4 out of 5 women can expect to battle hot flashes during menopause.  During a hot flash, a woman’s body temperature can suddenly rise 8 degrees and this rise in body temperature can last 2-4 minutes on average.  Most women deal with hot flashes for 9 to 16 months before the body settles into menopause.

If ingesting synthetic hormones doesn’t appeal to you, then try these tips to tame your hot flashes:

  1. Change your diet:  Avoid spicey foods, sweets and alcohol, because all of these have been shown to trigger or increase the severity of hot flashes.
  2. Add soy to your diet: Switch to soy milk and add tofu to your diet.
  3. Try a little elderberry:  Herbalists prescribe 25-50 drops of elderberry tincture several times a day to relieve hot flashes.
  4. Dress in layers: Wear cotton and dress in easy to shed layers so when a hot flash strikes, you can respond quickly.
  5. Exercise regularly: Stress relief is essential to beating hot flashes and nothing is better for stress relief than 30 minutes a day of exercise.
  6. Ruffle the sheets: Studies show that women who have sex at least once a week have fewer hot flashes…. so get busy and enjoy this part of your prescription!