It is almost a certainty that all women will experience hot flashes as a symptom of menopause and it can be more than just a little bit uncomfortable. Fortunately, it may be possible to treat this common symptom in natural ways that do not involve hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or medications.
These natural remedies include supplements, herbs that can be consumed in a variety of ways such as a tea or pill form, different types of food that you may not be eating enough of, and also simple changes you can make to your lifestyle.
If one remedy does not work for you, then move on to the next. You may also want to ask your friends and family if they know anything from personal experience which has shown a benefit, or ask your doctor if you feel like nothing is working for you and the hot flashes have become debilitating.
1. Evening Primrose Oil (EPO)
Evening primrose oil is made from a species of plant called Oenothera Biennis which is native to North America. It can be taken either in supplement form or as a topical oil – in the case of hot flashes in particular it is almost always taken as a supplement.
The benefits of evening primrose oil (EPO) have been shown to be real, but it is not quite clear how or why it works. It is thought that it may have something to do with the omega-6 fatty acid which is found in the oil of many plants including this one which contains gamma-linolenic acid.
In one fairly recent study, it was shown that women received great benefits from taking 500mg of EPO every day for six weeks, which lowered the severity and frequency of the hot flashes they experienced due to menopause. EPO can be found in capsule form at most health stores and supermarkets.
