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Hot flashes or flushes are one of the classic phenomena of menopause. They are actually a simple expression of an alteration of balance at the circulatory level. What people feel are the so-called vasomotorial phenomena which can give rise to symptoms such as sweating, tachycardia, the sensation of heat, and variations in blood pressure.
Luckily there are a myriad of natural products that can accompany this transitory phase of discomfort, and often even cure and resolve it completely. Among these, we recommend soy phyto-estrogens (Neodonna isoflavoni), Cimicifuga, several minerals such as Manganese, Cobalt and lithium, Oenthera oil, vitamins such as those of the B group and many others.
In August of 2006 the Italian ministry of Health ordered the recall of all medicines or supplements that contained even a small quantity of cimicifuga. This ruling came about because of a much disputed report by the EMEA (European Medicines Evaluation Agency), an organization that in the year 2000 received 70% of its financing from pharmaceutical companies and only 30% from the European Community. This decree was later revoked in February of 2007. Therefore this maneuver turned out to be nothing more than an obstacle to free choice of therapy.
Eurosalus expressed its anger and disappointment over this act that was geared towards safeguarding specific interests and not public ones. Proof of this can be found in the fact that, in all of Europe, only Italy and Finland (where the supplement was re-classified as a "medicine") recalled the product. The Superior Institute of Health's ruling that the plant was not toxic for the liver was pronounced in February of 2007, thereby absolving Cimicifuga of any charges.
Why do hot flashes occur?
Every woman knows that taking hormones (like the birth control pill) causes interferences in circulation manifested by swollen feet, pronounced or broken capillaries, abnormal sweating, etc.
When hormonal regulation is modified, the body experiences strong variations. During menopause, but also during phases of "hormonal turbulence", the variations can be quite similar and one perceives this loss of control on the part of the system. What is occurring is the passage from a condition with a certain level of hormones to a new balance in which the quantity of hormones is different.
It's important to know that in either condition one can reach an equilibrium and therefore the phase of hot flashes is only transitory.
Homeopathy
When you treat the various phenomena that accompany menopause, if you can identify the base remedy that most closely corresponds to the person as a whole (this usually requires the help of an expert doctor), that remedy is able to act upon all of the body's functions at the same time, rendering the use of additional medicines unnecessary.
This is especially true for remedies such as Lachesis, Sepia and Graphites which act effectively on hot flashes but also on other conditions such as osteoporosis and palpitations. Where this isn't possible, one can alternatively act in a "mixed" fashion on the various conditions of discomfort by choosing one or two remedies based on the description that best corresponds to the symptoms. This generally makes it possible to avoid or reduce to a minimum the use of hormonal or chemical preparations.
Lachesis 5 or 7 CH: 5 granules on an empty stomach for a period of one month or longer. This remedy is intended for use when the hot flash (associated with palpitations) is violent in the face, but the feet remain cold; when there is an intense desire for cool air and one has a sense of constriction around the neck, so much so as to not tolerate necklaces, collars or turtlenecks. Usually Lachesis is a good base remedy for those women who become irritable and distrustful towards others, who alternate periods of dejection and silence with phases of extreme loquacity and great activity. They often feel cold, but cannot stand direct sun and often their sleep is disturbed by nightmares or anguished dreams, in addition to the hot flashes. If their menstruations reappear, even occasionally, their disturbances seem to vanish.
Graphites 5 or 7 CH: the dosage is the same as for Lachesis. In this case the hot flashes are also associated with palpitations, but are diffused over the entire body and are accompanied by sweating and mostly occur during the night. Graphites is a base remedy for women who are generally overweight, with a heavy sense of existential sadness; they are uncertain and melancholy since the onset of menopause and closely resemble the Lachesis woman during the dejection phase. She differs in the fact that she often has skin problems ( dermatosis, scaling, eczema) and because a possible return of menstruation worsens her condition.
Sepia 5 or 7 CH: the dosage is the same as for Lachesis. The hot flashes, which are often accompanied by nausea, frequently occur in certain moments of the day, for example it may coincide with digestion, physical effort or morning awakening. During menopause, the Sepia woman doesn't have new problems, but the already existing ones are accentuated: a sort of indifference to affection, mental fatigue that makes her feel more tired than she was the day before, a tendency to cry easily when she is alone, the refusal of help from others. On a physical level, she may have congestion in the veins of her legs and pelvis, along with heaviness in the lower abdomen that easily gives rise to hemorrhoids and evacuation difficulties.
Carbo animalis 5 CH: 3 granules twice a day. Generalized hot flashes with a burning sensation and diffused sweating over the entire body.
Sanguinaria 5 CH: the same dosage as for Carbo, or alternatively 5 granules on an empty stomach. The hot flashes on the face make the cheeks become very red and often cause a burning sensation in the hands and feet.
Melilotus 5 CH: The same dosage as for Sanguinaria. Violent hot flashes in the face and head together with a pulsing sensation in the neck.
Trace elements
In order to aid the body during its transition to a new state, it's essential to take those trace elements that have a regulatory action on the neurovegetative system. In this way some of the most common symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings or weight gain due to fluid retention can be limited.
For a period of a few months, you can take one 5 ml. measure of a mixture of oxyprolinates like the one contained in Oximix 5+ (with a regulatory action on hormones provided by Zinc and Copper). This preparation may be taken along with an evening measure of Oximix 4+ (with an intense calming and relaxing action, as described below in the Instructions for use).
A hair examination provides a general picture of the situation as a whole in order to establish which supplements are necessary; in light of this, a test of this sort in reference to the prevention of osteoporosis could be useful for women in this stage of life
Even though Calcium, Phosphorous and Magnesium are well-represented in our diet, it may be sufficient to use the Oximix remedies that we just discussed or a mixture of Manganese-Cobalt and Zinc-Copper to be taken on alternate days for a 2-3 month period or longer.
Doctor Attilio Speciani
Clinical Allergist and Immunologist
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