Home Remedies for Hot Flashes in Menopause

Hot flashes are a common complaint of women experiencing the approach of menopause. According to Dr. Marsha Lynn Speller, author of "The Menopause Answer Book," eight women out of ten experience hot flashes that cause a temporary rise in body heat, frequently centering in the face or in the upper body. Hot flashes can occur at any time, even during sound sleep, causing the woman to wake drenched in sweat. Some simple home remedies may help reduce the frequency or severity of hot flashes.

Diet and Supplements

• Increasing consumption of soy food products may reduce some of the symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes. Available in purified tablets, whole food, tofu and prepared protein drinks, Dr. Speller recommends adding between 40mg and 80mg per day to a woman's diet.
  Some supplements, including flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil and Vitamin E, may help correct the hormone imbalance that may be the catalyst for hot flashes. Vitamin E should not be taken by women with a Vitamin K deficiency, however, as it might result in increased uterine bleeding.
  Herbal home remedies are popular and some may have an effect on reducing hot flashes. Black cohosh and red clover, in capsule form or as herbal teas, may provide estrogenic effects when taken at the rate of 80mg per day. 100mg of ginseng, blended with licorice, may offer some relief but it may also increase the risk of uterine bleeding.

Ointment

• Natural progesterone creams, derived from wild yams, may be rubbed directly onto the surface of the skin, replacing a woman's reduced progesterone levels in the body.

Lifestyle

• Being overweight may increase the risk of experiencing hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. Drinking alcohol may trigger a hot flash and smoking may affect a woman's blood vessel constriction, increasing the odds of suffering from uncomfortable symptoms. Caffeine may also contribute to hot flashes. Eat a healthy diet, low in fat and establish a regular exercise routine to battle hot flashes.
  Consider dressing in lightweight layers of clothing, removing a layer when a hot flash strikes for quick relief.