Hot Mamas cooling hot flashes without hormones Acupuncture—Several small studies have shown that this traditional Chinese therapy can curb the severity of hot flashes. Acupuncture boosts the production of endorphins, which may stabilize the body’s temperature controls.
Avoid triggers—Red wine, coffee, and other hot drinks can trigger hot flashes, as can smoking and warm weather.
soybeans, are high in these plant-based estrogens, and it’s been suggested that high consumption of soy is a reason Japanese women experience fewer menopausal symptoms.
than in women who used estrogen combined with synthetic progestin. In the United States this bioidentical progesterone is sold as a pill (under the brand name Prometrium), as a vaginal gel (Crinone) and as a suppository (Prometrium). Michelle Palmieri Warren, MD, ’61, founder and medical director of the Center for Menopause in New York City, emphasizes that the French study was just observational—not a randomized controlled trial. Yet, she uses Prometrium a lot in her clinic and says her patients prefer it to other progestins. “Some people get PMS-type symptoms when they take progestins,” says Warren. “They don’t get many symptoms on Prometrium.” But not all bio-identical hormones are created equal. In recent years, actress Suzanne Somers and even Oprah have touted the benefits of bio-identical hormones that are custom-mixed in a pharmacy. Warren cautions against these. “They’re untested and unregulated,” she says. “Women like the idea that it’s made up for them alone, but there is no science behind it whatsoever.”
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Finally, it turns out that the manner in which you take hormones matters. The women in the WHI study took hormone pills, but more recent observational studies show that transdermal estrogen (taking it via a patch, a gel, a mist, or a vaginal ring) may be safer, especially when it comes to blood clots. “There is growing observational evidence that transdermal estrogen therapy may be associated with a lower risk of deep vein thrombosis, stroke, and [heart attack],” the NAMS panel wrote. Nonetheless, this has not been proven yet with randomized, controlled trials.
Effexor—This antidepressant can stop hot flashes, especially for women who can’t take hormones.
Black Cohosh—Of all the herbal remedies for hot flashes, black cohosh has the most research behind it—including several randomized controlled trials.
Phytoestrogens—Legumes, especially
Stop smoking—Smokers get more severe hot flashes than non-smokers.
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