture.

Red Clover

Red Clover is rich in isoflavones, which are chemically similar to estrogen. Henceforth, isoflavones are thought to be able to reactivate estrogen in one’s body, thus relieving the symptoms of menopause, among which hot flashes.

So keep calm, ladies, there is no need to sweat it: Mother Nature got you covered!