Menopause
Resource Center
Relieve
Hot Flashes, Night Sweats and Mood
Swings...Naturally
by Dr. Loretta Lanphier, ND,
CN, HHP
MAccording
to statistics, hot flashes occur in 40 - 90% of women during
transition into menopause and up to 85% of women after menopause.
Other typical complaints related to hot flashes include anxiety,
nausea, feelings of suffocation and inability to concentrate.
Synonyms for the term hot flash include 'hot flushes', 'vasomotor
symptoms' and 'night sweats'.
Below are steps that you can take to minimize
or eliminate your hot flashes and night sweats.
- Use
a chemical-free, non-toxic natural progesterone
cream. Most
women are estrogen dominant. Progesterone
is the balancer of hormones and most
women find that using natural progesterone
reduces or eliminates hot flashes
while helping to improve mood.
- Eliminate
animal fats (high in phosphorous, which
leaches calcium from your body) & saturated
fat in your diet. Use olive oil,
unrefined coconut oil, hemp seed
oil and flax seed oil. Include 2-3
tablespoons of unrefined coconut
oil in your diet everyday.
- Eat
foods that are high in omega 3,6,9
and in the correct ratios. Each
day that you include coconut oil;
raw, organic nuts (almonds and walnuts);
ground flaxseed; and cold-water fish
you will be giving your body the
essential fatty acids that it needs.
- Juice
a glass of fresh, organic vegetable
juice every day. Your body
will benefit from the live enzymes
and nutrients. This is definitely
a case where more is better, so go
ahead and have two glasses every
day!
- The
most potent type of dietary phytoestrogens
are found only in legumes such as
lentils, chickpeas, & beans. Try
to include 3-4 servings weekly.
- Go
easy on soy products as the jury
is out as to how they really affect
hormones. Fermented soy
is fine to include in your diet 3-4
times weekly.
- Reduce
intake of regular tea, stimulants,
hot beverages, and spicy foods. Two
cups of organic, herbal tea every
day is recommended. Chamomile tea
is good for calming the emotions.
- Eat
meat and dairy that are free-range
and organic. Grocery store
meat and dairy is full of added hormones.
- Keep
your intestinal system and liver
clean by performing a liver/gallbladder/digestive
tract cleanse two times yearly – Spring
and Fall. You will notice that your
emotional health will soar when keeping
the liver clean, not to mention your
overall health.
- Try
to eat your evening meal by 6:00
p.m. Digestion is heat producing & you
should try to decrease body heat
production at night.
- Reduce
or eliminate night-time alcohol intake,
not only will you sleep better – it
avoids reducing blood estrogen levels
later.
- Eliminate
sugar, white flour, dairy, artificial
sweeteners and hydrogenated oils
from your diet. Add fresh,
organic fruits (eat the whole fruit)
and vegetables. Include two medium-sized
salads each day with as many organic,
fresh vegetables as possible.
- When
feeling hot, drink a glass of pure,
clean ice water.
- To
help your blood sugar to remain stable
during the night, eat an apple or
pear before bed. This will
help you to remain asleep for 8 hours.
Also take a good calcium/magnesium
supplement before bed. I recommend Calcium
Orotate as it is one of the most
absorbable forms of calcium.
- Take
400 IU of Vitamin E right before
bed. Many women who
take a good Vitamin E supplement
before bed report that hot flashes
are tremendously reduced. I recommend Full
Spectrum Optimum E as it contains
the complete vitamin E family—tocopherols
plus tocotrienols—in their
natural unesterified form
- Purchase
cotton clothing (loose) & sleep-ware, not
nylon or synthetic - which has a
tendency to hold onto heat. Cotton
clothing is also better for your
skin.
- Spend
20-30 minutes in the sun each day
for Vitamin D production.
- To
help eliminate depression, stress,
and mood swings, exercise at least
30 minutes each day. This
will keep your cardiovascular system
in tune. A daily walk outside will
help to cleanse your mind from the
cares of the day. A good supplement
for depression and mood swings is
natural Lithium
Orotate.
- Relax
in a hot bath at least three times
weekly. Add some favorite
essential oils to the bath such as
rose or lavender. Listen to some
relaxing music and make sure that
you are not disturbed.
- Practice
lymphatic drainage techniques. A
clogged lymph system keeps toxins
from being eliminated properly. Skin
brushing and/or bouncing on a mini-tramp
are excellent ways to keep the lymph
system moving.
- Practice
daily meditation. Listen
to music, read scripture or an inspirational
book, or sit with eyes closed and
calm your mind.
- Stop
smoking, as nicotine decreases
circulating estrogen levels thus
aiding hormonal imbalance.
- Work
on reducing/eliminating stress in
your life. Hot flashes seem
to be associated with a heightened
sympathetic nervous system. Learn
to relax!
- Remember
to enjoy life! Live, love, learn,
laugh and sing praises. Watch
funny movies at least two times each
week. Don’t take life too seriously.
- Plan
activities that you will enjoy. Go
shopping, out with friends, drive
through the country, walk on the
beach or curl up with a good book.
It’s really ok to think of
yourself once-in-a-while! You will
find that your mood will be enhanced.
- Get
plenty of sleep. Keep the
bedroom cool and dark. Make sure
that the alarm clock is turned away
so that you cannot see it. A pure
silk pillowcase will keep your head
cool. Keep a fan going to circulate
the air. Make a point to be in bed
by 10:00 p.m. every night. Your body
does the most healing between the
hours of 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.
- Keep
a diary in your purse to write down
what seems to trigger hot flashes
in your body.
- Most
of all maintain a positive attitude. No
one ever died from a hot flash, but
thousands have died from the effects
of synthetic hormone replacement
therapy. Attitude is everything—remember
to work on it every single day.
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For
more information about how to achieve hormonal balance
while getting the body in optimum health read our best-selling
e-book, Balancing
Your Hormones Without Drugs…You Can Feel Good
Again.
Disclaimer: The
statements enclosed herein have not been evaluated by the Food
and Drug Administration. The products and information mentioned on
this site are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent
any disease. Information and statements made are for education
purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your treating
doctor. Oasis Advanced Wellness does not dispense medical advice,
prescribe, or diagnose illness. We design and recommend individual
nutritional programs and supplements that allow the body to rebuild
and heal itself. The views
and nutritional advice expressed by Oasis Advanced Wellness are not
intended to be a substitute for conventional medical service. If
you have a severe medical condition, see your physician of choice.
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