Because of the health risks associated with hormone replacement therapy, many women want to know what alternative therapies are available for hot flashes. There are many alternatives available. Some people even recommend supplements like vitamin B for hot flashes. Here we look at some of the herbs and vitamins that may be help relieve hot flashes and night sweats. Not all products work for all women, but there are some products that seem to be more effective than others.

What alternative therapies are available for hot flashes?

Much research has been conducted concerning alternative therapies for hot flashes. Everything from acupuncture to Zoloft has been tried. In this article we focus mainly on herbs and vitamin supplements that have been shown to be effective, but the first place to start is with diet, exercise and lifestyle. Caffeine, nicotine and other stimulants can bring on hot flashes. Regular exercise seems to reduce the number and frequency for some women. Once you are exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet, adding herbs and vitamin supplements should relieve most, if not all of your symptoms.

Does taking vitamin B for hot flashes work?

According to a recent report published by the University of California, there are clinical trials that support the effectiveness of vitamin B supplements for painful menstruation, but there are no studies concerned specifically with the effectiveness of taking vitamin B for hot flashes.

The B complex vitamins are important for overall good health. Vitamin B3 or Niacin is found in every cell of the body. One small study at Columbia University in New York demonstrated that estrogen levels rose in obese postmenopausal women after implementing a vitamin regimen including C, B6, B12 and folic acid (another vitamin belonging to the B complex group).

If decreased levels of estrogen cause hot flashes, something no one is sure about, then this study seems to indicate that taking vitamin B for hot flashes could be effective for women who do not get enough in their diet. Generally speaking, a good daily multi-vitamin should be a part of every woman?s routine.

What alternative therapies are available for hot flashes and night sweats?

Hot flashes and night sweats are similar, but night sweats can disturb a woman?s quality of sleep, which in turn can lead to insomnia, irritability and other emotional issues. Most products that effectively reduce hot flashes, work for night sweats, as well. Additionally, women have found that sleeping in a cooler room, using a fan and wearing lightweight cotton clothing to bed is helpful.

What alternative therapies are available for hot flashes that really work?

As previously mentioned there are many therapies that work for some women. Step one is to eat a healthy diet, get regular exercise, quit smoking and limit caffeinated and alcoholic beverages. The most effective herb for relieving hot flashes, according to clinical research, is black cohosh. Soy isoflavones, which are a type of plant estrogen, is nearly as effective as black cohosh. Red clover isoflavones have been shown to be effective in some studies, but not in others. Some supplement companies have products that contain several different herbs, minerals and other plant components designed to provide the most relief possible for women suffering from symptoms of menopause.

Tags: Hot Flashes, Menopause and Sweating, Night Sweats

There are a lot of people who have sweat problems, but many of them do nothing about it. Excessive sweating can be something that is very annoying, irratating and even embarassing. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have been uncomfortable for the length of the night do to huge armpit stains, or yellow armpit stains on my shirt. It is such a pain in the neck to have to try not to raise your arms all night, keeping them close to your side so people won't notice the sweat stain or soaking wet armpit area.

I have ruined numerous shirts because of armpit stains. I even started wearing undershirt just to try to hold off the sweat. It is a problem that is curable, although many people do not pursue a cure. They just live with their sweating problem - and they keep hiding. I have tried many differet kinds of cures, but only one worked for me. Here are some of the things it does not include:

It is not another so-called "high-power" antiperspirant

It is not a lotion, cream or injection

It does not involve surgery or medical treatment in any way

It is not a prescription or non-prescription drug

It is not a supplement or "natural" pill

It is not an electrical current treatment

It is not a vitamin or diet recommendation

It does not involve hypnosis or mind exercises

I have tried numerous of the above things in the passed and none of them worked for me. I cured my sweating naturally and I thank God every day.

Life without sweat problems is SO much more comfortable. I don't have to worry about raising my arms to reveal pit stains, wear under shirts to hold off the sweat, or throw bleach on the armpit area of my shirts to try to remove the yellow stains.

If you are interested in learning how to really cure your sweating problem I recommend checking out my review of the method that worked for me at http://www.usfreeads.com/593380-cls.html.

I am the person who did the review on the product by Michael Ramsey. It really is worth it, it has saved me a ton of ebarassment and anxiety.

I wish anyone with a sweating problem the best of luck fixing it, because I do know how embarassing and irritating it can be.

 

The author is an avid reader and writer and is also an aspiring teacher. He loves all walks of life.

Tags: Sweating Information

The use of botanicals and herbs for hot flashes and night sweats, as well as other symptoms related to menopause, has become increasingly popular. Due mostly to the studies completed by the Women?s Health Initiative relating to the health risks associated with long term use of hormone replacement therapy or HRT.

The Women?s Health Initiative (WHI) began in 1991 and many of the health issues related to older women are still being studied. The study concerning hormone replacement therapy ended in 2002, because of the large number of reported adverse events. The study concluded that HRT increased a woman?s risk of developing blot clots and stroke. Estrogen only therapy increases a woman?s risk of endometrial cancer, if she still has her uterus. Estrogen-progesterone combination therapies increase a woman?s risk of heart disease and breast cancer, as well as blood clots and stroke. Other side effects of HRT include leg pain and breast tenderness.

Before the WHI reported their findings, HRT was believed to reduce a woman?s risk of developing heart disease. Now, the only health benefit it is believed to provide is a reduction in osteoporosis, which can be accomplished with dietary supplementation of calcium, magnesium and Vitamin D, as well as cutting out caramel colored soft drinks. While some researchers consider ?low-dose? HRT safer, mostly because women experience less leg pain and breast tenderness, it does not reduce hot flashes and night sweats as effectively as herbs and other botanicals. And, there is no evidence supporting its use to prevent osteoporosis.

Research conducted in France in 2006 reported a 60-70% reduction in hot flashes and night sweats in women using low-dose HRT. Research has shown that certain plant components and herbs for hot flashes are more effective. Soy isoflavones have been shown to reduce hot flashes and night sweats by nearly 90%. Black cohosh, one of the most frequently recommended herbs for hot flashes, is even more effective. Although the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology renounced the use of herbs for hot flashes at one time, they have since changed their viewpoint slightly. Possibly, because numerous researchers had expressed the opinion that doctors should discuss these options with their patients.

Scientists in laboratory settings have demonstrated the safety of black cohosh, since its effectiveness brought up questions of safety. It does not increase growth of estrogen-sensitive breast cancer cell lines and does not thicken the endometrium, the lining of the uterus. Estrogen causes the endometrium to thicken, leading to endometrial cancer if progesterone is not used to cause the lining to be shed. There could be other health benefits associated with black cohosh, although modern research has not been conducted concerning them.

The WHI reported that 38% of the women studied suffered from high blood pressure. Black cohosh was used historically by Native Americans to treat high blood pressure. It is a natural diuretic. The drugs commonly used to control blood pressure are diuretics. Other historical uses included the treatment of rheumatism and as a mild sedative.

Other herbs for hot flashes and night sweats include red clover and sarsaparilla. These were both used historically by native healers for symptoms relating to hormonal imbalances. Red clover contains isoflavones similar to those found in soy and may be an option for women who are allergic to soy. Researchers are currently studying sarsaparilla for many health benefits including cancer prevention. Neither of these may be as effective as black cohosh when used alone (studies indicate that of all the herbs for hot flashes and night sweats, black cohosh is the most effective), but because of the numerous health benefits associated with their use and because they may relieve some of the other symptoms associated with menopause, they are sometimes added to black cohosh in dietary supplements specifically designed for menopausal women.

For more information about plants and herbs for hot flashes and night sweats, please visit the Menopause and PMS Guide.

Tags: Hot Flashes, Menopause and Sweating, Night Sweats

No one knows exactly what causes nightsweats in menopause. Many factors vary, including the average age of menopause, the age at which nightsweats begin and the age at which they end.

The menopausal transition is typically broken down into four categories. They are pre-menopause, peri-menopause, menopause and post-menopause. During pre-menopause, a woman may experience some symptoms associated with fluctuating hormonal levels, but her menstrual periods are regular. During peri-menopause, which literally means the time ?around? menopause, a woman?s menstrual periods have become irregular, possibly heavier, possibly lighter and she may begin to have some symptoms that are typically associated with menopause.

During menopause, a woman begins to miss periods, sometimes for several months in a row. A woman can still become pregnant during this time. Once she has not had a menstrual period for a full year, she can no longer become pregnant and is considered to be post-menopausal.

The average age of menopause is 51. The average age of menopause in women who smoke is about two years younger or around 49. Peri-menopause may begin three or four years before actual menopause. Although experts are not sure about what causes nightsweats in menopause, they know that about 50% of all women experience them. About 10% experience them during pre-menopause and the percentage increases during peri-menopause. Without treatment, about 50% of all post-menopausal women experience hot flashes and night sweats for three or more years.

Researchers investigating what causes nightsweats in menopause have clues, but no clear answers. They know that women who must have their ovaries surgically removed due to illness or injury typically have severe hot flashes and night sweats. Men who must take hormone suppressing drugs have similar symptoms. These facts indicate that night sweats are either directly or indirectly related to decreased levels of circulating hormones. In other words, low levels of estrogen or other hormones typically produced by the ovaries may cause night sweats. This theory is further supported by the effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy in relieving these symptoms.

If a woman is among the 10% that begins to experience night sweats during pre-menopause, continues to have them during peri-menopause, menopause and post-menopause, then she could suffer from them for seven or more years. Although they are not life-threatening, they can greatly affect the quality of a woman?s sleep and her overall quality of life. However, researchers know that the health risks associated with hormone replacement therapy greatly outweigh the benefits. It is also known that long-term use of hormone replacement therapy increases the health risks, which include blood clots and stroke. Thus, experts recommend that if a woman chooses to use HRT, she should use the lowest possible dosage for the shortest period of time.

Women who have nightsweats for many years need other solutions. Changes in lifestyle and diet often help relieve hot flashes during the day, but nightsweats do not respond as well to these types of therapies. However, it is always wise to lead a healthy lifestyle, get regular exercise and eat a healthy diet. Improving one?s lifestyle typically improves one?s overall since of well-being.

Researchers investigating what relieves, rather than what causes nightsweats in menopause have come up with some alternatives. Certain anti-depressants relive symptoms in some women, but increase sweating in others and they have not been approved by the FDA for this purpose. Acupuncture may be helpful, but positive results have been inconsistent.

Black cohosh and a number of other herbs used in traditional medicine have been scientifically evaluated. Some manufacturers of dietary supplements have created their own proprietary blend for relieving numerous menopausal symptoms. There are a number of vitamins and plant components that may be helpful.

We may never know exactly what causes nightsweats in menopause, but we can get relief. It may require a little trial and error to find the most effective product, but it is advisable to make the effort, before resorting to hormone replacement therapy. To learn more about natural products that relieve menopausal symptoms, please visit the Menopause and PMS Guide.

Tags: Hot Flashes, Menopause and Sweating, Night Sweats

 

For the many Hyperhidrosis sufferers who experience excessive underarm sweat there is now a cure available that won’t just put an end to their embarrassing condition, it will keep it from ever returning again.

(PRWEB) August 1, 2006 — For the more than 8 million Americans who suffer from Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, the current heat wave that is setting record temperatures across the country is a nightmare come true.

Fortunately, for the many Hyperhidrosis sufferers who experience excessive underarm sweat there is now a cure available that won’t just put an end to their embarrassing condition, it will keep it from ever returning again.

The cure was discovered by Mike Ramsey, who began suffering from Hyperhidrosis in high school. Before coming up with his cure, Ramsey tried every possible remedy he could find with no success.

“I tried more than a dozen types of antiperspirants,” Ramsey said. “I tried applying antiperspirants several times a day. I wore undershirts to soak up the sweat before it reached my outer shirt. When one undershirt wasn’t enough, I tried wearing two undershirts. When I was in my car (alone) I would hold up my arms, aligning them with the air conditioner vents, allowing cold air to flow up my sleeve to cool and dry my armpits. When sitting at my desk I tried to keep my arms away from my sides so that my shirt had less contact with my underarms and wouldn’t soak in the sweat so quickly. I took showers morning and night. Sometimes I would come home during lunch to shower as well.

“I wore oversized shirts for better ventilation and to keep my underarms from contacting my shirt. (This didn’t work because the sweat would just drip down to my sides and create wet marks near my waistline),” Ramsey continued. “I brought clean undershirts to work and changed several times daily. I purchased a device that pushes electric currents through your skin and supposedly stops underarm sweat for a period. I never found out whether it worked or not because it was incredibly uncomfortable to use, and I knew this was not the solution to my problem."

Ramsey was about to give up hope of ever being rid of his embarrassing condition when he and his wife attended a fateful seminar on natural health.

“The seminar actually didn’t have anything to do with excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis,” Ramsey said. “But what the speaker said got me to thinking and soon led to my discovery.”

Ramsey’s discovery was practical and unique treatment approach that permanently gets rid of a person’s excessive underarm sweat problem – naturally and without side effects.

Ramsey’s process, which he details in his new ebook, “Stop Sweating and Start Living: A Practical Guide to Ending Your Underarm Sweat Problem,” is made up of three simple steps, takes about 30 seconds a day to complete and relies on readily available and inexpensive products. According to Ramsey’s latest statistics, the method has proven effective for 96 percent of those who have tried it.

Ramsey adds that the process is easy for a person to incorporate into their morning or evening routine, and he personally guarantees that it will keep a person’s underarm sweat problem away for the rest of their life.

So while Californians are sweltering in a heat wave that has set records across the state … while power outages in St Louis and New York City have residents scrambling to find relief from high temperatures … and while usual havens from the heat, such as San Francisco, see record hot temperatures … there remains hope for hyperhidrosis sufferers everywhere.

“At last, there’s an effective way for anyone to cure their underarm sweat problem - in just two weeks - without prescription drugs or risky surgery,” Ramsey said.

To learn more about “Stop Sweating and Start Living,” please visit www.preventsweating.com, where the ebook is also available for purchase.

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