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Natural Remedies for
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Natural remedies for hot flashes can be as simple as making a few lifestyle changes. You could reduce the occurrences of hot flashes be simply lowering the temperature in your house or dressing in layers at work. Sleeping in a cooler room can certainly help with night sweats.
Natural Help for Hot Flashes
SoyThe science is still unclear about soy products, but many women swear that consuming soy helps decrease the frequency and intensity of hot flashes.
Soy contains plant chemicals called isoflavones, which may help fight cancer. But scientists are worried because isoflavones mimic estrogen. The concern is that women at risk for breast cancer might consume too much and trigger growth of malignant cells. You should talk to your doctor or health care professional before you run out to the store and start consuming a lot of soy.
Herbs and Oils
If you've ever been around a group of menopausal women, you've likely heard the praises for products like ginseng, dong quai, primose oil, licorice, and Chinese herb mixtures.
Although these are common herbs for hot flashes treatment, there's no clinical evidence of their safety. The North American Menopause Society doesn't recommend any of them. Even giving the herbs for menopause a try without your doctors okay can be risky. In large enough doses, natural herbs can interfere with prescription medications and can also bring on side effects.
Possible side effects of herbal treatment include...
- uterine bleeding (ginseng)
- diarrhea (evening primrose oil)
- arrhythmias (licorice)
- liver damage (black cohosh)
You need to be careful when it comes to herbal products because they aren't regulated and you can't be sure what you're taking.
Black Cohosh
For many years black cohosh has been prescribed to ease menopause and depression, hot flashes, and sleep problems. However, just because it's been used for a long time doesn't mean it's safe treatment. There's a lot we don't know about black cohosh. We don't know how black cohosh works or even if it really works at all.
To this point in time, there isn't any convincing data because most of the studies that have been done are relatively short, just a few months. The North American Menopause Society specifically warns women with breast cancer about it's safety. The agency that regulates health care products in the United Kingdom has determined that all products carrying black cohosh should carry a warning.
Dong Quai
Dong quai is used in the East to help equalize low and high estrogen levels. Dong quai is also beneficial to your cardiovascular system. It's probably not a good idea to mix many herbs because it's not clear whether combinations are good or harmful. It's best to see a herbalist to help guide you and design the right combination for your needs.
Chinese Herbal Formulas
Chinese herbal formulas used for natural remedies for hot flashes include liu wei di huang wan. This remedy raises estrogen levels in menopausal women. Another remedy is xiano yao tang which is a herbal remedy that lowers the level of estrogen in women with benign breast disease and therefore may be safer if you've had breast cancer. When considering natural remedies for hot flashes, it's generally best to get advice from a Chinese practitioner to help sort through various formulas, making specific prescriptions for you.Natural Remedies for Hot Flashes to Hot Flashes
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