Hot Flushes during The Change of Life

 

What are Hot Flushes?

Basically, Hot Flushes are a sensation of intense heat that sweeps through the upper body, most especially in the neck &  face reddening the skin and causing free perspiration. Within minutes or longer in some cases,  the flush feeling passes, and disappears with the same speed. The intensity and duration of Hot Flushes vary as do the number that women experience in a day.

During menopause, there are many physical changes occurring due to the changes taking place in the levels of the female hormones.  It is generally thought that the fluctuating hormone levels cause of the rush of blood, associated with hot flushes. Hot Flushes may be a symptom of early or the pre-menopause stage.

Click here to find out more about Female Hormones & The Change of Life

 

Herbs for Hot Flushes


Tincture of Black Cohosh can assist with incredibly overwhelming hot or volcanic hot flushes. Tincture of Motherwort has been traditionally used by the Japanese, who claim that it is their secret herb of longevity. Motherwort helps the body go through volcanic hot flushes and also can help to relieve anxiety.

Fenugreek tea will lower the number of flushes and will perfume your sweat with the smell of maple syrup. Black Cohosh has long been used by Native Americans as the specific herb for violent hot flushes.

 

Hot Flushes & Hormones

During menopause, there are 2 female hormones produced in the pituitary gland in larger than normal amounts and it is these 2 hormones that are considered to be responsible for Hot Flushes. These are the Follicle Stimulating Hormone and the Leutinising Hormone. Their amount can increase by up to 1300 percent during menopause.

 

The Pituitary Hormones  

In menopause, estrogen levels drop drastically because there are fewer eggs produced in the ovaries until none are actually produced. The 2 pituitary hormones dramatically increase in production in response to this drop in estrogen levels. It is a hormone response mechanism that is thought to be responsible for Hot Flushes. It is a hormonal see-saw between the 2 pituitary hormones and estrogen and progesterone.

 

The 2 Pituitary Hormones & Estrogen & Progesterone

The Follicle Stimulating Hormone stimulates the production of estrogen in the ovaries which in turn ripens the eggs. The Leutinising Hormone stimulates the production of progesterone, that in turn, strengthens the uterus in case of pregnancy.

Before reaching menopause, mature eggs are released from the ovaries during the course of the monthly cycle, estrogen levels rise and these 2 pituitary hormones decrease.  In menopausal women, estrogen levels don't rise as the ovaries are no longer producing so many eggs if at all. In menopause, the levels of FSH and LH levels stay high in response to lower estrogen levels. Woman experiencing menopause have much more of the pituitary hormones in their  system than before menopause.

 

Hot Flushes & Weight

Thin women tend to experience more Hot Flushes than fatter women do as fat cells help to moderate the hormonal levels. This is not the time to go on a weight loss crash diet. Fat cells produce estrone, which is a kind of estrogen, and this helps you through the next stages of menopause. Estrone tends to be most abundant found in the body after Menopause in women. It is advisable to adding about 10lbs to your body if you are very thin, by exercise and eating lots of fruit and vegetables.

Diet also plays an important part in the intensity, duration and frequency of Hot Flushes, see the recommended diet list below.

 

Hot Flushes & Hysterectomies  

With a hysterectomy (the surgical removal of the uterus and is some cases, the uterus and the ovaries), Hot Flushes start off extremely intense and frequently and continue with that intensity for some time. If a life threatening disease is diagnosed, there may be a necessity to remove some of the female organs, but it is advised to consult at least three Medical opinions before this operation is performed. If an operation is necessary, full Menopause will start extremely suddenly and is often much harder to handle, as the body will have not had time to prepare itself.

 

Estrogen Replacement Therapy

It was thought that Hot Flushes were a symptom of estrogen deficiency.  It has now been found that those who took estrogen during Menopause suffered Hot Flushes longer than those who did not take Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT). The Hot Flushes usually tail off after two to five years – it was found that those who take ERT usually take longer.

 

Hot Flushes & Diet

Some foods can trigger off Hot Flushes or make them more intense in duration. You will find that certain foods trigger your own hot flushes but here is a list of general foods to avoid:

  • Caffeine drinks
  • Sodas
  • Acidic foods (tomatoes, citrus, pickles)
  • Spicy foods
  • Hot drinks
  • Alcoholic Drinks
  • White sugar
  • White flour
  • Junk or “fast “foods (which contain unknown chemicals and hormones)
  • Meat containing hormones
  • Hydrogenated or Saturated fats (meat or margarine)
  • Tobacco or Marijuana
  • Artificially flavored and sweetened foods.