Sudden waves of heat that come out of nowhere, flushed skin, drenched bedsheets in the middle of the night… Hot flushes and night sweats are among the most disruptive hormonal symptoms a person can experience, and they’re far more common than many of us realise.
These symptoms are most associated with the onset of the menopause, but hot flushes can also be caused by hormonal imbalance with many different triggers. These could include certain medications, eating disorders, thyroid conditions, certain cancer treatments, and birth control.
Whatever the underlying cause, a naturopathic approach to hormonal imbalance can identify it and treat it in a natural, non-invasive way.
Understanding the “Internal Thermostat”
Hot flushes are driven by the decline of oestrogen, which disrupts the hypothalamus: your brain’s temperature-regulating centre. This disruption causes the hypothalamus to misread normal body temperature as overheating and trigger a heat-release response, i.e., flushing or sweating. It’s a bit like a misfiring thermostat, misreading a building’s temperature and kicking the central heating into gear without needing to.
While menopause is perhaps the most common cause of hot flushes, it isn’t the only one. Hot flushes can be caused by a range of factors, like diabetes, certain forms of birth control, pregnancy, stress and anxiety, and an over or underactive thyroid.
Herbal Alternatives to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
While HRT is a common option to alleviate symptoms, it can be expensive, cause negative side effects, and prolong the natural process of declining oestrogen. Natural remedies, on the other hand, aim to make the whole transition easier, without interfering.
These natural remedies are drawn from a range of medicinal herbs. Red clover, for example, contains isoflavones that can weakly mimic oestrogen and may help improve hormonal imbalances; valerian root is a great remedy for hot flushes, insomnia, and stress; and St John’s Wort can reduce physical symptoms and improve mood.
Of course, consult a qualified professional before you consider combining herbal remedies with traditional medicine.
Dietary Triggers That Worsen Hot Flushes
Hot flushes can also be triggered by your diet. The most common triggers are:
- Spicy foods.
- Alcohol.
- Caffeine.
- Hot drinks, like tea and coffee.
Ideally, your diet should be rich in calcium, including dairy products and leafy vegetables like kale and spinach, and vitamin D, found in oily fish. This is important at any age, but particularly during hormonal changes, which can cause your bones to weaken and heighten your risk of osteoporosis.
Quick Lifestyle Tips for Immediate Relief
Hot flushes and night sweats can also be managed through a few simple lifestyle changes. For example, keep your bedroom cool by opening doors and windows to allow for circulation of air, and use breathable and natural-fibre bedding. You could even consider keeping a small fan nearby.
As mentioned above, there is a range of herbs that can support good sleep. Chamomile is renowned for addressing sleeplessness, as well as anxiety and stress (at any age), and valerian root tea just before bedtime can also improve sleep quality.
One of the most hidden triggers of hot flushes and night sweats is stress. Stress activates your stress hormone cortisol which disrupts oestrogen and progesterone, and can knock things off balance quite easily. So, managing stress – whether that’s through gentle exercise, mindfulness practices like meditation and yoga, or naturopathy treatment – is a legitimate part of the wider treatment picture.
Whether you’re navigating menopause, a hormonal condition, or any other cause of these symptoms, Marisa takes a holistic approach that treats the underlying problem, not just the symptoms. Simply book a 60-minute consultation with Naturopathic Wellness via the website or call us on 0412 292 171.
