In 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that nearly 38 million American women were between age 40 and 59, the most common ages for the onset of menopause. One-third will have hot flashes or night sweats for five years, according to the National Women's Health Information Center. Women throughout the world have relied on herbs to treat hot flashes naturally for centuries. Vitamin supplements are often part of a well-planned menopause survival strategy. Scientific evidence that supports using herbs and vitamins for relieving or preventing hot flashes is limited. Discuss your use of herbs and vitamins with a healthcare professional.
Features
Your ovaries' decreasing production of estrogen and progesterone leads to menopause. It is a normal part of aging and the main cause of hot flashes. Surgical menopause occurs when you have your ovaries removed. The American Cancer Society says that the abrupt drop in hormones that follows surgery causes more severe hot flashes than natural menopause.
Traditional Herb Usage
North American herbalists suggest a variety of herbs for hot flashes, but black cohosh is one of the most popular, according to the University of Minnesota. Taking 40 mg of this herb daily in capsules or tablets relieves hot flashes in some women. The University of Virginia suggests drinking sage and motherwort tea at regular intervals during the day. For severe hot flashes, brew lavender, marigold or vitex teas. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states that St. John's wort and evening primrose oil appear to help with menopause symptoms, but there is not compelling scientific proof of their effectiveness.
Chinese Medicine
Chinese traditional herbs for hot flashes vary, depending on whether your menopause is cool or warm. A practitioner will diagnose your menopause symptoms before preparing a personalized herb mixture to relieve your hot flashes. Chinese treatments feature dong quai, believed to be a plant estrogen.
Vitamin Treatments
The American Cancer Society reports that women taking an average of 800 IUs of vitamin E daily get relief from hot flashes. However, women who took a placebo also had fewer symptoms. ACS notes that the National Cancer Institute recommends vitamin E or 200 to 250 mg of vitamin B6 daily.
A small 2010 study on the effect of folic acid --- a B vitamin --- also shows promise. Egyptian researchers, S. Gaweesh et al. reported their results in the September 2010 Journal of Gynecological Endocrinology, in the article, "Folic acid supplementation may cure hot flushes in postmenopausal women: a prospective cohort study." The women who took 5 mg of folic acid daily during the 4-week study had lower blood plasma levels of norepinephrine --- a neurotransmitter that plays a role in hot flashes. They also reported a higher rate of improvement of their hot flash symptoms.
Warnings
Consult your physician before using herbal remedies for your hot flashes. All herbs have potential side effects. Black cohosh appears to affect your liver, while St. John's Wort may increase your risk for cataracts. The American Cancer Society advises women to avoid plant estrogen herbal treatments entirely. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not regulate herbal preparations, so it is impossible to know if herb capsules and tablets contain the specific herb and dosage that you need.
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