Home Remedies for Menopausal Hot Flashes!

Of all the discomforts that come with menopause hot flashes are probably the most common  and most annoying.

“Am I having hot flashes?” you ask. Well lets put it this way, if you have to ask that what you’re feeling are hot flashes then you’re not having hot flashes.

What causes hot flashes? It primarily has to do with the bodies falling estrogen levels and with rapid widening of the blood vessels. This sudden widening lets the blood rush towards the surface of the skin, and that heats up the body.

There are two levels of hot flashes. Mild or moderate flushing will make it seem that you’re the only one around who is warm. In most cases this feeling of warmth does not cause too much sweating, discomfort or other disruptions. This mild or moderate flushing may feel like a nuisance and be a slight bother at work or while sleeping however, these will not interfere with the ability to function.

Severe or extreme flushing, on the other hand can keep you from functioning properly, from getting on with everyday-life. Severe hot flashes including the night sweats will interrupt sleep and will interfere with just about everything. Luckily a lower percentage of women experience these severe disabling hot flashes, most will only have nuisance flashes (‘only’ not being the key word here).

Common sense and a little preparation will go a long way when trying to cope with hot flashes.

• Light, loose-fitting clothes can help keep your body temperature down.
• Plan your wardrobe for the next year or two around these hot flashes.
• Layers, layers and layers should be the main or key components for the next while
• Let the layering system act as your thermostat.
• A button down cardigan is always easier to take off than a pullover
• A button front blouse is better than that turtleneck when you feel the heat coming on
  
• Cotton, hemp and other natural fibers are usually better at air circulation. (Polyesters will keep the body heat close and not release it as fast as the natural fabrics)

• A personal fan can come in handy when those big flashes strike (these come in the oriental folding kind or battery powered also electrical which can direct a cooling stream of air towards you)

• A loose cotton t-shirt is better for sleeping in than the satin nighty for the duration (keep an extra tshirt near to change into when the night sweats hit)

• Invest in an extra pillow or two with a couple of cotton pillowcases, again for when the night sweats hits

• Lower the thermostat at home and at work (if you can) at a lower temperature. If the surrounding air is cool the flash may pass faster.

• Unfortunately summer time is hard for menopausal women as hot flashes are bad enough on their own, but with heat all around it can be almost unbearable. This is when the air conditioner becomes your new best friend. Keep at least one room well air conditioned as a sanctuary.

  
  
  

Try keeping a hot flash diary so that after a while you will know what can trigger a hot flash record what you were doing, what you ate or drank even if you were worrying about something at the time. Stress, nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, fatty foods and even chocolate can set off an attack at the drop of a hat. Regular everyday activities such as pulling the laundry out of the dryer (hot clothes) or doing the dishes (standing over a sink of steaming water) can bring on or intensify them. Once you recognize what the trigger point is try to pass those chores onto someone else.

Relax, although hot flashes are very uncomfortable, keeping the whole process in perspective will help. Hot flashes are something that most women will outgrow within a year to eighteen months. To minimize them try to relax, by simply taking some slow deep breaths, taking a cold drink of water, move around and shed an extra layer of clothing. Above all it helps to keep it all in the right context, a sense of humor can go a long way.

During menopause a vegetable juice with a beet juice base is one of the most useful of vegetable juices. However because beets are so powerful they should always be mixed with other vegetables such as carrots, cucumbers, celery and tomato (each of these vegetables useful in their own way) and apples.

Beets are filled vitamins and minerals: Folic acid, beta-carotene, Vitamins A, C, B's, Niacin, Calcium, Potassium, Iron, Phosphorus, Magnesium and Chlorophyll.

Celery is rich in active Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Phosphorus, Vitamins A, C, B's, Folic acid and Chlorophyll.

Cucumbers are the best natural diuretic as they contains Calcium, Phosphorus, Vitamin A, C, K, Pantothenic Acid, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Manganese and Potassium...and are very low in Cholesterol and Sodium.

Tomatoes contain a lot of Sodium, Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Thiamin, Vitamin A and many more useful elements.

Carrots are very rich in Vitamins A, B, C, E and K contain Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Phosphorus, Sulfur. They help improve digestion etc.

Apples are very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium and are a good source of Dietary Fiber and Vitamin C.

Important facts about beets :

• Pure beet juice from both the greens or the bulb helps the body to cleanse and detoxify. This is good for the body in moderation. (moderation being the key word)
• Rem: Beets cause both stools and urine to turn red.
• Beets are also high in oxalic acid, therefore should not be combined with other vegetables that are high in calcium, such as broccoli. (Oxalic acid together with calcium create an indigestible compound)

To squeeze beet juice, choose small roots, as they are sweeter. Here is one of beet juice recipes:

Ingredients:

• 4 oz beet juice
• 4 oz carrot juice
• 4 oz celery stalks
• 4 cups apple juice

Methodology:

• Wash and peel apples and vegetables.
• Keeping the celery leaves
• Core apples
  
• Pass through the juicer and enjoy.

Drinking 3 small juice glasses (100ml) per day will have a better effect than drugs.

Vegetable and fruit juices made from fresh produce, should be drunk almost immediately. If you need a bit of 'oomph' every once in a while  add a drop or two of Tabasco sauce or hot sauce.

Drinking a glass of either of these two juices three times a day not only help cool the system will also lower blood pressure and help to cope with the day-to-day stresses. And, of course, will help to remove toxins from the body.

CAUTION!

This information does not replace medical advice. It is important to consult a Doctor and/or Natutopath before taking any herbs. Just like drugs, herbal or botanical preparations have chemical and biological activity and may have side effects and interact with certain medications.