Many women find themselves in the throes of menopause when they wake up with hot flashes or simply feel their body warming up unexpectedly during the day. This happens to many women but more and more are choosing to avoid taking estrogen to treat these symptoms. Luckily, there are quite a few options for women who don’t want to take estrogen.

One option that works well is to intervene and change certain happens. This includes avoiding stress, alcohol, coffee, spicy foods, and the like as well as keeping cool drinks on hand at all times. Women who feel a hot flash coming on should try deep abdominal breathing and try to relax. Don’t take hot showers or baths near bedtime and begin supplementing with certain vitamins. For example, many women who supplement with Vitamin E may find that the severity is reduced. Women taking soy may or may not find relief from their menopause symptoms. The studies are still out as to what impact soy plays in treating menopausal symptoms but if you find it helpful then it’s worth doing.

Another good option is to use natural progesterone cream. Several studies have shown that the vast majority of women using natural progesterone cream see a reduction in their hot flashes. You can purchase this over the counter or talk to your doctor for a prescription.

There are quite a few herbs that work well for menopausal women. Red clover is one herb that appears to help women with hot flashes as does black cohosh. Women who choose to use black cohosh should avoid it after using it for six months continuously. Some women who take dong quai may find that their hot flashes are reduced.

For some women yoga and acupuncture are helpful. In fact, several studies have shown that women receiving acupuncture receive relief from their hot flashes for up to several months. There are plenty of yoga positions that can help women deal with menopause and there are even classes being offered for menopausal women to help deal with the symptoms.

Don’t forget to exercise while you are at it. The more exercise you get the fewer menopausal symptoms you will experience!

Posted in Menopause

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