Remedies for Menopause Night Sweats

If you have never had a full-on menopausal night sweat, then it's a little difficult to fully articulate just how attention-getting they can be. A woman wakes up, soaked to the gills, her bedclothes drenched, her hair sopping wet, sweat dripping down her back--yet she has awakened because she's cold, lying in a virtual wading pool of sweat. Men can have night sweats, too, but women seem to have the monopoly on them.

Herbs

• Once you experience night sweats a couple of times, you want to figure out, pronto, how to make them stop. According to Project-aware.com (See References), effective herbal remedies include chickweed, elder and violet, because they cool the system. Dandelion, Dong Quai, yellow dock and Ho Shou Wu (polygonum multiflorum) increase and nourish oxygen utilization in the liver, and black cohosh is rich in phytosterols. Hook up with a knowledgeable herbalist and see if this is the right approach for you.
  Black cohosh has estrogenic components. Do not take it If you are inclined toward heavy menstrual periods, think you may be pregnant, have estrogen-dependent cancer or are taking estrogen replacement therapy, have heart disease, take blood pressure medicine or sedatives, or are nursing a baby.

More Herbs: Licorice Root

• Consider taking licorice root, which has mild estrogenic components. It has long been used to treat female disorders. Do not take it if you have high blood pressure or edema. Licorice contains glycyrrhizin (glycrrhizic acid), which controls estrogen. When it's too high, this acid brings it down; when estrogen is too low, it activates it.

Change Diet

• Examine your diet. According to Womentowomen.com (See References) if you are eating hot, spicy foods, consuming too much alcohol and eating too much sugar, you are a target for night sweats. Change your diet. If you are anxious, overweight or a smoker, the odds of getting nocturnal sweats increases. So try to get a grip on your anxiety, lose weight and stop smoking.

Switch Medications

• Consider the medications that you are taking. If they include antipyretics (which lower your blood temperature) or hypoglycemic medication (which lower your blood sugar), antidepressants or hormones, this may lead to night sweats, according to Mayoclinic.com (See References). Consult with your physician if you believe your medications are causing night sweats.

Apple Cider Vinegar

• Gulp down 2 tbsp. of apple cider vinegar right before going to bed and this may alleviate your night sweats, according to Earthclinic.com (See Resources).

Turn Down the Heat!

• Turn down the thermostat in your bedroom. This can help a lot.

Magnesium Supplements

• Women who take magnesium supplements tend to have fewer hot flashes and night sweats. Ask your doctor about this remedy.

Cold Pack

• According to Aarp.org (See Additional Resources), sleep with a cold pack under your pillow. When you awake with a night sweat, turn your pillow over and lie down on the cold, damp side. This will cool you off.