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Menopause, such a dreadful word with so many negative associations. It’s no wonder so many women are afraid of it and end up being ill-prepared to handle its symptoms. It hits you between your late 40s and 50s with a variety of symptoms and can last several years. Here I’ve gathered up a collection of natural remedies and lifestyle changes what would make going through “The Change” more manageable. |
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1. Evening Primrose Oil This oil has a cooling effect on the skin and helps regulate the production of estrogen. It can also be used as a sleeping aid thanks to a high concentration of gamma linoleic acid and it’s ability to increase prostaglandin production. |
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2. Chickweed Tincture Daily servings of this herb have been reported to lower both the number and severity of hot flashes. |
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3. Black Cohosh Black Cohosh is widely used in Europe as a treatment for menopause and hot flashes. It’s as effective as pharmaceutical estrogen in relieving hot flashes and can prevent excessive sweating. |
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4. Flaxseed Oil Oil made from flaxseed contains certain fatty acids which are believed to be effective in reducing the symptoms of menopause. Flax oil contains lignans which are similar to estrogen, and seem to help estrogen levels to stabilize in menopausal women. |
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5. Red Clover Red clover contains high amounts of phyto-estrogens known as isoflavones, which have been shown to reduce the intensity and frequency of hot flashes. |
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6. Homeopathic Remedies Sanguinarina counteracts hot flashes, Belladonna is excellent herb for sporadic, rapid hot flashes), Ferrum phosphoricum (good for reducing redness) and Kali Phosphoricum. |
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10. Sage Besides providing hot flash relief, sage helps with digestion, infant diarrhea and headaches, so try drinking a few cups of organic sage tea daily. |
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7. Other Western Herbs Other similar-acting plants include sarsaparilla, spearmint, licorice root, damiana, chasteberry, wild yams, motherwort, and red raspberry leaf. |
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8. Vitamin E Vitamin E contains antioxidants which play a significant role in reducing the symptoms of hot flashes. |
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9. Vitamin C Vitamin C can help reduce the frequency of hot flashes in some women, so get more vitamin C rich foods in your diet, or take supplements. |
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10. Natural Progesterone Cream In most cases of menopause doctors prescribe more estrogen. It’s recommended that you use a cream to help balance menopausal hormone levels and to reduce hot flashes. |
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Lifestyle changes that help dealing with menopause 1. Stay Cool Avoid spending time in direct sunlight. Minimize using hot tubs, saunas and hot showers. Drink cool water and stay in cool areas of your home. Small room fans can help provide temporary relief for hot flashes and an AC does wonders. |
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2. Exercise Regularly
Daily exercise keeps you in shape and healthy. It is harder to balance the hormones that prevent hot flashes if your body is not in shape. Practicing simple cardio exercises is one of the easiest ways to improve your health. |
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3. Avoid Synthetic Bedding and Clothing Synthetic fabrics contribute to over-heating the body. Unlike cottons and linens, synthetic fibers cause increased perspiration at night (when women experience over-heating most often). Also, if you wear tight-fitting clothing made from synthetic fibers, it can aggravate your hot flashes. |
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4. Relaxation is key Hot flashes are more common in stressful times. Take time for yoga, breathing exercises, visualization, massage, acupuncture, meditation and other forms of stress relief. |
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5. Stop Smoking Smoking has been linked to a higher frequency of hot flashes in women. |
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6. Avoid Trigger Substances Alcohol, fried foods, spicy foods, caffeine, diet pills and hot food can increase body heat. Avoid these substances, and foods that cause acid reflux in particular. |
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If you're also suffering from headaches - check out THIS LIST of natural remedies. |
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