How to Calm Hot Flashes When They're Happening

In this country hot flashes are synonymous with menopause. They can last a few seconds, a couple of minutes or in some unusual cases up to a hour and they are hot and uncomfortable.

Ever feel like you want to stick your head under the spigot of the water cooler at work and just open the cold water and let it flow? There’s no way to magically make them go away, not even the heavy duty prescriptions some Drs. recommend and some women take can promise total relief.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• water
• herbs
• oatstraw
• atomizer
• open mind

1. So here are a few, at-the-time, on-the-spot suggestions that might just let you cool a bit and find some relief.

2. 
   photo by Chance Agrella

   Drink lots of water and keep well hydrated. I keep a cool glass of water right next to me at my work station and sip frequently – more when a flash begins to rise. The cool water flowing down your throat is like an aphrodisiac at times like that.

3. Get yourself a small atomizer and fill it with water. You can use plain water or you can put a drop or two of essential oil in it such as lavender, mint or some other cooling or calming scent. When a flash hits, mist your face and throat (take your glasses off first if you wear them & close your eyes).

4. 
   from Resting In The River

   Or, if the budget allows, try Marsha Mason’s “Healing Highdration Mist”. I frequently get Lavender, Aloe & Spilanthes herb. Wonderful scent, wonderful feeling when you spritz it on. You can get it at the website at www.restingintheriver.com and the beautiful thing about it is the small atomizer it comes in is reuseable and rcycylable.

5. Wear open collar shirts, yes even in winter. Much as you may love turtlenecks, avoid them. And choose clothing that breathtes. Silk is wonderful. Cotton great. Wool is also very good in winter.

6. Consider trying a homeopathic remedy available at health food stores. There are a number of them and which you choose depends on how you feel when you flash so read carefully and match your symptoms to the remedy. A few to check out are called “Sepia:, “Pulsatilla”, Valeriana” “Belladonna”, “Sanguinari”; I believe there may be a couple more. This is not a medical recommendation on my part, just a suggestion as to what you might look into.

7. 
   photo by Sabbir

   With your water or instead of, try red clover or oatstraw infusions. Oatstraw is really inexpensive in bulk at your local health food store. You can drink a couple of cups a day. An infusion is easy to make and is fresh only a couple of days. Prepare it in a pint or quart jar with a tight lid. A teapot is okay, but not as good a as a tight lid. Pour a quart of hot water over about 1 ounce of the oatstraw and let it sit a minimum of 4 hours, add sweetener if you like, then drink cold or hot, I prefer cold. You can also fill a cloth bag with oatstraw and toss it in your bath. Very soothing.

8. 
   photo by Chance Agrella

   Believe it or not, exercise helps. Just as little as 20 minutes two or three times a week can help reduce those hot flashes.

9. Check out a great book on Menopause: New Menopausal Years by Susun S. Weed. Perhaps your local library has it or can get it…it’s available online at Amazon.com.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to think cooling thoughts, like of a river or a snowfall when you flash
• If you decide to try herbs or homeopathic help, do so one thing at a time to determine what actually helps you.

Resources

• New Menopausal Years
• Marsha Mason's Lavender Aloe Mist

[bethandlee]

on 3/23/2009 I don't believe it is possible to explain 'how hot' a hotflash feels. Thanks for the great tips! 5*

[justinaharris]

on 12/11/2008 great info. thanks. 5*

[yourfriend]

on 11/5/2008 Thanks for the great info , thanks...