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Inexpensive Remedies for Hot Flashes

During the day, you get so hot while you are at work that you think you're going to burn alive. Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could sleep the entire night through without experiencing night sweats or get through just one day without tearing off your clothes in a frenzy or dashing outside into subzero weather because you are on fire? There are inexpensive ways to put the kibosh on hot flashes.

  1. Magnesium

    • The Journal of Clinical Oncology reports that women who take magnesium pills find relief from hot flashes. This was discovered rather accidentally. The women were taking magnesium for another reason and, in the process, discovered that within 24 hours of taking the magnesium supplement that their hot flashes had ceased. Magnesium is generally used for the treatment of eclampsia, hypertension and other cardiovascular or nerve disorders, according to the article written by Thomas J. Smith, The Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va.

    Apple Cider Vinegar

    • Some women swear that drinking 2 Tbsp. of apple cider vinegar before going to bed cured them of hot flashes, according to Earthclinic.com.

    Soy

    • Dr. Christiane Northrup recommends taking 45 to 160 mg of soy isoflavones each day and cutting back on simple carbohydrates and sugar to reduce the incidence of hot flashes.

    Tips

    • Aarp.org recommends being proactive if you are experiencing hot flashes. Dress in layers so that you can remove the outer layer when you are hot-flashing. Sleep in a cold room. Wash your hands in cold water as soon as a hot flash comes on. Sleep with a cold pack under your pillow. If you wake, with a hot flash, turn your pillow over and it will be damp and cold. Keep an extra pair of nightclothes close by so you can change easily if you have soaked your PJs with sweat.

    Black Cohosh

    • Some women opt to take black cohosh, according to Aarp. However, there have been recent revelations that black cohosh can cause liver damage. Ask your physician what she thinks.

    Maca

    • Take maca supplements. Maca is a plant that is grown in Peru and has been used for centuries to help with a person's strength, endurance and libido, and it helps curb hot flashes. It does not contain estrogen but has estrogenlike effects on the body, according to Medicine-plants.com. Maca also reportedly relieves vaginal dryness, PMS and fatigue. However, if you are using an estrogen blocker, such as Tamoxifen (breast cancer patients) or are suffering from a hormonally related cancer, such as an estrogen-receptive breast cancer, or have endometriosis, you are discouraged from using maca, which is a herb.

    Vitamin E

    • The Freelibrary.com points out that vitamin E has been found to be effective in stopping hot flashes.

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