Ingredients:

Hot Flash Body Spritz     Witch Hazel     Basil     Peppermint     Lime Hot Flash Body Oil     Body Oil Blend        like Almond        and Apricot     Vitamin E oil     Lemon     Clary Sage     Sage     Geranium

Menopause - Hot Flashes!
As seen on the Sonoran Living program.

For most women, the menopausal years that are the most intense will last for 2-5 years. This is the time that hot flashes and night sweats will most likely come more frequently and intensely. It is important to remember that this is a time in a woman’s life that the ancients say is a time of power. We are changing on a cellular level, a true metamorphosis.

There is information on my web site about Perimenopause, the time leading up to the menopausal climax years. The menopause climax years will last 2-5 years for most women. Then, we go into postmenopause, for the rest of our lives. Supporting our bodies with good choices to help us stay in balance is a key to helping get through this intense time. Most women do not need any kind of hormone replacement (approx. 80% won’t need it). Women around the world go through all the same changes we do here. Why is it that we treat it like a medical problem? It is a phase of life.

Follow the dietary and nutritional guidelines I talked about on the segment about Perimenopause. These guidelines will do the most in helping your body find balance. Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals and good healthy food choices will do wonders for your body to help it find it’s own balance that will result in less extreme symptoms as we go through our change. There are also some herbs that almost seem to be put here on earth to help women during menopause. Do some research about using herbs during this time. There are many books to look to for information. Go to a good health food store, like Whole Foods or Wild Oats and take a look at the books they have on the shelves. Start with one book and it will lead you to another. It is very important to read several resources about the same topic. With each book you will learn something new or understand something better. You will be able to see how all the information relates to you, specifically, in a way that no one else can.

Start with Ann Louise Gittleman’s book, Before The Change. It is the best book that I have found that lays out a good lifestyle plan and explains vitamin and mineral supplements that are important for all of us. It is very easy to read and compiles a lot of information into much fewer words. She is not an herbalist, so she does not go into the world of herbs deeply, but it is a great place to start.

There are many herb books, filled with information about the use of plants that has been passed on from generation to generation. Today, science is trying to explain the working of these herbs. Personally, I feel that mother nature has complexity that goes way beyond our ability to comprehend or see. That is why I always prefer whole plants and foods, as close to nature as possible.

A couple of herb books to get you started are:
Women’s Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, by Tori Hudson, N.D.
Herbal Healing for Women, by Rosemary Gladstar.

Before embarking on an herbal program, please check with your doctor. This is really important if you are on any prescription drugs. There are also many naturopathic doctors in the valley that can be very helpful as well. We are fortunate to have one of the three Naturopathic Medical schools in the nation located in Tempe.

Here are a couple of aromatherapy recipes to help during hot flashes. The spray is very cooling and the oil is helpful particularly before going to bed.

Hot Flash Body Spritz (do not spray in eyes)
For a two oz. bottle with a fine mist spray

1 oz	Filtered water
1 oz	Witch Hazel
10–14 drops	Basil Essential Oil
10–14 drops	Peppermint Essential Oil
10–14 drops	Lime Essential Oil

Label the bottle. Carry it around with you in your purse and spray on your neck, shoulders and carefully your face with tightly closed eyes when you feel a hot flash coming on. Shake well before using.

Hot Flash Body Oil
For 4 oz. bottle.

4 oz. of a good body oil blend such as almond and apricot oil
1 t. or so, of Vitamin E oil
45 drops total of essential oil

lemon, clary sage, sage, geranium (start with 8 drops of each and add additional drops of the oil(s) you like the best)

Label the bottle. Apply after bath or shower, or just before bed. Use all over the body or only on arms, shoulders and midriff, if desired. Shake well before using.