Hot Flashes: Causes, Medicinal Herbs and Herbal Preparations

Hot flashes are a sudden, intense feeling of warmth or heat that spreads throughout the body, often accompanied by sweating, flushing, and rapid heartbeat, typically experienced by women during menopause.

They can be caused by hormonal changes, stress, and certain medical conditions. If left unchecked, hot flashes can lead to sleep disturbances, anxiety, and even cardiovascular disease. Fortunately, herbal remedies such as black cohosh, evening primrose oil, and Dong quai can help alleviate hot flashes.

However, it's essential to consult a healthcare professional before using medicinal herbs, as they may interact with medications or have adverse effects in certain individuals, particularly those with allergies or sensitive stomachs.

This article explains in detail what are the causes of hot flashes, what medicinal herbs to use to relieve this problem and how to prepare these herbs to get the best results.

What are the main causes of hot flashes?

The main causes of hot flashes are hormonal changes, particularly a decrease in estrogen levels, which can occur during menopause, pregnancy, or childbirth.

Neurotransmitter fluctuations, particularly serotonin and norepinephrine, play a significant role in hot flash onset, with research suggesting a 20-30% decrease in serotonin levels during hot flashes. Other contributing factors include genetics, with studies indicating a 50-60% heritability of hot flashes, and lifestyle choices, such as smoking, which can increase hot flash frequency by 30-40%. Additionally, certain medical conditions, such as thyroid disorders and sleep apnea, can also trigger hot flashes.

Furthermore, certain medications, including birth control and antidepressants, can also contribute to the development of hot flashes.

• Hormonal Shift: Hormonal shift during menopause is the most common cause of hot flashes due to the sudden drop in estrogen levels, which affect the hypothalamus, the body's thermostat, causing it to malfunction and trigger hot flashes.
• Stress: Stress is a common cause of hot flashes due to its ability to stimulate the hypothalamus, causing it to release stress hormones, such as adrenaline and noradrenaline, which can cause blood vessels to dilate and lead to hot flashes.
• Anxiety: Anxiety is a cause of hot flashes due to its ability to stimulate the hypothalamus, causing it to release stress hormones, which can cause blood vessels to dilate and lead to hot flashes.
• Sleep Deprivation: Sleep deprivation is a cause of hot flashes due to its ability to disrupt the body's natural temperature regulation, causing the hypothalamus to malfunction and trigger hot flashes.
• Caffeine Intake: Caffeine intake is a cause of hot flashes due to its ability to stimulate the hypothalamus, causing it to release stress hormones, which can cause blood vessels to dilate and lead to hot flashes.
• Spicy Food: Spicy food is a cause of hot flashes due to its ability to stimulate the hypothalamus, causing it to release stress hormones, which can cause blood vessels to dilate and lead to hot flashes.
• Nicotine: Nicotine is a cause of hot flashes due to its ability to stimulate the hypothalamus, causing it to release stress hormones, which can cause blood vessels to dilate and lead to hot flashes.
• Menstrual Cycle: The menstrual cycle is a cause of hot flashes due to the fluctuation in estrogen and progesterone levels, which can cause the hypothalamus to malfunction and trigger hot flashes.
• Thyroid Disorder: Thyroid disorder is a cause of hot flashes due to its ability to affect the hypothalamus, causing it to malfunction and trigger hot flashes.
• Diabetes: Diabetes is a cause of hot flashes due to its ability to damage the nerves that regulate body temperature, causing the hypothalamus to malfunction and trigger hot flashes.
• Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism is a cause of hot flashes due to its ability to affect the hypothalamus, causing it to malfunction and trigger hot flashes.
• Pregnancy: Pregnancy is a cause of hot flashes due to the sudden increase in estrogen levels, which can cause the hypothalamus to malfunction and trigger hot flashes.
• Fibromyalgia: Fibromyalgia is a cause of hot flashes due to its ability to affect the hypothalamus, causing it to malfunction and trigger hot flashes.
• Autonomic Dysfunction: Autonomic dysfunction is a cause of hot flashes due to its ability to affect the nerves that regulate body temperature, causing the hypothalamus to malfunction and trigger hot flashes.

What are the primary medicinal plants used for hot flashes?

The main medicinal herbs used for hot flashes are Cimicifuga racemosa, Angelica sinensis, Ginkgo biloba, Paeonia lactiflora, Vitex agnus-castus, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Hypericum perforatum, Zingiber officinale, Trifolium pratense, Valeriana officinalis.

Cimicifuga racemosa contains isoflavones and phenolic acids that help regulate hormones and alleviate hot flashes in menopausal women by reducing the frequency and severity of symptoms. Angelica sinensis, also known as dong quai, has estrogen-like properties that help balance hormonal levels and reduce hot flashes. Paeonia lactiflora, or peony root, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help regulate hot flashes by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.

The combination of these herbs, along with others such as Ginkgo biloba, Vitex agnus-castus, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Hypericum perforatum, Zingiber officinale, Trifolium pratense, and Valeriana officinalis, may help alleviate hot flashes by reducing hormonal fluctuations, inflammation, and oxidative stress.

• Cimicifuga racemosa: Cimicifuga racemosa, also known as Black Cohosh, helps to alleviate hot flashes by reducing the frequency and severity of vasomotor symptoms due to its estrogenic activity and ability to bind to estrogen receptors.
• Angelica sinensis: Angelica sinensis, also known as Dong Quai, helps to reduce hot flashes by modulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and improving sleep quality due to its neuroprotective and adaptogenic properties.
• Ginkgo biloba: Ginkgo biloba, also known as Maidenhair Tree, helps to alleviate hot flashes by improving blood flow and reducing inflammation in the body due to its antioxidant and vasodilatory effects.
• Paeonia lactiflora: Paeonia lactiflora, also known as Peony, helps to reduce hot flashes by modulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and reducing stress due to its adaptogenic and sedative properties.
• Vitex agnus-castus: Vitex agnus-castus, also known as Chasteberry, helps to alleviate hot flashes by modulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and reducing prolactin levels due to its estrogenic and dopamine-regulating activities.
• Glycyrrhiza glabra: Glycyrrhiza glabra, also known as Licorice Root, helps to reduce hot flashes by reducing inflammation and improving sleep quality due to its anti-inflammatory and adaptogenic properties.
• Hypericum perforatum: Hypericum perforatum, also known as St. John's Wort, helps to alleviate hot flashes by modulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and improving mood due to its adaptogenic and antidepressant properties.
• Zingiber officinale: Zingiber officinale, also known as Ginger, helps to reduce hot flashes by reducing inflammation and improving digestion due to its anti-inflammatory and carminative properties.
• Trifolium pratense: Trifolium pratense, also known as Red Clover, helps to alleviate hot flashes by modulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and improving estrogen levels due to its estrogenic activity and isoflavone content.
• Valeriana officinalis: Valeriana officinalis, also known as Valerian, helps to reduce hot flashes by improving sleep quality and reducing stress due to its sedative and adaptogenic properties.

What are the main herbal preparations used for hot flashes?

The main herbal preparations used for hot flashes are Tincture, Decoction, Capsule, Cream, Gel, Suppository, Pill, Powder, Tea, Ointment.

Tincture of Black cohosh and Dong quai is used as it has antistrogenic and anti-inflammatory properties to alleviate hot flashes. Decoction of Red clover contains isoflavones which mimic estrogen and help in regulating hot flashes. Capsules of Maca root and Chasteberry contain phytoestrogens that reduce hot flashes by balancing estrogen levels.

These herbal preparations are also available as Cream, Gel, Suppository, Pill, Powder, Tea, and Ointment, with Cream and Gel providing localized relief and Suppository and Pill providing systemic effects.

• Tincture: A standardized tincture of Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) contains isoflavones, specifically biochanin A and formononetin, which have been shown to reduce hot flashes in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.
• Decoction: A decoction of Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa) root has been traditionally used to alleviate hot flashes in menopausal women due to its estrogenic and anti-inflammatory properties, particularly the triterpene glycosides.
• Capsule: Capsules containing a standardized extract of Chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus) fruit have been found to reduce hot flashes in menopausal women by regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and modulating the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone.
• Cream: Topical creams containing a combination of Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis) and Pueraria Mirifica extracts have been used to alleviate hot flashes in menopausal women due to their estrogenic and anti-inflammatory properties, which help to reduce skin temperature and sweating.
• Gel: Gels containing a standardized extract of Sage (Salvia officinalis) have been found to reduce hot flashes in menopausal women by reducing the frequency and severity of episodes, likely due to the herb's antioxidant and vasodilatory properties.
• Suppository: Vaginal suppositories containing a standardized extract of Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa) have been used to alleviate hot flashes in menopausal women due to their estrogenic and anti-inflammatory properties, which help to regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.
• Pill: Pills containing a standardized extract of Maca (Lepidium meyenii) have been found to reduce hot flashes in menopausal women by regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and modulating the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone.
• Powder: Powders containing a combination of Ginkgo Biloba (Ginkgo biloba) and Peony (Paeonia lactiflora) extracts have been used to alleviate hot flashes in menopausal women due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which help to reduce skin temperature and sweating.
• Tea: Teas made from the leaves of Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) have been traditionally used to alleviate hot flashes in menopausal women due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, particularly the flavonoids and tannins.
• Ointment: Topical ointments containing a standardized extract of Pueraria Mirifica have been used to alleviate hot flashes in menopausal women due to their estrogenic and anti-inflammatory properties, which help to reduce skin temperature and sweating.