Hot Flashes and Night Sweats!

Hot Flashes and Night Sweats!  By Pamela Van Camp, 3/11/13

What are they?

"A hot flash is a sudden, intense feeling of heat in the face and upper body, often accompanied by an increased heart rate, sweating, dizziness, headache, weakness, or anxiety.  Hot flashes are generally associated with the symptoms of menopause and premenopause." ~Connie & Alan Higley, in "Reference Guide for Essential Oils."  They can last only a few seconds or off and on for hours.  Hot flashes may last for 2 - 4 years after menstruation ends.

A night sweat is a hot flash that happens during the night. Although night sweats are often just a menopausal symptom, keep in mind that they could also be due to a more serious illness. 

Who gets them?

 

About 75-80% of women in western cultures, at various stages of menopause, experience hot flashes to some extent.  Incidences of hot flashes are much less common in non-western cultures, such as in Japan, Hong Kong, and Pakistan. (Could this be due to the S.A.D.--Standard American Diet? I'd say yes!)  

What are they caused from?

Hot flashes and night sweats are thought to be caused from the body producing less estrogen and progesterone, due to menopause.  This confuses the hypothalamus in the brain, which sends conflicting signals to the blood vessels to expand and contract, resulting in sudden bursts of  increased and decreased circulation.  Increased circulation causes heat.

Additionally, it is thought, and I agree, that the increased temperature might be the body's natural defense mechanism to kill off cancer cells and viruses, and to release toxins that might be trying to cause dis-ease.  

What are triggers for hot flashes and night sweats?

Triggers for hot flashes and nights sweats can include spicy food, hot drinks, alcoholic beverages, caffeine, white sugar, table salt, stress, hot weather, hot tubs and saunas, tobacco and marijuana and anger, especially when unexpressed.

What can be done to alleviate them?   

Of course it is obvious to stay away from the triggers that cause them.  For me, getting my digestion under control, by avoiding dairy, gluten, and the above food triggers, as well as combining my food correctly, was what it took to almost completely eliminate them.

HRT (Hormonal Replacement Therapy) is known to cause disruption to the endocrine system, cancer risk, weight gain, heavy bleeding, PMS-like pain, severe leg cramps, migraine headaches, uterine and breast fibroids, and low libido.  I'd say HRT is not something I will ever use.  

Natural treatments can support the endocrine system, which is the system of organs that produce and regulate hormones. However, listen to the body while using them.  It might be a good idea to work with someone who is familiar with the natural remedies you choose to use.  That person can help decide how much of what to use.

Some suggestions that may help alleviate hot flashes are:

·       Ginseng:  Normalizes the body's response to hot and cold.

·       Sage:  Grounding herb.  Can be taken as a tea.

·       Vitamin E:  "D-alpha tocopherol" means that it comes from a natural source, but "DL alpha" means it is a synthetic form of the vitamin.

·       Black Cohosh:  Highly effective in relieving hot flashes in women.

·       Don Quai:  Used to treat almost ever female gynecological ailment. Known as a blood purifier.

·       Evening primrose:  Cleanses the liver and kidneys. Is useful for treating inflammation associated with yang (heat related) conditions of the body. Also promotes restful sleep.

(All of the above herbs can be found in a local health food store of your choice.)

Other thoughts and ideas on hot flashes:

·       Regular exercise increases endorphins, which are lowered during a hot flashes.

·       Hot flashes rob the body of vitamin C, the B vitamins, magnesium, and potassium. 

·       Drink enough fresh, pure water--around a quart a day is a recommendation.  (Lemon is cooling to the body, so adding a squeeze of lemon wedge or drop of lemon essential oil to the water might help too.)

·       Essential oils thought to help with hot flashes and night sweats include peppermint, clary sage, bergamot, and fennel.

It is my thought that night sweats are a way for the body to rid itself of harmful toxins that may be increased during the different stages of menopause.  Menopause is a time when the body is changing rapidly and it may have extra waste to get rid of due to all of the hormonal changes. Menopause is also a time when many women experience digestive problems, another reason why sweating might be needed to release waste and other toxins.  

I hope this helps you! 

References used:

http://www.power-surge.com/headlines/hotflash.htm

Great Taste No Pain, by Sherry Brescia

Reference Guide for Essential Oils, by Connie and Alan Higley

Linda Page's Healthy Healing book

The Way of Herbs, by Michael Tierra

Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health

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Anxiety and Panic Attacks: What they are and natural ways to deal with them.

Question: 

I have anxiety attacks a lot. I almost call an ambulance. Are there any foods that I can eat or vitamins I could take? I'm so close to taking pills.

Answer:  

I have done some research and have found options that you might consider to combat anxiety attacks.  First I'll explain what anxiety attacks are, what they are caused from, and finally what to do about it.  There is definitely relief available without the use of drugs.

Anxiety, or panic, attacks are the response of your body due to fear.  This fear can be brought on by anything from being chased by a grizzly bear, anxiety from a speech you have to give, too much to do in too little time, or fear from not knowing how you are going to pay the rent or other bills this month. That feeling of fear sends an emergency message to your adrenal glands, two pea-sized organs that sit above your kidneys, to release adrenaline, the fight or flight hormone.  Once the adrenaline is released, it sets up the body to be prepared to either fight or flee.  Your heart starts pumping extra blood into your major muscles in your arms and legs, and into your brain.  This gives you the extra strength and speed to deal with the impending emergency.  Until the adrenal glands are notified that the danger is gone and that they can stop releasing adrenaline, they will keep it up. 

 

Some say there are no warning signs, but often periods of stress, insomnia, and poor eating habits precede panic attacks.  Other things that could trigger an attack are long term financial insecurity, relationship or job difficulties, food allergies, nutritional deficiencies, or even noise.  You can stop this, and probably even prevent future attacks with nutrition, aromatherapy, regular exercise, deep breathing, a simple four-step relaxation technique, counseling, and even hypnotherapy. 

Nutrition:

Vitamins and minerals that may help include:

·       Calcium, which helps with stress.  Foods rich in calcium include sesame seeds, almonds, dairy, and leafy greens.

·       Magnesium, which protects nerves.  Foods rich in magnesium include sea greens, wheat germ, bran, and most nuts.

·       B vitamins, which support the adrenals and fuel the nerves.  Foods rich in B vitamins include nutritional yeast, whole grains, bran, nuts, and beans.

·       Vitamin C, which helps to control stress response.  Foods rich in vitamin C include peppers, greens, broccoli, and kiwi.

Things that may be adding to the problem include:

·       Loud noises, which can bring on stressful feelings.

·       Stimulants, such as nicotine or caffeine, which can overwork the adrenals.

·       Prescription antidepressants, like Prozac, which have side effects and change body chemistry.

·       Food allergies, which can cause emotional as well as physical upset.

Aromatherapy:

Herbs or essential oils that help relieve stress and help calm the body include lavender, chamomile, ylang ylang, bergamot, frankincense, marjoram, myrrh, rosemary, sandalwood, spruce, thyme, and wintergreen.   As a preventive measure or during an attack, you can diffuse them; breathe them in right from the bottle, add them to your bath water; or apply them to the back of your neck, temples, or bottoms of your feet.  (Check the directions on the bottle to see if they should be diluted before applying to the skin.)  Find these essential oils and more at: https://www.youngliving.org/pamvancamp.

Exercise:

Regular exercise, on a daily basis, reduces symptoms of stress, and may prevent anxiety attacks.

Deep Breathing:

Deep breathing is a natural tranquilizer.  Also, if you think about it, lack of oxygen throughout your body might be enough for your brain to set off an alarm of emergency to your adrenals.  Breathe! 

4 Step Relaxation Technique:

1.     RELAX:  Take slow, deep, complete breaths. Remind yourself that you are only having a panic attack and that you are not really in danger.  This will help to stop releasing adrenalin.

2.     STOP NEGATIVE THINKING:  Inside your head --not out loud, unless you are alone--shout the word, STOP!!! as loud as you can to yourself.  This interrupts the negative loop of devastating thoughts that are most likely cycling through your mind over and over.  Next you will transplant the stressful thoughts with calming thoughts.

3.     TALK NICE TO YOURSELF:  Have statements all planned out and written down, on a card that you keep in your wallet and/or on your night stand, that you will tell yourself.  If you are afraid you are having a heart attack, tell yourself something like, "My heart is fine. It is just my adrenalin that is causing my heart to pump so hard."  If your fear is about financial problems, your self-talk may be, "I know I can figure it out.  I've handled this problem before."  Something I like to tell myself is, "This too shall pass."  Think about it.  Every problem you have ever had is IN THE PAST, and soon this one will be too. 

4.     ACCEPT YOUR FEELINGS:  Recognize that your fear is real and you have a good reason to feel this fear.  Don't tell yourself you are crazy, and that you are stupid to be so afraid of nothing.  Give yourself permission to feel the fear, but remind yourself that you are really not in danger.  Identify the reason for your fear, or other emotions, that you are feeling during the attack.  It could be because you are worried about money, problems in a relationship, fear of dying, or even a recurring fear of suffocating or falling that overtakes your thoughts.  These feelings are very real, and should be validated.  If you are worried for your health, have a check-up to make sure everything is okay.

  

Counseling:

I have a friend whose mother had breast cancer, and my friend started having serious panic attacks, that affected her daily functioning, at about the time she found out about her mother's condition.  Months later, she saw a counselor who helped her to pinpoint her fear.  She was afraid of getting breast cancer herself!  Once she identified it, she was able to deal with the fear and the panic attacks ended, with the help of therapy and nutrition counseling.  Happily, her mother is alive and well today.

Hypnotherapy:

Hypnotherapists claim that this type of therapy can change your thinking process and may help end the panic attacks for good. 

I hope these ideas help you.  Just know that you aren't alone.  If you have any other questions, please let me know.  To your health!  Join us at www.Facebook.com/EssentiallyComplete for more interesting tips for natural health.  (Like the page while you are there!)  

Resources:

http://www.nlppati.com/articles/end-panic-attacks.shtml

Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes

Linda Page's Healthy Healing Guide

Reference Guide for Essential Oils, by Connie and Alan Higley    

Multiple Sclerosis - Natural Treatments

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, autoimmune, inflammatory disease, affecting the brain and spinal cord, in which the body attacks and destroys the myelin sheath, a fatty tissue that wraps around nerves. (The myelin sheath actually resembles viruses such as the herpes virus, which could explain the confusion of the immune system.) This causes scar tissue and lesions (sclerosis) interfering with the brain's ability to communicate with the rest of the body. Symptoms include loss of balance and coordination, numbness, tingling, fatigue, loss of vision, eyeball pain, burning, pain in body parts, and memory problems. Advanced stages have onset of paralysis or partial paralysis, resulting in difficulty breathing, slurred speech, a staggering gait, tremors, dizziness, and bladder or bowel problems.

Drugs that are often prescribed have very harsh side effects, are not effective, and do not address the root causes.  Root causes:

·       Research links low essential fatty acids to the myelin sheath degeneration.  (Coincidentally, myelin is naturally high in essential fatty acids.)  

·       Vitamin D deficiency is also a link.  There are significantly fewer cases in those who live closer to the equator, which also confirms the vitamin D link. 

·       Nutritional deficiencies and digestive disorders (such as leaky gut) are also known factors related to MS.  These are likely due to sensitivities to foods such as gluten, soy, peanuts, and pasteurized dairy.  Food sensitivities cause digestive problems so that the food can't be digested and absorbed correctly into the body.  

Natural treatments are not immediate relief (and are expected to take up to 6 months), but lifestyle changes are very effective in allowing the person to remain in remission indefinitely.  Natural treatments and lifestyle change suggestions include:

·       Address vitamin D deficiency with regular sun exposure (without sunscreen), exposure to safe tanning beds (infra red), or supplement with vitamin D-3. You can have your vitamin D levels tested by your health care provider.

·       Eliminate processed foods, sugar, and bad fats such as soy oil, canola oil, corn oil, peanut oil, and all other trans fats.  Especially stay away from artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, which is known to cause MS, brain damage, and other problems.

·       Avoid mercury.

·       Get enough good fats, which include salmon, flax seed, chia, coconut oil, and olive oil.

·       Eat raw food as much as possible.

·        Address food sensitivities, and avoid culprit foods such as gluten, soy, peanuts, and pasteurized dairy.

Please realize that this article is only meant for informational purposes and is not meant to diagnose or treat an illness.  Licensed healthcare providers are the only ones who can legally diagnose or treat an illness.

Sources:
Linda Page's Healthy Healing handbook
Great Taste No Gluten Manuals, by Sherry Brescia
Reference Guide for Essential Oils, by Connie & Alan Higley
Mercola.com
NaturalNews.com

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