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If
you are looking for some quick relief remedies for hot flashes and night sweats, read on here to find out more. There is
also a video clip about some remedies
for hot flashes and night sweats.
Are
you familiar with the feeling of dread you get when you’re body starts to feel warm and flush?
Because you know what comes next- the discomfort
of the unrelenting heat from another nasty hot flash.
Or
maybe you’re not even aware that it’s happening, in which case maybe you dread
waking up to find your clothes and sheets absolutely soaked in sweat, and then
endure horrible chills while everything dries off?
Hot
flashes and night sweats are some of the frustrating things to get relief from,
since your body basically decided your fate when it mistakenly told your brain
you were overheating (a very simplified way of putting it.)
While
hormones contribute greatly to hot flashes-hence why they are so common during
menopause-other things can cause them as well. I’ve experienced them as side
effects from medications, but stress and even some food and drinks can bring
them on.
While
identifying the cause is important to ultimately remedying your hot flashes
and/or night sweats, these quick relief recipes will help cool you down right
away.
Tip:
Keep a fan on you if you suffer night sweats. Also direct a fan at yourself or
stand in front of the A.C. for an extra cool down when using the spray.
Remedies for Hot
Flashes and Night Sweats #Tip 1 - Plain Ol’ Peppermint Spray
It
seems so plain. Peppermint is refreshing for obvious reasons-it helps cool you
almost instantly and the coolness lasts for a while. It’s one of the best, most
immediate, forms of relief from a hot flash in my opinion.
How
does it work? All thanks to menthol. Our body can tell when there is something
hot or cold, but peppermint isn’t cold temperature wise at all. So why does it
cool us down?
A
protein in menthol activates the same receptor on nerve endings that also sense
cold. So it triggers a message to the brain that says “you’re feeling cold.”
And your nervous system responds accordingly.
So,
really, this isn’t such a plain spray. It’s a very clever one, one that will
help you cool down fast. It doesn’t actually change your temperature, but that
makes no difference in the relief it will bring.
Some
people who use this recipe opt not to use the neutral carrier oil for fear of
it leaving a stain, and use only witch hazel. I have not had any issues, but it
is an option (albeit not the one I’d recommend.)
The
witch hazel speeds evaporation and many people find it adds its own touch of
cool freshness so it’s added for that more than as a carrier.
Alcohol
can dilute essential oils, but the alcohol in witch hazel is not of a high
enough proof to do the job. If you opt to leave out the carrier oil, be sure to
test a spritz on a small patch of skin before using.
You will
need…
-6
tablespoons of witch hazel
-1-6 drops peppermint oil
-1 tablespoon of grapeseed (or another neutral oil)
-Aloe (optional)
-1-6 drops peppermint oil
-1 tablespoon of grapeseed (or another neutral oil)
-Aloe (optional)
Directions
First,
always shake well before using! Also, start with only a drop or two of
peppermint at a time and test your tolerance. It’s strong stuff, especially if
you don’t add in a “true” carrier that dilutes it.
Put
the oils and witch hazel in a mister bottle. Ideally one that is dark glass and
has the spritzer top to it! Shake well and store in cool place out of direct
sunlight. Apply as needed, and for maximum effect, have a fan going. Shake
before every use.
If
you find the spray drying to your skin, apply some high quality, natural aloe
after using it.
Remedies for Hot
Flashes and Night Sweats #Tip 2 - Eucalyptus Cold Compress
Eucalyptus
provides similar benefits to peppermint, but on a lesser scale, and with much
less intensity. This doesn’t mean it’s not effective, but if you’re sensitive
to the strong smell of peppermint, eucalyptus is a great option (and can be
used as a substitute in recipe above.)
Keep
this cooling compress on hand so you don’t need to wait for relief by freezing
them (but put them in a bag so your whole freezer doesn’t smell like
eucalyptus!) or just whip it up on the spot.
You will
need…
-A
medium sized bowl
-Ice
-2 tablespoons of grapeseed or any other neutral oil
-1-4 drops of eucalyptus essential oil
-A clean towel about dishcloth sized
-Ice
-2 tablespoons of grapeseed or any other neutral oil
-1-4 drops of eucalyptus essential oil
-A clean towel about dishcloth sized
Directions
Mix
your oils together well and pour them into your bowl. Toss in a generous amount
of ice, and top it off with cold water. Let it chill for a good 3-5 minutes,
then soak the towel in the water-make sure to really swirl it around to churn
up the essential oils.
Wring
it out and place it across your forehead, the back of your neck, on your
chest-or really any place that you feel needs it most.
Below
is a tip for finding the best cooling spots (aka pulse points.) If the towel
feels like it’s no longer cooling you down, simply dunk it again and repeat!
What’s up with the
pulse?
The
places where you can feel your pulse most strongly, pulse points, are areas
where your blood vessels are close to the surface of the skin. Because the
blood is so close, it can also be cooled quickly. This cooler blood then gets
pumped back through your body, lowering your overall body temperature.
These
points can be palpitated anywhere there is an artery that can be compressed
near the surface of the body. Get familiar with your pulse, and you’ll know the
quickest ways to cooling off.
Some
common ones to keep in mind are-
Brachial
artery-on the inside of your elbow
Femoral
artery-at the groin
Radial
artery-at the wrist
Carotid
artery-at the neck
Play
around and see what works best for you. What works for one person may not work
for you, and vice versa. Get to know your body, get familiar with what may
trigger your hot flashes (e.g. spicy foods or stress), and add in prevention as
much as possible. And I’ll re-iterate once again that a fan when combined with
the peppermint spray truly is wonderful.
Remedies for Hot
Flashes and Night Sweats #Tip 3 - Chill
Your Feet (and check your pulse)
This
is something that I generally avoid-my hands and feet tend to be chilly enough
as it is. But in the midst of a hot flash, a quick cool down is what matters
most to me.
There
are pulse points on the tops of your feet (this is the dorsalis pedis artery),
and on the sides of your ankles, just below the ankle bone (your posterior
tibial artery).
Because
the blood is so close to the surface of the skin, it cools down quicker. This
cooler blood then gets pumped throughout the body, eventually lowering you
overall core temperature.
When you start to feel the flush coming on, plunging your feet into a bowl of icy cold up the ankles can help you fend off the heat.
You will
need…
-A
bowl or shallow tub for your feet
-Cold water, preferably with ice
-A clean soft towel
-Cold water, preferably with ice
-A clean soft towel
Directions
Fill
your tub with cold water and ice, and soak your feet. You can use the cool
compress (above) simultaneously on any of your other pulse points as well. This
makes for a super effective combo!
Why No Clary Sage as
One of the Remedies for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats?
It’s
the essential oil most often touted as helping to “balance hormones.” It is
said to be estrogenic, that is, it acts like estrogen or possibly induces the
body to make more, thus balancing out your estrogen levels and lessening the
hot flashes.
Clary
sage has a component called sclareol, which is structured in a similar way to
estrogen. The thinking goes that because it has a similar structure, sclareol
has estrogenic action. But action simply means that it has the ability to bind
to an estrogen receptor.
What
it does there is a whole other story. It could possibly even block and decrease
estrogen, which wouldn’t be helpful at all. There just aren’t enough specific
studies that document how it actually acts for me to say it’s truly balancing
your hormones.
However!
That being said, that doesn’t mean clary sage isn’t helpful for dealing with
PMS/cramps/hot flashes. Many people find it extremely helpful and get great
relief from it-so if you want to use it, go for it!
Just
know that whatever mechanism brings about the relief probably isn’t from
“balancing hormones” that you’ll see blaring everywhere. There have been
studies that show it reduces cortisol levels when inhaled, which would lower
stress, which can contribute to things like hot flashes. It’s a lovely oil and
effective for many people, so again, don’t hold back!
By
Claire Goodall (a bee-obsessed natural-convert from Minnesota) who is a
holistic health lover. She is the author of Everyday Roots Book.
It’s
a Book that she creates to help you replace the toxic products and medications
in your home with healthier, all-natural alternatives.
It
contains 215+ effective home remedies and covers everything you will need to
protect your family and save money every month.