5 therapies to combat 'hot flashes' in menopausal women

Menopause is a natural biological process of human, characterized by the cessation of menstruation. Menopausal women often experience a number of unpleasant symptoms including hot flashes, a feeling of intense heat in the neck or face, and excessive sweating.

Scientists have found natural ways to relieve the unpleasant symptoms of menopause.

Black cosh (black snake root) against hot flashes

Black cohosh or Gastrodia elata (Actea racemosa) is native to North America and is recognized by the European Commission and the World Health Organization for its effects against hot flashes, menstrual pain and menopausal mood disorders.

An American study in the early 2000s of 16,000 women showed the effectiveness of plants, especially black cohosh. The remedy was to boil 40 mg of dried black cohosh root and rhizome in 150 ml of water, straining the mixture before drinking.

Other herbs such as soy, hops, or sage may have similar effects. However, consult your doctor to determine the right dosage for you.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy is a medical clinical practice based on the principle that "the body has the ability to heal itself". According to many researchers, the premise of this method is based on the principle of "Law of similar" - "law of similarities", that is, "let like be cured by like". In other words, this is the method of "fighting poison with poison" and "law of minimum dose".

In 2008, a group of 99 doctors conducted a homeopathic study on 438 postmenopausal women, average age 55. They were given ingredients including the herb Belladonna, Lachesis mutus obtained from the venom of a South American snake, Sepia officinalis (from the Sepiidae squid), sulfur, a basic ingredient of homeopathic medicine, and the Canadian plant Sanguinaria canadensis. The results showed that 90% of the volunteers had a significant reduction in the frequency of hot flashes both day and night and an improvement in quality of life.

Clary Sage Essential Oil

Experts say that Clary Sage essential oil (Salvia sclarea L.) is effective in treating pre-menopause and menopause symptoms, including hot flashes, sweating, and mood swings. With its estrogen-rich properties, sage mimics the body’s natural estrogen.

How to use:Dilute a few drops of this essential oil with vegetable oil and massage the lower abdomen or add 2 drops of the plant essential oil to a teaspoon of honey and take it twice a day. In case of sweating, 2 to 4 drops of sage essential oil can be poured on the palms of the hands or directly under the armpits. Also, it is better to mix the sage essential oil and vegetable essential oil before massaging.

Physical activity

A recent study in the UK of 2,399 postmenopausal women showed that women with a BMI (body mass index) between 18.5 and 25 had fewer hot flashes and better health than overweight and obese women. Physical activity also brings many benefits such as maintaining a healthy weight, improving sleep quality and cardiovascular performance, strengthening the immune system, reducing the risk of chronic diseases (stroke, heart attack, cancer, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, depression...) and stimulating sexual desire.

Experts recommend moderate physical activity of at least 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week. Exercise should be combined with a balanced diet to maintain weight and lose weight healthily.

Acupuncture

The Chinese have used acupuncture for millennia to treat hot flashes in menopausal women. According to traditional Chinese medicine, hormonal imbalance is caused by liver and kidney dysfunction, causing a number of problems such as irregular menstruation, hot flashes, menstrual cramps, bloating, constipation, etc. By enhancing the function of the liver and kidneys, acupuncture helps to combat hormonal imbalance and reduce the unpleasant symptoms of menopause.

In July 2014, researchers performed acupuncture on hundreds of menopausal women with hot flashes. These women received acupuncture at least three times a day in combination with other therapeutic techniques such as massage and diet. As a result, they significantly reduced hot flashes and menopausal sweating. However, because the study subjects were small, scientists say it is difficult to evaluate the true effectiveness of acupuncture in treating hot flashes in premenopausal or menopausal women.

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