Herbal Remedies for Hot Flashes

11 Herbs to Stop this Miserable Symptom

Women are using herbal remedies for hot flashes to stop these dreaded symptoms of menopause. Now we can’t promise you that herbal remedies will work immediately. Most take about 10 days for the active chemicals to be effective and some can take considerably longer.you can choose the best herbal remedy with confidence with the following information.
When is comes to herbal remedies for hot flashes you have two main options:

• Use pre-mixed herbal supplements
• Use individual herbs to treat your symptoms

Certainly there are pros and cons with each approach. But for the ease of use you can’t beat the pre-mixed supplements.

But even if you decide not to use individual herbs, please get familiar with the attributes of the herbs, the side effects and normal dosage so you can determine if the ingredients in the supplement meet your needs.

So here are the 11 herbs for the relief of hot flashes – some well known, other you may not have heard about.

Herbs for Hot Flashes

Here is the list of the main herbal remedies for hot flashes (and yes, we are using the term “herb” loosely because you will find more that just herbs in this list):

are similar in their chemical structure to the estrogen hormone but are about 1,000 times weaker than the estrogen in your body.

1. Black Cohosh
2. Red Clover
3. Ginseng
4. Hops
5. Dong Quai or Chinese Angelica
6. Licorice Root
7. False Unicorn
8. Soy
9. Flaxseed
10. Kudzu (one of the Chinese herbs)
11. Pomegranate

Some herbs contain estrogen like substances called phytoestrogens, others have nutrients that benefit your hot flashes through different actions.

Numerous herbal remedies for hot flashes have more than one way of helping your symptoms. This makes it even more important to take the most natural form of the herb.

 

1. Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)

Black Cohosh is still the most popular herbal remedy for hot flashes. It activates an area in the brain that regulates your body temperature and functions actually similar to anti-depressants.

Anti depressants are powerful drugs that are sometimes used to treat hot flashes. So to have an herb that can be used in a similar way, but without the side effects, is welcome news. For more information about Black Cohoshfollow the link.

Most herbal remedies for hot flashes contain Black Cohosh.

2. Red Clover (Trifolium pretense)

Red Clover has a high concentration of plant estrogens plus many other very beneficial substances like vitamin C, calcium, chromium, niacin etc.

Aside from the use as an herbal remedy for hot flashes, it is a powerful antioxidant and cancer fighter. Red Clover is actually the herb that has led to the discovery of phytoestrogens.

Red Clover is available either as a supplement or as an ingredient in herbal hot flash remedies. It is great as a tea.

3. Ginseng (Panax ginseng)

Ginseng is a very popular herb because it has a lot of benefits for the body. Not only is it energizing, its estrogen-like activity can help not only with hot flashes but other low estrogen symptoms like vaginal dryness, irritability and weight gain in menopause.

Women report that the frequency and intensity of hot flashes is diminished when they take ginseng.

There may be two activities of ginseng that is responsible for this effect:

1. Ginseng has estrogen like chemical substances
2. It stimulates the secretion of a specific hormone that helps to lower the body temperature.

4. Hops (Humulus lupulus)

Hops is a phytoestrogen power-house. It contains a specific substance called 8-PN which appears to be responsible for its activity.
There are not many hot flash remedies that contain hops because the activity of the 8-PN phytoestrogen has just recently been discovered.  The Life Extension’s Natural Female Support supplement is one of the few supplements with a standardized amount of 8-PN.

Follow the recommended dose of the manufacturer. If you take too much of this herb, your symptoms may reappear. (Because of the way phytoestrogens work on cell receptors.)

5 Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis).

Dong-Quai or Chinese angelica is a very common herb in most herbal remedies for hot flashes. It is a main herb in traditional Chinese medicine and long known to help numerous female disorders.

Although it is classified as a phytoestrogen, researchers are not sure about the activity of Dong Quai. It is not know if Chinese angelica has any estrogenic effect or works totally different.

As this herb is mostly used in conjunction with other herbs, it is uncertain if symptom relief comes from Dong Quai or other herbs. No dosage recommendation has been established. Follow the advice of the manufacturer.

6. Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

Licorice contains estrogen like substances plus many other active compounds. This makes licorice not just a great herb for hot flashes but for many other symptoms of menopause and beyond.

It acts on the adrenal system which is very important for hormone regulation. In combination with the estrogenic effect, hot flashes are treated from two sides.

Licorice is similar in its activity as ginseng and in fact several supplements that treat adrenal fatigue combine the two.

Licorice can have severe side effects if taken over longer time spans. Here is more information about licorice root.

7. False Unicorn Root (Chamaelirium luteum)

Not much is known about the activity of False Unicorn Root but it has a very long tradition in treating gynecological complaints.

The key chemicals in false unicorn root are saponins and a fatty acid. The saponins help to balance the hormone system. One of the many uses of False Unicorn Root is to help women balance their hormones after years of birth control.

This herb is an ingredient in many herbal remedies for hot flashes and menopause symptoms. There is no established recommended dose. Follow the instructions from the manufacturer.

8. Soy (Glycine max)

Soy has a high concentration of isoflavones which have estrogenic effects. These soy isoflavones are extracted from the soy bean and manufactured into supplements for menopause.

Soy was the subject of many studies to find out if and how it helps with hot flashes. The results were mostly disappointing.

Soy is such a popular supplement for hot flashes and a controversial subject at the same time that we have several articles about the use of soy for women in menopause. Just follow the link to get all the information you need.

9. Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum)

Flaxseed is a very healthy food. It contains a lot of essential fatty acids, fiber and other active substances. For the treatment of hot flashes, the lignans, a class of plant estrogens, are important.

Flaxseed as one of the natural remedies for hot flashes became the rage about three years ago when a small study showed that women had a reduction in hot flashes (about 57%) when they ate ground flaxseed. Some follow-up studies however did not find any benefits.

So by all means, add flaxseed (it must be ground to get the benefits) to your diet to get the fiber, omega 3 and lecithin. If it also helps your hot flashes – that is just a great added bonus.

10. Kudzu (Pueraria lobata)

Kudzu has many similarities to Soy. It contains most of the same isoflavones as soy but also has one unique isoflavone called puerarin. Puerarin has unique activities in the way it helps chemicals to be absorbed.

Kudzu is a main herb in traditional Chinese medicine and is (among other things) use to treat superficial heat.

Its main use is actually as a liver tonic and it may have some properties to treat alcoholism.

Kudzu very seldom used on its own. Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine mix it with other herbs. It is sometimes an ingredient in menopause supplements and natural remedies for hot flashes.

11. Pomegranate (Punica granatum)

The pomegranate is fast emerging as the new “wonder food” and is appearing in herbal remedies for hot flashes. Yes, it has a lot of beneficial vitamins, plenty of antioxidants and some other active chemicals, but claims about the healing properties of pomegranate are probably greatly exaggerated.

But the high concentration of Vitamin C, a known natural remedy for hot flashes, is probably beneficial, as are the antioxidant properties.

Some herbal remedies for hot flashes are now containing pomegranate for its anti-oxidant powers (such as the Life Extension’s “Natural Estrogen” supplement for hot flashes – see ad above).

Important Information about Herbal Supplements

Following are some additional things you need to consider before starting the use of herbal remedies for hot flashes:

1. Buy only the highest quality herbal supplements. 

Because of the regulation (or lack thereof) of herbal supplements in the US, a lot of the lower end supplements contain either inactive parts of the herb or unrelated plant material.

This means that you do not get the amount of the active herb you think you are getting in herbal supplements for hot flashes.

So if the herb does not provide hot flash relief you will not know if it is because the herb doesn’t work for you or if the supplement is at fault.

2. Check with your health care provider before taking any herbal remedy. 
This is especially true if you take any prescription drugs or if you have any underlying illness. Herbs do contain active chemicals and they could interact with the medications you are currently taking.

Some herbs are stronger than others so the potential for these interactions or side effects vary.

3. Herbs can have side effects
Most side effects are mild and usually involve some gastro intestinal discomfort.

 

A rule of thumb is to start with about ½ the regular dose and slowly build up to the full dose. Starting slowly allows your body to get used to the substance.

 

Also be aware that you may be allergic to some of the chemicals in the herbs. Usually these allergic reactions are mild bu

 

Following are some additional things you need to consider before starting the use of herbal remedies for hot flashes:

 

1. Buy only the highest quality herbal supplements. 
Because of the regulation (or lack thereof) of herbal supplements in the US, a lot of the lower end supplements contain either inactive parts of the herb or unrelated plant material.

 

This means that you do not get the amount of the active herb you think you are getting in herbal supplements for hot flashes.

 

So if the herb does not provide hot flash relief you will not know if it is because the herb doesn’t work for you or if the supplement is at fault.

 

2. Check with your health care provider before taking any herbal remedy. 
This is especially true if you take any prescription drugs or if you have any underlying illness. Herbs do contain active chemicals and they could interact with the medications you are currently taking.

 

Some herbs are stronger than others so the potential for these interactions or side effects vary.

 

3. Herbs can have side effects
Most side effects are mild and usually involve some gastro intestinal discomfort.

 

A rule of thumb is to start with about ½ the regular dose and slowly build up to the full dose. t in some rare cases severe reactions are possible.

 

Effects of herbal remedies for hot flashes can vary greatly, depending on:

 

• What part of the herb is used (i.e. roots, blossoms or whole plant)
• How they’re prepared (i.e. supplement, tincture, extract, tea etc.)
• Strengths or dosage
• Where and when they were harvested
• If they are standardized. Non-standardized products can vary in intensity and content from one batch to the next.

Conclusion about Herbal Remedies for Hot Flashes

Herbal remedies for hot flashes have active compounds just like prescription medications and can have mild or very powerful effects. The potency also depends on the way they are taken (i.e. as a tea vs. a supplement).

• The list of herbs for menopause has many of the herbs mentioned here. From this page you can follow the links for a lot more information about each herb including the most common side effects and dosage.