Best Home Remedies for Hot Flashes & Night Sweats...

Home remedies for hot flashes and night sweats are definitely your most powerful weapon in the fight against this awful problem. And one natural treatment in particular will actually treat your symptoms in less than 48 hours!

Here's everything you need to know on making it through menopause with your sanity still intact... 

As a man I have to say very honestly, women definitely got the raw end of the deal when we were created. I mean, you go through menstrual cycles every month for I don’t know how many years of your life. Then you have babies and go through all sorts of bodily changes through the pregnancy (not to mention what you have to go through to get the baby out!) Then somewhere in your 40’s or 50’s your body decides it’s had enough of all of this and so menopause begins! What do us guys have to go through? A mid-life crisis, that's about it.

All jokes aside, menopause and the accompanying side effects and symptoms that come with it are no laughing matter. In fact, it can put a lot of strain on a relationship or marriage, mainly because menopause is usually a long and drawn out process. It can last anywhere between 6 months (if you’re very lucky) and 15 years. And statistics show that around 85% of women in America suffer from hot flashes even just leading up to menopause, not to mention how many actually suffer during menopause. The severity also differs from woman to woman. Some only have a few episodes a year while others can have an awful 20 episodes a day! 

Menopause is a Natural “Womanly” Process… 

No woman can ever stop menopause from occurring. What you can do, however, is control and limit the symptoms greatly. The hot flashes and mood swings are probably the two worst symptoms of menopause by far. They can result in the man of the house getting to spend the night in the doghouse and having no understanding as to the reason why he's ended up there!

Okay, I’ve definitely finished with the jokes now (sorry ladies, couldn’t resist throwing that one in). I guess if you’re here looking for some relief remedies for your hot flashes, then you’re probably quite desperate and very likely not in a joking mood. But I do have some good news for you though because the home remedies we’re about to discuss really do work amazingly well. 

And how do I know this?

Well, my wife is going through menopause at the moment and she’s using these exact remedies to successfully treat her hot flashes and night sweats right now!  

Your Medical Options for Treating Hot Flashes and Night Sweats…

The medical options available for treating hot flashes are horrendous. If you’re game enough you could try taking an antidepressant such as effexor, venlafaxine, paroxetine or fluoxetine, or the most recent one approved by the FDA, Brisdelle (this hard core drug contains a substance called paroxetine - a medication used to treat psychiatric disorders). Antidepressants really are shocking options and cause much worse problems than hot flashes. In fact, most people who’ve taken antidepressants say they give you suicidal thoughts and literally send you around the bend!

So rather than taking an antidepressant, if you’re even more game you could try the most popular medical treatment for menopause and hot flashes, HRT (hormone replacement therapy). But how this treatment is even still available to women today is totally beyond me. The side effects are disastrous, yet it’s still allowed to stay on the market. Mild side effects include nausea and bloating, and severe side effects include breast cancer (increases your rate by 78%), endometrial cancer, cardio vascular disease (increases your rate by a whopping 200%) and blood clots.

So for the sake of your health, sanity and your life, we strongly recommend you stay completely away from any of these treatments!

Natural Remedies for Hot Flashes That Work… and Work Fast!

If you’re suffering from hot flashes and night sweats right now then you need treatments that not only work well, but also work quickly. So here are our top 10 most popular home remedies for hot flashes in order of importance. Just remember that some of the treatments listed are a definite “must use” while others you'll need to try and experiment with first to see if they work for you. We'll let you know which ones are which as we go along.

So enough off the dilly-dallying and chit chat, let’s get started and finally get rid of those hot flashes and night sweats for good shall we!

Home Remedies for Hot Flashes #1 – The Awesome Power of Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda (Must Use Remedy)…

Here at life-saving-naturalcures-and-naturalremedies, we're really big fans of apple cider vinegar and baking soda. You'll actually find these incredible health and healing foods listed for just about every natural treatment and home remedy we have on this site. And the reason for this is simple… they help treat and reverse virtually every health problem you can think of, including hot flashes and night sweats!

We’ve put these two remedies at number one because of the speed in which they work, but in reality, the first five home remedies we list are all as important as each other. The great thing about using ACV and baking soda is you'll find relief from your hot flashes within 24 to 48 hours - and they work for about 95% of women!

What this concoction does is raise your pH level and alkalize the body. Once the body is alkalized, it can go to work and relieve your symptoms. ACV also contains essential nutrients such as vitamin E, potassium, calcium and magnesium, which are all known to help tremendously with menopausal and perimenopausal symptoms. 2

Method for Taking Your ACV and Baking Soda…

So here’s what you need to do…  simply mix a tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar (must still contain the “mother” apple) and a quarter teaspoon of baking soda in a tall glass of warm, filtered water (be sure to watch for the fizz). Drink this mixture on an empty stomach 3 times a day, 20 minutes before each main meal. You can also add some unsulphured black strap molasses to this combination for extra benefit and taste. 

Now with the baking soda, you only have it for a period of 3 weeks before dropping it. Baking soda shouldn't be taken all the time or it can cause the body to become too alkaline. You can, however, go back on it for a 3 week period once every few months, just to keep your pH up. The apple cider vinegar and unsulphured black strap molasses can and should be taken permanently if you want to keep those hot flashes and night sweats away. Both of these are alkalizing, but not as alkalizing as the baking soda.

Note: If you can’t handle the baking soda, then you can just drink the ACV and black strap molasses and still benefit tremendously from these. And if you find that you struggle with the taste of the apple cider vinegar (some people actually gag from it) then you can purchase the ACV capsules instead. These still work extremely well but try and drink the liquid if you can as this seems to be slightly better. For the capsules, take 2 to 4 daily in divided doses.

Natural Treatment for Hot Flashes #2 (Must Use Remedy) – Boron Supplementation is Vital!

The fact is, your hormones turn it to an absolute mess and become completely unbalanced without enough boron. The main reason why women suffer from menopause is because their estrogen levels drop sharply. But the trace mineral boron has been found to safely increase and balance out estrogen levels.

Here’s what health expert, Walter Last, has to say about supplementing with boron to treat and cure menopause…

Research has now shown that boron supplementation in postmenopausal women doubles the blood level of the most active form of oestrogen, 17-beta oestradiol, to the level found in women on oestrogen replacement therapy. Equally, the blood levels of testosterone more than doubled (7). With HRT there is a higher risk of breast or endometrial cancer which is not known to happen with hormones produced by the body as with borax supplementation. Some women get premenstrual problems because oestrogen levels are too high and progesterone too low, and therefore may be afraid of using boron. However, I found no evidence that boron raises oestrogen above normal healthy levels. Boron may balance levels of sex hormones similar to the action of Maca root powder. Maca acts on the pituitary gland not only to increase but also to balance our sex hormones and seems to stimulate our own progesterone production as needed.

So yes, boron supplementation is an excellent way for you to balance out your hormones. And once your hormones are balanced the night sweats and hot flashes will also disappear. And the other big advantage of taking boron is it stops and reverses osteoporosis. This is yet another terrible side effect of having low estrogen levels when you're going through menopause (it’s estimated that 80% of women over the age of 50 in the U.S. have osteoporosis and don’t even know it).

Here’s an extra snippet from Walter Last’s fantastic article on boron…

Boron affects the metabolism of steroid hormones, and especially of sex hormones. It increases low testosterone levels in men and oestrogen levels in menopausal women. It also has a role in converting vitamin D to its active form, thus increasing calcium uptake and deposition into bone and teeth rather than causing soft tissue to calcify (lose calcium). Also, other beneficial effects have been reported such as improvement of heart problems, vision, psoriasis, balance, memory and cognition. 1

How Much Boron Do You Need and Where Do You Get It From?

According to boron researcher Rex Newnham, and author Walter Last, the best way to get your boron every day is by making up a specialized mixture comprized of high grade borax (such as this) and water. You then drink this concoction every day.

So here's what you do for this one... Mix up 6 grams of borax in one liter of filtered water. This becomes your concentrated solution. You then take 5-10 ml's of this solution three to five times daily spaced evenly throughout the day. You continue with this amount for 3 to 4 months before dropping back to a maintenance dose of twice daily. Another benefit of taking borax is it also prevents and treats candida (thrush) and other fungi problems within the body. Yeast fungus is also a contributing factor for hot flashes and night sweats.

Note: Don't be scared off by this remedy. It's safe and it works a treat! Before you do anything, however, make sure you take the time to read Walter Last’s article on the amazing health benefits of boron and borax for women. You can view it here… HealthScienceSpirit-the-borax-conspiracy. 

Natural Remedy for Hot Flashes #3 (Must Use Remedy) – The Incredible Relief You Get From Maca!

Walter Last already touched briefly on the benefits of the Maca root in the quote above, but it’s important that we elaborate on this remarkable plant even further…

Probably the most astonishing thing about the Maca root is its incredible potency and the ease at which it's able to eradicate the symptoms of menopause and andropause (male menopause). The hot flashes, depression, mood swings and other symptoms are definitely alleviated by taking Maca - and the improvements are noticed quite quickly (within days). Maca enhances the function of the hormonal system and ensures ideal levels of progesterone, estrogen, DHEA, testosterone, and human growth hormone. Many physicians are having tremendous success using Maca. In fact, most are now recommending it instead of hormone replacement therapies such as HRT because it has no side effects (only positive effects) and doesn’t harm or damage the body in any way.

Here’s what one doctor has to say about the success he’s had with using Maca to treat menopause in women…

"Peruvian maca root regulates the organs of internal secretion, such as the pituitary, the adrenal glands, and the pancreas. I have had perhaps 200 female patients whose menopause symptoms are alleviated by taking maca." - Dr. Hugo Malaspina, M.D., Lima, Peru. 3

Oh, and I should note here that Maca is also known to increase your energy levels quite dramatically and is a powerful aphrodisiac for both men and women. So get ready to enjoy these positive benefits as well!

Purchasing Maca and Recommended Dosages…

You can easily purchase Maca powder or Maca capsules online or from most health food stores. For the capsules, you need to take a good dose to begin with for them to be effective and to get the maca into your system, so take two to three capsules twice daily for best results. And with the powder, three quarters to one teaspoon twice daily will usually do the trick. Continue with this amount for at least 6 to 8 weeks before dropping back to the maintenance dose listed on the container.

In addition to this, Maca is considered a strong adaptogen, so we also recommend you constantly vary the dose so your body doesn’t get used to it. This will enhance the effectiveness of the Maca and make sure it continues to work for you. We should also note here that the powder does seem to work slightly better than the capsules for some reason, so try and go for this first. And it doesn't taste bad either so you can easily mix it in a smoothie, or any drink you like, for easy consumption.

Natural Treatment for Hot Flashes #4 (Must Use Remedy) – Your Body Must Have Plenty of Magnesium…

Recently I had the privilege of interviewing magnesium expert and author, Dr Carolyn Dean. Apart from being an incredibly nice lady, she's also the world’s leading authority on the benefits of magnesium - especially for women. Dr Dean agrees that low magnesium levels create havoc for female hormones and lead to all sorts of gynecological problems. 

"Fluctuating sex hormones affect magnesium levels, making women more sensitive to magnesium deficiency than men," she says.

Magnesium is known to affect the function of nerves and blood vessels and influence important neurotransmitters such as serotonin. When a woman is experiencing perimenopause (which can last anywhere from between 2 and 5 years) her magnesium levels start to decline rapidly, then during menopause they continue to plummet. This decline is thought to play a role in the development of hot flashes, and this recent study seems to confirm this…

Researchers took 29 women who were suffering from hot flashes (the average age was 54 years) and put them on magnesium supplements. The results showed the hot flash scores (based on hot flash frequency and severity) among the women who completed the study, were reduced by more than 50% in 14 participants (56%) and by more than 25% in 19 participants (76%). The average frequency of hot flashes among women at the beginning of the study was 52 per week, which decreased by 41% to 28 hot flashes per week after they started taking magnesium supplements. These women also reported that symptoms such as fatigue, sweating, and distress were also significantly improved. 4

After the study the authors commented by saying… “Magnesium appears to be a safe and inexpensive therapy for those with bothersome hot flashes. The greater than 50% reduction in symptoms suggests that oral magnesium is likely more effective than a placebo”. 

Best Sources of Magnesium…

Magnesium levels have dropped significantly in both men and women world-wide in the last 20-30 years. The problem is our food soils no longer contain enough of this vital mineral anymore so supplementation is crucial. The best way for your body to absorb magnesium is through the pours of the skin. A transdermal magnesium spray ensures a fast and 100% absorption rate of magnesium into the blood stream. You can also easily make up your own magnesium oil, which is much more cost effective. Here's what you do...

-You Will Need 

1/2 cup of Magnesium Chloride Flakes (like these)

1/2 cup of Distilled Water

Glass Bowl

Spray Bottle for Storage

-Directions 

Boil ½ cup of distilled water and pour into the glass bowl

Add ½ cup of magnesium chloride flakes

Stir the mixture until the magnesium chloride flakes are completely dissolved.

Leave to cool then pour into the spray bottle

-How to Use 

Spray the magnesium oil on arms, legs, and stomach once daily using 10-15 sprays per application. You may find that it tingles on your skin to begin with, particularly for the first few applications. This is quite normal and means it’s working! Leave on for at least an hour before showering. Use a natural skin moisturizer afterwards.

Now, some women just don’t like the feel of the magnesium oil on their skin and will usually opt for a supplement called Natural Calm instead. This product is an excellent alternative and is one of the very few internal magnesium supplements that actually works. And not only will it help tremendously with your hot flashes and night sweats, it will also help you to stay a whole lot calmer (control those mood swings) and sleep a whole lot better! You can find out more and read some testimonials here… Natural Calm.    

Home Remedies for Hot Flashes #5 (Must Use Remedy) – Progesterone Creams Give Excellent Relief From Menopausal Symptoms…

Natural progesterone creams are terrific for controlling hot flashes and night sweats. They also help to relieve some of the other unwanted symptoms of menopause and perimenopause such as depression, mood swings, vaginal dryness and insomnia. In fact, author of the world-wide best sellers “What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause” and “What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause”, Dr John Lee, recommends every woman going through menopause and perimenopause use a natural progesterone cream to balance out their hormone levels. And if you talk to women who’ve used a good quality progesterone cream for treating their hot flashes and insomnia, you’ll find that virtually every one of them will say they found incredible relief and the progesterone cream literally saved their sanity!

To purchase a good quality progesterone cream, we suggest you don’t go for the cheaper brands at all. At the same time, you don’t have to go for the most expensive either. Find a middle of the road one that suits your budget and has good customer reviews. You’ll know within a day or two if it’s working for you or not. 

Natural Remedy for Hot Flashes #6 – The Black Cohosh Plant (Worth Considering)…

Black Cohosh is used extensively in Europe for treating hot flashes and night sweats, but it seems the jury is still out on the effectiveness of this herb. Some women swear by it while others say it gave them only mild relief. So this is one you’ll have to try for yourself to see if it works. Some studies have shown Black Cohosh to be safe and effective at providing relief from hot flushes and excessive sweating, so it’s definitely worth investigating. The North American Menopause Society commented (in regards to taking Black Cohosh to treat menopausal symptoms) by saying… “It would seem that Black Cohosh is a safe, herbal medicine”. This article on the benefits of black cohosh for menopause is also worth reading... Black Cohosh for Menopause.

Natural Treatment for Hot Flashes #7 – Evening Primrose Oil (Worth Taking)…

Evening primrose oil (EPO) helps to regulate the production of estrogen. Most menopausal and perimenopausal women are deficient in hormone-like substances called prostaglandins, particularly the PGE1 prostaglandin. Low levels of these compounds will throw hormones right out of balance. EPO contains gamma linolenic acid, which helps to balance prostaglandin levels and in turn hormone levels. This is another remedy you’ll have to try to see if it works for you. However, because evening primrose oil is so beneficial for the human body, and for women in particular, it may be a good idea to take EPO supplements regardless. You can easily buy evening primrose oil online or from any health food retailer.

Home Remedies for Hot Flashes #8 – Flax Seeds and Flaxseed Oil (Worth Taking)… 

Flaxseeds and flaxseed oil help menopausal symptoms by stabilizing estrogen levels. They contain substances called plant lignans, which are similar in structure to female estrogen. Because flaxseeds and flaxseed oil are also extremely good for you, these are yet another supplement/food that would be worthwhile taking every day just for overall good health. Ground up flaxseeds and flaxseed oil both make a really great tasting dressing to add to your salads too so there's no excuse for not having them!

Natural Treatment for Hot Flashes #9 – Sage Tea (Worth Considering)…

Sage is a well-known herb that helps ease the symptoms of menopause, especially the hot flashes and night sweats. You can either drink 2-3 cups of sage tea a day - or make up a sage juice by soaking a bunch of fresh leaves in a cup of lemon juice and leaving overnight. Strain the next day and drink (dilute with water to taste).

Natural Remedy for Hot Flashes #10 – Vitamin E (Worth Considering)…

Studies have shown that vitamin E may be beneficial in reducing the severity of hot flashes in menopausal women. Researchers at Tarbiat Modarres University in Tehran, Iran, measured the effects of vitamin E for hot flashes in 54 patients. They found the women who took vitamin E supplements had a substantial reduction in the severity and length of their hot flashes. 5

You can buy vitamin E supplements virtually anywhere. Just keep in mind that you need to take a decent amount of vitamin E for it to be effective so go for the high strength vitamin E capsules (1000 IU’s). Take one a day for best results. In addition, make sure the vitamin E supplement you choose is natural vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol) and not the synthetic version (dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate). This is extremely important.

More Herbs…

There are lots of other herbs out there that are helpful for treating hot flashes and night sweats. Some of these include; red clover, chickweed, belladonna, sarsaparilla, licorice root, spearmint, wild yam, red raspberry leaf, damiana, chasteberry, dong quai and motherwort. Now, you could really go nuts here and use every remedy and herb that’s good for treating hot flushes, but at the end of the day, there’s only so much you can take (and many of these herbs are contained in most natural progesterone creams anyway). What we’ve done through this whole article is give you the best natural remedies and treatments for big results. With that said, if you have easy access to any of these herbs then by all means, give them a go. There’s no harm in doing this.

Other “Home Remedies for Hot Flashes” You Must Consider…

Along with the remedies we’ve just discussed, it’s important that you also look at adopting these healthy lifestyle habits to completely nip your hot flashes and night sweats in the bud. Here they are in no particular order…

Foods to Avoid – Foods to Eat…

Certain foods will definitely exacerbate hot flashes and night sweats, while others will help to relieve the symptoms quite significantly. The worst trigger foods and main culprits are spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine, fried foods, meat products, processed dairy products and refined sugars. The foods you need to be eating more of are the usual suspects... green leafy vegetables, nuts and almonds, sea vegetables, green beans, split peas, chickpeas, olives, and soy and tofu products. Soy in particular is terrific for preventing hot flashes and night sweats and is actually one of the main reasons why Japanese women rarely suffer from these. Respected author Michael Castleman says… “In China and Japan, few women experience hot flashes. The reason: Their traditional diet is rich in soy foods, especially tofu. Soy contains plant estrogens, which have properties similar to human estrogen”. 6

Controlling Stress levels and Regular Exercise are Both Crucial for Preventing and Treating Hot Flashes…

Getting all “hot and bothered” is a sure-fire trigger for hot flashes. When you become stressed your body releases adrenaline into the bloodstream and your body temperature rises. This rise in heat definitely exacerbates hot flashes in menopausal and premenopausal women. So you must find ways to relieve stress in your life and relax more. Try some meditation, Tai Chi or Yoga to relax. These exercises really do work well. Physical exercise is also a great stress reliever. I guarantee you won’t come out of a hard workout feeling up tight or stressed - it’s virtually impossible! Exercise also releases mood stimulating chemicals called endorphins, so you actually end up in a better mood after you’ve been exercising. Studies have also shown that exercise helps to normalize hormone levels in women and reduce the symptoms of menopause.

Final Home Remedy for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats… Stay Cool and Breezy!

These last few recommendations are common sense really, and you’ve probably already thought of them yourself, but we’ll quickly go through them anyway…

Firstly, try and avoid synthetic bedding and clothing. These fibers make the body overheat and sweat a lot more than cottons and linens. Don’t wear tight clothing or clothing made from synthetic fibers either. Instead, go for loose “breezy” clothing made from cotton. At night time, make sure you have cotton sheets on the bed and if you still get hot, don’t be afraid to go “O Natural”!

Secondly, avoid things like excessively long sun exposure on hot days, along with using saunas, hot tubs and taking hot showers. Also keep the fan or air conditioner going if you need to and drink lots of cold water. Author of “Prescription for Dietary Wellness” Phyllis A. Balch says this for menopausal women… “One of the best things you can do during this time is to be sure to drink plenty of water – at least 2 quarts daily. Drinking water replaces fluids lost to perspiration during hot flashes and can prevent or minimize the hot flashes themselves”.  

“Home Remedies for Hot Flashes” Final Note…

Well that ends this article on the most popular natural and home remedies for hot flashes. We believe you have everything here to successfully treat and get rid of your hot flashes and night sweats permanently. But like any treatment or remedy, you must take the information provided and use it. We also recommend you make the first five natural treatments we list a permanent part of your life, rather than a temporary “fix” or remedy. In all honesty, you’re probably going to need to adopt most of the lifestyle changes we’ve spoken about for quite a while. But the fact that you won’t have to go through and put up with those dreaded hot flashes and night sweats anymore will really make it worthwhile!

So all the best with going through your “change” and alleviating your menopausal symptoms. We do guarantee, life for you is now about to get a whole lot better and a whole lot more enjoyable!

Good luck and all the best to you.

Note: Because yeast infections usually accompany menopause and menopausal symptoms, we recommend you take the time to read our “natural remedies for yeast infection” article as well. You can click on the link below to go there…

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