When a woman's estrogen level drops, she may experience hot flashes. According to the Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, a hot flash is an uncomfortable feeling of heat, starting in the face, throat or chest region and spreading over the rest of the body. The woman may perspire profusely, even if the air temperature around her is cool. Related to menopause and the years immediately preceding it, conventional treatment may include hormone replacement therapy (HRT). For women who prefer a natural approach, some herbs may reduce their symptoms of hot flashes.
Time Frame
A woman may experience a hot flash at any time if something disrupts her natural hormonal makeup, but Breast Cancer.org states that most women begin to have hot flashes a couple of years before their menstrual periods cease, and the hot flashes may last for a year or longer after menopause. As many as 85 percent of American women experience hot flashes, and up to 50 percent may have them for many years after menopause.
Herbs
Herbal remedies used for treating hot flashes may contain isoflavones, or phytohormones, which are plant-based hormones. Among potentially beneficial herbs, Gale lists black cohosh, dong quai, red clover and licorice root. The tuberous root of the wild yam may also offer some relief.
Methods
Herbal teas, capsules, tablets or extracts of black cohosh, dong quai, red clover and licorice root are available from health food stores. Follow the suggested dosage on the package, or consult a certified herbalist or a doctor of naturopathy for dosage advice. Rub a topical cream made from the wild yam root directly into the skin, allowing the phytoestrogen to absorb into the bloodstream.
Benefits
The Mayo Clinic suggests that traditional hormone replacement therapy may increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, as well as heart disease and blood clots. Although herbal remedies for hot flashes provide much lower dosages of estrogen-like substances, they may control mild to moderate hot flashes without the use of risky medications.
Considerations
The Food and Drug Administration classifies herbal remedies as supplements and as such, few undergo rigorous testing to determine their safety and effectiveness. Some herbs still contain medicinal substances, however, and taking them in dosages higher than recommended may be dangerous. Contact your doctor before quitting conventional hormone replacement therapy, and before using herbal remedies to treat hot flashes if you're currently taking other medications.
References
- Breastcancer.org: All About Hot Flashes
- Mayo Clinic: Hot Flashes---Treatments and Drugs
- Mayo Clinic: Hot Flashes---Alternative Medicine
- "Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, Volume 2"; Jacqueline L. Longe; 2005
