Night sweats - the nocturnal version of hot flashes - are one of the most common symptoms of the menopause transition. They can bring women extreme discomfort, causing them to wake up in the middle of the night, overheated, covered in sweat, and desperately searching for relief. Luckily, there are a number of remedies for night sweats.
Continue reading to learn about some of the best natural remedies for night sweats, and don't let this menopause symptom ruin another restful night's sleep for you again.
Foods That Can Combat Night Sweats
Some foods have been shown to greatly reduce the frequency and severity of night sweat episodes due to their phytoestrogenic content. These estrogen-like compounds can compensate for lost estrogen in the body to improve overall hormonal imbalance. Some of the most potent phytoestrogenic foods include, but are not limited to:
- Soy and soy products (tofu, tempeh)
- Beans (kidney beans, chickpeas, peas, lentils)
- Fruits (strawberries, cranberries, blueberries, raspberries)
- Flaxseeds
On the other hand, there are a number of foods that can trigger night sweats. Since triggers are different for each woman, make sure you keep a log of what you eat, drink, and do before bed each night to see if there is a common factor leading to your night sweats. Common triggers include:
- Caffeine
- Sugar
- Spicy foods
- Alcohol
Alternative Medicine for Night Sweats
Alternative medicines are another possible treatment for nocturnal hot flashes. The two best types of herbal supplements for night sweats are phytoestrogenic or hormone-regulating supplements.
Phytoestrogenic supplements
These supplements also contain plant-based estrogen, which mimics estrogen produced by the body. They are more potent than foods with phytoestrogens. These supplements (like black cohosh and ginseng) can be taken as pills, tinctures, teas, among other methods.
Phytoestrogenic supplements are not only implemented as an herbal remedy for night sweats, but also for a variety of other menopause symptoms, including hot flashes, mood swings, low libido, etc. However, their long-term use is contradictory as introducing exogenous estrogens into the body could lead to lower endogenous production over time.
Hormone-regulating supplements
These supplements - such as Macafem - don't contain estrogen, but stimulate the body to produce more of its own estrogen. They do this by nourishing the endocrine and pituitary glands, thus encouraging endogenous hormone production of estrogen, progesterone, and other key reproductive hormones.
They can be considered safer than phytoestrogenic supplements since they do not introduce outside hormones into the body.
More about Natural Remedies for Night Sweats
These remedies for menopause nocturnal sweats are not conclusive. By implementing other treatments for night sweats, including necessary lifestyle adjustments, women can often successfully relieve their nighttime woes without having to pursue riskier pharmaceutical options.
A good night's sleep starts and ends with your initiative. Take action today for the sake of your further beauty rest tomorrow.
Sources
- Bacciottini, L. et al. (2007). Phytoestrogens: food or drug? Clinical Cases in Mineral and Bone Metabolism, 4(2), 123/130. Retrieved November 30, 2018, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2781234/