This Open Access site was originated September 2006     

         updated January 2010    

     

Estrogen Matters a non profit global women’s health initiative     
to provide medical perspective about menstrual health    
   the menopause transition and post-menopausal health    

   

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A Powerful Sensation

Hot flashes often occur as a result of decreased estrogen.

They are preceded by prodromes (early warning) and occur as a burst of heat accompanied by a sweat. 

 

A mild or strong tingling sensation in the hands, feet, and legs is also common.

For some women a feeling of anxiety, panic, or irritation can occur before or

with the hot flash. Interesting, hot flashes are often accompanied by cardiovascular alterations; they begin with an increase in heart rate and in blood flow which is maintained for the duration of the flash but rapidly decrease thereafter.

 

This page relates some very effective options to reduce the frequency and

intensity of hot flashes. If you would like more specific information forward an email.

 

Source:

Obstetrics & Gynecology 2000;95:804-809
Hormone Replacement Therapy for Oxidative Stress

in Postmenopausal Women With Hot Flushes
MARIANO LEAL, MD, JULIAN DÍAZ, PhD

 

 

Menopause hot flashes have been linked

to elevated systolic blood pressure,

vascular oxidative stress and higher cardiovascular risk

 

                

During a hot flash the blood vessels close to the skin spontaneously open wider than usual. This vasodilation allows for more blood flow which generates a sense of warmth. Perspiration then occurs on the skin to cool down the body. Hot flashes are a vascular event.

 

A burst of oxidative stress also accompanies a hot flash. The oxidative stress causes LDL cholesterol in the arteries to essentially brew: contributing to inflamed, stiffened coronary arteries. Oxidative stress also wears down the protective inner lining of the artery.

 

Of additional concern, menopausal women with hot flashes tend to have elevated systolic blood pressure when compared to menopausal women who do not experience hot flashes. Elevated systolic blood pressure contributes to stiff arteries which contributes to high blood pressure and increased cardiovascular risk.

 

The association between hot flashes and systolic blood pressure is independent of age, race/ethnicity, body mass index, and menopausal status. Hot flashes were not associated with changes in diastolic blood pressure.

 

As such, for menopausal women who experience ongoing hot flashes (during age 50-60) it will be cardio protective to diminish the occurrence of hot flashes and counteract the bursts of oxidative stress. The overviews on this page provide information about how to lessen the frequency and intensity of hot flashes.

 

Vitamin E is the prime cellular antioxidant.

Vitamin E does not necessarily reduce hot flashes but is able to provide cellular protection from oxidative stress. The daily reference intakes for vitamin E is 15 mg. One quarter cup a sunflower seeds has 17 mg of vitamin E. Olive oil and un-toasted wheat germ are also good sources of vitamin E.

 

Italica PLUS is an extra virgin olive oil imported from Spain. This olive oil is enriched with vitamins A,D and E. One tablespoon has 44% of daily vitamin E. Available in the food store, very affordable, also heart healthy.

  

Source:

Hot flashes are associated with increased ambulatory systolic blood pressure.

Menopause. 2007; 14:308-315.

Gerber LM, et al.

 

 

 

       A bit more about Hot Flashes and Night Sweats

 

   As estrogen levels diminish or fluctuate, blood vessels may expand rapidly allowing for increased blood flow. The increase in blood flow generates warmth causing skin temperature to rise slightly. Perspiration often occurs to cool down the body. During a hot flash a sensation of warmth and perspiration  moves upward from the chest to the shoulders, neck and head. A hot flash may also start at the legs and move upward through the body. Additionally, during a hot flash the face might look flushed, and red blotches may appear on the chest, neck and arms.


  A hot flash can last from 30 seconds to several minutes. The frequency, as well as the duration, of hot flashes varies for each woman. A hot flash may occur once an hour, in clusters (bursts) every few minutes or only occasionally. They can occur  day or night. Those occurring during sleep are referred to as night sweats.

 

  In addition to hot flashes and perspiration (diaphoresis), vasomotor symptoms may also include heart palpitations, anxiety and tingling of the skin, hands and feet.

 

  Estrogen levels gradually decline during the menopause transition. Below is an average serum concentration decline of estrogen (estradiol) during the menopausal transition. This gradual reduction in estrogen often generates menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes. 


Age 48 140-130 pg/ml
Age 50 less than 40 pg/ml
No menstrual periods for one year is postmenopausal: less than 20 pg/ml


Note: pg/ml = picograms per milliliter

 

 

 

 

 

     Managing Hot Flashes . . . Naturally

                            soy isoflavones, flaxseed and pycnogenol

 

   Many women can self manage hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms by using a good quality plant based estrogen cream or a plant based progesterone cream.  Progesterone cream is often derived from Mexican wild yam root. Plant based estrogen cream  is most often derived from soy. Keep in mind, dietary supplements, herbal supplements and plant based estrogen and progesterone stimulate biological effects. Such therapies can be potent, and when used incorrectly or in excess can stress body tissues and organs.

 

  Menopause is a natural transition that occurs gradually over a period of years. Some natural plant based therapies are more specific to perimenopause symptoms, some more specific to menopause and some are more specific to postmenopause. Additionally, there are wide variations in the manufacturing and quality of nutraceuticals. Please, research before you purchase. A few paragraphs below I provided a link to NaturallyBetter.net a website that sells Natural Radiance a non-prescription yet, high quality natural estogen (estriol) and progesterone cream.


Relief for hot flashes . . .

soy isoflavones, flaxseed and pycnogenol

 

  Estrogen receptor beta mimics, and specific dietary supplements/herbs that calm and add balance the sympathetic nervous system are effective in reducing hot flashes. Estrogen receptor beta affects the ovaries, blood vessels and the central and peripheral nervous system. As such, hot flashes (vasomotor symptoms) respond well to dietary supplements/herbs that bind to estrogen receptor B.


  Soy isoflavones with high isoflavone/genistein content bind to estrogen receptor B and can significantly reduce menopausal hot flashes. Isoflavones/genistein positively effect and regulate blood vessels which helps diminish hot flashes. Health food stores offer phytoestrogen dietary supplements that are primarily dervied from soy. A non genetic modified phytoestrogen dietary supplement that contains about 40 mg total isoflavones (fermented soy) will be helpful. Take as directed on the supplement. Certain soy milks have 70 mg of isoflavones in one cup of soy milk. Enjoying organic soymilk and/or soy nuts through out the day will be helpful.

 

  Flaxseed is a plant source of omega 3 essential fatty acids that also has a positive effect on blood vessels. In addition, to soy isoflavones, adding one/two tablespoons of milled (powdered) flaxseed to the daily diet reduces the frequency/intensity of hot flashes for most women. One tablespoon of milled flax seed contains 1300 mg of omega 3 oils. Milled flax seed can be sprinkled in yogurt, fresh salad and over cereal.

 

  As an added bonus flax seed also repleneshes and nourishes the skin and hair. At menopause (no menstrual cycles for one year) women loose thirty percent of skin elasticity due to diminished estrogen, and continue to loose 1-2% of skin elasticity annually during the postmenopausal years.

  The Mayo Clinic conducted a six week study regarding flaxseed and hot flashes. The women in this study found their frequency of hot flashes decreased 50 percent over six weeks, and their overall hot flash score decreased an average 57 percent. Participants also reported improvements in mood, joint or muscle pain, chills and sweating, which significantly improved their health-related quality of life. Flaxseed therapy, consisted of 40 grams of crushed flaxseed taken daily. Keep in mind, you can purchase milled flaxseed (already ground to a fine powder at the food store). 

 

Flaxseed stabilizes estrogen.

It does not reduce or increase estrogen levels.

Flaxseed binds to estrogen receptors creating a sense of completion.

Estrogen is then less erratic (more balance) this reduces symptoms of

heart palpitations and  . . hot flashes.

 

Milled flaxseed is flaxseed that has been ground to a powder. Milled flaxseed is very, very pure and costs about two dollars for a two month supply. One/two tablespoons each day will help ease through the menopause transition.

 

  Pycnogenol  is a natural plant extract originating from the bark of the maritime pine that grows along the coast of southwest France. Pycnogenol is available as a dietary supplement. Health benefits associated with pycnogenol include cognitive function, skin elasticity, nitric oxide stimulation, free radical scavenging and enhanced antioxidant activity. Nitric oxide is a key molecule that regulates blood vessel function. Pycnogenol helps ease hot flashes by enhancing nitric oxide levels (a regulatory molecule in arteries).

 

  In more physiological terms: pycnogenol stimulates constitutive endothelial NOS (eNOS) activity to increase nitric oxide levels, which is thought to counteract the vasoconstrictor effects of norepinephrine.

 

  A study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (2007) validates the use of pycnogenol to ease menopausal symptoms. The study which included 155 women between the ages of 45 - 55, found 100 mg pycnogenol twice a day reduced hot flashes, depression, panic attacks, cholesterol and other symptoms associated with women entering menopause transition.

 

  Soy isoflavones, flax seed and pycnogenol work in synergy to reduce symptoms of hot flashes. 

 

Sources:
Endothelium-dependent vascular effects of pycnogenol
Fitzpatrick D. F. Bing B. Rohdewald P.
Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology
1998, vol. 32, no4, pp. 509-515

Flaxseed Shows Potential to Reduce Hot Flashes
Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minn. August 29, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Nurturing Women's Heart Health

Naturally

For Her Heart is a global non profit

that helps move women beyond heart disease awareness
 to self care and heart disease prevention.

  visit For Her Heart.org 


  


 

 

  Prescription options to ease and balance hormones

 

Prescription hormone replacement and prescription bio-identical hormone replacement B-HRT are very effective for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats). Low dose oral contraceptives, estrogen replacement or hormone replacement provide a steady level of hormones.

 

Balanced, regulated hormone levels are less likely to cause menopausal symptoms. Low dose oral contraceptives or hormone replacement (prescription HRT, or B-HRT) often results in relief of vasomotor symptoms within one to two weeks in 80% of women. Many, many, many women achieve results within days.


Source:
Current Role of Hormone Replacement Therapy for Management of Menopause. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists Menopause Guideline Revision Task Force
Rhoda H. Cobin MD
Endocrine Practice 2006; 12(13): 315-337

 

 

The average time a woman uses hormone therapy

to relieve menopausal symptoms is four years.

Source: 

the American College

of Obstetricians & Gynecologists

 

   

Natural Estrogen Cream for Hot Flash Relief


Note: Here is a link to a very, very high quality non-prescription natural estrogen and progesterone creams visit: Natural Radiance


Natural Radiance® is a non-comedogenic cold processed liposome creme that is free of emulsifiers, isopropyl palmitates, glycerl stearate, octyl palmitate, stearic acid, DEA, triethanolarmine (TEA), dimethicone, cyclomethicone, PEG, alcohols, emulsifying wax, dyes, parabens, colors or mineral oil.

 

 

        

 

 

       

 

 

 

    

   Natural estrogen cream (estriol) is a very effective option to help relieve menopause (no menstrual period) hot flashes. Estrogen cream is rubbed on the skin and contains low dose phytoestrogens. These plant based estrogens slightly up-regulate estrogen receptors or bind to estrogen receptors. This helps modulate estrogen sensitive tissue which reduces hot flashes. Please note: women who are peri menopause, still get a menstrual period can most often reduce symptoms with a natural progesterone cream.

  A good quality estrogen cream should primarily have only natural ingredients. Estrogen cream can be purchased online or at health food stores. Although you do not need a prescription for over the counter estrogen cream or gel, keep in mind the cream is biologically potent. When used incorrectly or in excess estrogen cream can stress body tissues and organs.

 

  Prescription bio-identical estrogen cream or gel is somewhat more potent than the estrogen cream offered at the health food store. Bio-identical Hormone Replacement (B-HRT) is natural estrogen or progesterone (or both) blended by a specialized compounding pharmacy. Bio-identical hormones are considered to be identical to the hormones produced by the ovaries.

 

   
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Information is provided for educational purposes to help individuals form an understanding of biological processes as they effect health. This information is not intended for medical diagnosis or treatment.