Hot flashes,
night sweats
and apple cider vinegar

"I am CURED
of the hot flashes caused by MENOPAUSE
thanks to Apple Cider Vinegar.
I sleep well. My night sweats are gone!"

Hot flashes
caused by menopause

Approximately 80% of North Americain women experience menopausal hot flashes and night sweats to different degree.

Their symptoms typically include sudden feelings of intense heat, particularly in the upper body area (chest, neck and face), a rise of skin temperature (the skin can redden), and sweating that can be profuse and can end with chills. Depending on the person, their frequency will vary from a few times a week to several times a day, and they will last from a few minutes to as much as half an hour.

When hot flashes occur at night, they are referred to as night sweats. The moisture (sometimes called hot flushes) generated by night sweats may happen once or several times through the night. Soaked in their own perspiration, these women wake up in the middle of the night and often have to change their nightwear, pillowcase, sometimes even the whole bedding (!) before going back to sleep.

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A- Traditional therapy, supplements, tips
   

1. Medical therapy

• Hormone replacement therapy: estrogen (sometimes mixed with progesterone) is the most efficient medical treatment. However, many health risks are linked to the use of this hormone treatment and it seems to outweigh its benefits.

• Some antidepressant drugs, such as Venlafaxine (Effexor), Paroxetine (Paxil) and Fluoxetine (Prozac), though less efficient than estrogen, can reduce the frequency of hot flashes.

• Other drugs, such as Gabapentine (Neurontin), a neurologic medication, and Clonidine (Catapres and others), a high blood pressure medication, have been moderately efficient.

Reference : Mayo Clinic Staff, June 11 2011. (Web Link)

2. Supplements

Among the supplements used to help hot flashes, we find:

• Vitamin E; a study on The Effect of Vitamin E on Hot Flashes on Menopausal Women was published 2007 by the «Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation; vol 64, no 4». An excerp can be read on line. (Web Link)


• Estrogen plants such as soy and the red clover.


• Black cohosh.


• Kava.

  
  

3. Tips, Dietary and lifestyle changes

Practicing or modifying some life habits can also affect the frequency or intensity of hot flashes and have a positive impact on the quality of life of women while they go through this difficult period of their life.

• Exercise; doing 30 minutes a day of brisk walk, bicycle, or another activity can help regulate the metabolism. However, avoid doing exercise 3 hours before going to bed.


• Relax; practice some yoga, meditation, relaxation techniques or deep breathing.


• Do not smoke; cigarette smoking has been linked to an increase in hot flashes.


• Watch your diet; eat a balanced diet and avoid having too much spicy foods, alcohol, and coffee (and other beverages containing caffeine) because they are susceptible to trigger hot flashes.



• Try to stay cool; the use of air conditioner of fans can make a big difference for personal comfort (even a small fan turning at

  slow speed and projecting air directly at the face). Also, wearing “clothing by layers” that can be gradually lightened off, as need be, during the day can make a huge difference for one’s comfort. Also, drinking liquids, mainly fresh, cool water, will help.
  
  

B- Natural home remedies
using apple cider vinegar

On page 59 of her book “Apple Cider Vinegar for Weight Loss and Good Health”, Cynthia Holzapfel recommends the following two natural home remedies for treating night sweats in waning colds and flu, and also mentions that they might be good in helping menopausal women.

• sponge bath before going to bed

• drinking a glass of cider vinegar tonic in the morning to help regulate toxins that the body is trying to eliminate through perspiration

Effectiveness of
apple cider vinegar as a home remedy for hot flashes
based on testimonials

The use of apple cider vinegar as a home remedy to treat menopausal symptoms is still a well kept secret. However, based on the testimonials published on the Internet, the majority of women who have used it have been helped.

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Based on the anecdotal testimonials of those who used apple cider vinegar as a home remedy for hot flashes and night sweats, one might expect that, taken on a regular basis and depending on the person, the apple cider vinegar tonic could potentially reduce and even eliminate those symptoms.

Furthermore, apple cider vinegar has the big advantage of being a natural product. Hence women suffering from hot flashes now have an effective, first resort alternative treatment to get rid of their symptoms, without having to worry about the possible side effects of drugs.

N.B. You should always rince your mouth if you take the apple cider vinegar tonic between meals or before going to bed, in order to avoid prolonged vinegar contact with the enamel on your teeth.