Posts Tagged ‘licorice root’

What to Take For Hot Flashes

Natural Alternatives for Relief

If you have ever experienced a hot flash no one need to tell you just how frustrating, embarrassing, unpredictable and worrisome they can be.

If you are a menopausal woman and experiencing hot flashes you may be seeking a natural alternative to Hormone Replacement Therapy or HRT. So, the question remains what to take for hot flashes.

A study sponsored  by the National Institutes of Health, suspects HRT treatment as posing serious health risks such as an increase in breast cancer, strokes, blood clots, Alzheimer’s disease and total cardiovascular disease; as a result, many women are seeking alternatives to HRT.

One of the common symptoms of menopause and perimenopause is hot flashes.  With hot flashes comes a sensation of intense heat with sweating and usually heat palpitation.  One hot flash may last for a brief period or up to 30 minutes.

Extreme hot flashes, during bed time, may make it difficult to sleep throughout the night which may lead to insomnia. Note, estrogen is typically lowest at night. By now you may be asking,   “so what are some natural alternatives to HRT.”

Before I answer the question of what to take, let’s begin with a list of what you  may want to avoid.

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Licorice Root

Licorice has been used for many years to treat and stop hot flashes naturally and common discomforting symptoms of menopause.It has been viewed as one of the many hot flash herbs.

It is thought to reduce estrogen levels while raising progesterone levels and, similarly to Black Cohosh,has estrogenic qualities.

WHAT IS LICORICE ROOT?

Licorice is a perennial herb, mostly grown in Greece, Turkey, and Asia. It has a long history of medicinal use in both Eastern and Western medicine. We all know licorice as a candy, but it has a lot of other beneficial uses. Among other things, it is a strong antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory effects.

The dried roots are made into supplements such as capsules, tablets, and liquid extracts.

On  Relief for  Menopause Symptoms

Licorice root contains phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are estrogen hormone-like chemicals found in plants.

How Does Licorice Root Work?

Licorice contains a lot of different active compounds. The most important for menopausal signs and symptoms are the phytoestrogens

The herb’s key medicinal compound is glycyrrhizin. It appears to block the activity of a specific enzyme which subsequently increases the activity of cortisol. This causes mild adrenal stimulation.

Are There Any Side Effect? Before taking any hot flash herbs you may want to do your research.

According to the literature and the information by the National Institute of Health licorice contains an active compound called glycyrrhizin, which can cause high blood pressure, salt and water retention, and low potassium levels, which could lead to heart problems.

There are preparations without glycyrrhizin (DGL or De-glycyrrhizinated licorice) which may have fewer side effects.

If you are prone to high blood pressure, be careful when you take this herb. As always be safe and check with your health care provider before you start taking any supplements.