Natural Remedies for Hot Flashes

Feb 3, 2019 by Lauren H.

Of the women who suffer from menopause, about forty percent of them will have hot flashes at some point during that time. Menopause and hot flashes are connected at the hip and chances are once you’ve had one you are more than ready to try to find something that help to either alleviate them or get rid of them altogether. Hot flashes are uncomfortable and in some cases they strike at the most inopportune time; while you are in a meeting, give a speech or some time when you are surrounded by several people and the focus is completely on you.  With those hot flashes sometimes comes the red, flushed face and that can make the situation even worse than it was before.

There are some things that you can do at home with a few lifestyle changes that will allow you to alleviate the severity and number of hot flashes you have.  Give some of them a try and see if they will work for you. Exercising can be a big help in reducing your hot flashes.  You can walk, run, swim or ride a bike to not only help you to stay in shape but also to alleviate a lot of the hot flashes you might experience.  Don’t exercise right before bedtime though as this can make your hot flashes worse. Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated during the day, particularly when it is extremely hot outside and you have to be in the heat.  Wear clothes that are cool and that allow your skin to breathe.  If you have access to a fan outside then stay close to it.  This will keep your body temperature down and hopefully keep those hot flashes at bay.

If you smoke you should quit.  Quitting smoking will help to prevent hot flashes from coming on.  The same is true for caffeine, alcohol and spicy foods.  All of these are triggers for hot flashes and should be avoided completely if possible. Reduce some of the stress you might be under.  Do yoga, meditation or breathing exercises to help reduce stress, thus reducing your chances of having a hot flash.  Getting enough sleep can also help reduce the number of hot flashes you have and it might also reduce the severity of them if you do have them.

In most cases trying home remedies for hot flashes can serve you better than medications that you can purchase over the counter or get a prescription for.  Start with what you can at home and if nothing seems to help with your hot flashes, talk to your doctor.  You don’t have to suffer from hot flashes all throughout your menopause days and you shouldn’t have to.  There are options available out there for you and you should take advantage of those opportunities.