What does fact checked mean?
At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data.
The information contained on this site is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a professional health care provider. Please check with the appropriate physician regarding health questions and concerns. Although we strive to deliver accurate and up-to-date information, no guarantee to that effect is made.
The Best Supplements for Hot Flashes
Hot flashes are a common symptom that is often caused by menopause, although other conditions that affect your hormones may also cause this symptom. Hot flashes, notes MayoClinic.com, are exceedingly common, affecting about 75 percent of women going through menopause 1. If you do not tolerate hot flashes well, you may require treatment. Certain supplements may help treat your hot flashes, although it is always wise to discuss the use of supplements with your doctor first.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Hot Flashes
Hot flashes, states the National Women's Health Network, may be mild or infrequent, although some women may experience numerous hot flashes every day 2. In some cases, hot flashes -- instantaneous and profuse sweating -- may impair your ability to get a full and restful night's sleep, which may affect your mood and your ability to concentrate. Common signs and symptoms associated with hot flashes include pressure inside your head, heat of varying intensity that spreads throughout your body and a rapid heartbeat.
Popular Supplements
The Best Supplements for Menopause
Learn More
Certain supplements may be commonly used in treating your hot flashes, although further testing using formal scientific research methods may be required to validate their use. Other helpful dietary supplements may include:
- essential fatty acids
- lecithin granules
- quercetin
- zinc
- potassium
- vitamin C with bioflavonoids
A Commonly Used Supplement
Black cohosh may be one of the most commonly used dietary supplements in treating hot flashes. According to Dr. Sharol Tilgner, a naturopathic physician and author of "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth," black cohosh helps suppress luteinizing hormone surges associated with hot flashes in menopausal women 3.
Warning
Natural Supplements to Stop Excessive Sweating
Learn More
Hot flashes, though a common part of menopause, may be extremely uncomfortable and bothersome. If you suffer from hot flashes, schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss all relevant treatment strategies, including dietary supplements. A qualified health care professional, especially one who is trained in clinical nutrition, can provide you with valuable information about the most effective supplements to use and how to use them. Review proper supplement dosage and likely drug interactions with your doctor.
- Hot flashes, though a common part of menopause, may be extremely uncomfortable and bothersome.
- A qualified health care professional, especially one who is trained in clinical nutrition, can provide you with valuable information about the most effective supplements to use and how to use them.
Related Articles
References
- MayoClinic.com: Hot Flashes
- National Women's Health Network: Hot Flashes
- "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth"; Sharol Tilgner, N.D.; 1999
- Introduction to Menopause. Johns Hopkins Medicine.
- Menopause Treatment. Office on Women’s Health. US Department of Health & Human Services. 2019.
- Chen MN, Lin CC, Liu CF. Efficacy of phytoestrogens for menopausal symptoms: a meta-analysis and systematic review. Climacteric. 2015;18(2):260-9. doi:10.3109/13697137.2014.966241
- Menopause: Non-Hormonal Treatment & Relief for Hot Flashes. Cleveland Clinic. 2017.
- Pachman DR, Jones JM, Loprinzi CL. Management of menopause-associated vasomotor symptoms: Current treatment options, challenges and future directions. Int J Womens Health. 2010;2:123-35. doi:10.2147/ijwh.s7721
- Carroll DG, Lisenby KM, Carter TL. Critical appraisal of paroxetine for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms. Int J Womens Health. 2015;7:615-24. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S50804
- Stubbs C, Mattingly L, Crawford SA, Wickersham EA, Brockhaus JL, Mccarthy LH. Do SSRIs and SNRIs reduce the frequency and/or severity of hot flashes in menopausal women. J Okla State Med Assoc. 2017;110(5):272-274.
- Bailey TG, Cable NT, Aziz N, et al. Exercise training reduces the frequency of menopausal hot flushes by improving thermoregulatory control. Menopause. 2016;23(7):708-18. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000625
- Bailey TG, Cable NT, Aziz N, et al. Exercise training reduces the acute physiological severity of post-menopausal hot flushes. J Physiol (Lond). 2016;594(3):657-67. doi:10.1113/JP271456
- Natural Remedies for Hot Flashes. North American Menopause Society.
- Hot Flashes: What Can I Do?. National Institutes of Health. US Department of Health & Human Services. 2017.
- Alyson Huntley, Ph.D., and Edzard Ernst, MD, Ph.D., FRCP(Edin). “A systematic review of the safety of black cohosh.” NAMS.
- Bailey, Cable, Aziz, Atkinson, Cuthbertson, Low, Jones. Exercise training reduces the acute physiological severity of post-menopausal hot flushes. J Physiol. 2016 Feb 1;594(3):657-67. doi: 10.1113/JP271456. Epub 2015 Dec 30.
- Cleveland Clinic. Non-Hormonal Ways to Cope with Hot Flashes & Menopause.
- John Hopkins Medicine. Introduction to Menopause.
- S. Ziaei, A. Kazemnejad, M. Zareai. The Effect of Vitamin E on Hot Flashes in Menopausal Women. Gynecol Obstet Invest 2007;64:204-207.
Writer Bio
Martin Hughes is a chiropractic physician, health writer and the co-owner of a website devoted to natural footgear. He writes about health, fitness, diet and lifestyle. Hughes earned his Bachelor of Science in kinesiology at the University of Waterloo and his doctoral degree from Western States Chiropractic College in Portland, Ore.