His and Her Health

I don't really like to take medication and since all of the news on hormone therapy, I do not feel comfortable taking it. Can anyone recommend natural remedies that have worked for them to reduce hot flashes? Mine aren't really really bad, but it would be nice to have something that could help.<BR>Thank you.

There are some lifestyle modifications or strategies which some women find helpful to help with moderate hot flashes which it seems you are expereiencing. Your doctor may recommend an exercise program to you. Women who exercise experience less hot flashes, it also helps you sleep better at night, improves your mood, and keeps your heart and bones healthy. <BR>Keep a log of your hot flashes and identify triggers which may be related to setting them off. Some possible triggers are spicy or hot foods, alcoholic beverages, and caffeinated beverages. Dress in layers. <BR>There are herbal therapies available, but these products do not go through the same level of testing as the FDA requires for prescribed medications. So the safety and efficacy of using these products must be carefully evaluated. And, be sure to tell your doctor if you are using any of these products. For example, black cohosh has been shown helpful to treat hot flashes. If you are interested in herbal preparations, talk to your health care professional and visit the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicind (part of the National Institutes of Health's web site at <A HREF="www.nccam.nih.gov." TARGET=_blank>www.nccam.nih.gov.</A> This site will provide you with an update on herbal therapies and clinical trials.

I have a friend who swears by black cohosh for insomnia and mild hot flashes. It's available in an OTC product (I assume mentioning the brand is a no-no). Just look for the active ingredient, black cohosh, on the back of the box. <BR><p>[Note: This message has been edited by NEWSHE Moderator]

I tried *********** and a liquid drop of black cohosh or something like that. (The memory goes, too.) It worked for about two weeks. I went to the GYN and got the Patch. The flashes/night sweats have mostly subsided. I'm noticing some slight vaginal itching, which she said might happen. Still worth it. My point is that the homeopathic products didn't work for me. <P><p>[Note: This message has been edited by NEWSHE Moderator]

I started taking large doses of fish oil capsules for other reasons, but one of the first things i noticed was that my hot flashes, insomnia and night sweats vanished. Almost completely. That was a nice surprise! I'm taking 6 1200 mg capsules a day - 3 in the morning and 3 at night. I also started taking my calcium tablet at night - i've heard that helps with insomnia too.<P>On a side note to the moderator, I find it REALLY frustrating to have product names edited out of posts and replaced with *********! If there is a product out there that might help me with a problem, how on earth am i supposed to know what it is if there's NO CLUE left at all??? I was really happy to find this forum to look for solutions to my problems, but this policy more than anything else makes me question the usefulness of coming here. <P>Eva<P>*Moderator's Note<BR>It is our policy not to promote an OTC brand name. If that poster has an e-mail address in their profile you could ask them to e-mail you the name of the product.<p>[Note: This message has been edited by NEWSHE Moderator]

Shoot, I did it again...I should have posted a reply instead of posting a new...concerning black cohosh...sorry....new to this board thing...will get better in future.

I'm not comfortable posting my email address on a board, but if you want the name of the product I tried, just say so here and I'll send you an email with the info. <BR>