Elderberry for Hot-Flash Relief

It is thought that the drop in estrogen that occurs during menopause impacts the hypothalamus, a small cone-shaped structure of the brain which can be seen as the thermostat of the body. One of the most problematic symptoms women experience during menopause thus is hot flashes. Some women may find that elderberry is useful in getting control of the hot flashes caused by menopause.

Method

• Decide how you want to take the elderberry. One of the easiest (and tastiest) ways to take elderberry is to use a syrup that contains the juice of the elderberry fruit. You can buy the syrups commercially, or you can make your own. You then can put the syrup on things like french toast, waffles or pancakes. Elderberry tea is a good option for those who don't like the stickiness of a syrup or have trouble swallowing supplement pills. The fruits of the elderberry plant also can be eaten by themselves, but you must cook them first---raw elderberries are poisonous.You also can take elderberry supplements, which may tend to give you better precision in terms of dosing.

Consultation

• Talk to your doctor before taking elderberry to make sure that it won't interfere with other therapies or medications. Elderberry is an immune-system booster, so if you are taking immune suppressants for conditions such as arthritis, then your doctor may not want you to control your hot flashes with elderberry. If nothing but the elderberry seems to work for your hot flashes and it does conflict with other treatments, then ask your doctor if there is an alternate therapy or medication for your other conditions.

  Elderberry contains isoflavones that have a chemical makeup that mimics human estrogen. Elderberry thus can relieve hot flashes as the isoflavones bind to estrogen receptors and stimulate estrogen activity. If you are on another hormone replacement therapy (HRT), you and your doctor may find that lowering the dose of your HRT may be needed if you also plan to take elderberry so that you do not receive too much estrogen and isoflavones.

Dosage

• Take the elderberry as close to the recommended daily allowance as possible. A dose of 15 mL four times per day for adults is considered safe. If you are taking the elderberry by a method other than supplements, then look on the label of your product (e.g., syrup, tea) to figure out how much elderberry is contained per serving or dose and don't exceed the 60 mL-per-day allowance.

  Even if your hot flashes are relieved with elderberry, don't take the elderberry for more than five days straight. The safety of using elderberry for longer periods has not been proven.

Diet

• Watch your diet and hydration. Elderberry is a laxative and diuretic. If the hormone changes that caused your menopause and subsequent hot flashes also have left you constipated, then this can be helpful. If you aren't having constipation and digestive problems, however, then you may find that you have to increase your fiber intake to keep yourself from having stools that are too loose, since the elderberry will flush the water from your digestive system otherwise.