Hot Flashes and Night Sweats Ruining Your Life?

Scholars sometimes refer to menopause as a woman’s rite of passage, a time in her life to be embraced with all its joys and frustrations, a celebration of maturity. While this may be true in part, hot flashes and night sweats leave many women suffering—not celebrating. The average age at which women reach menopause is 51, and since our population is aging, more and more women are now reaching menopause. While there are many symptoms that can affect a woman throughout her menopausal journey, the most prevalent complaints include hot flashes and night sweats, closely followed by fatigue and difficulty sleeping, which can be indirectly related. After all, who can get a good night’s sleep when they’re waking up in drenched sheets? Hot flashes/night sweats are the body’s response to a decrease in the production of estrogen and progesterone hormones. While many women often use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to help treat symptoms, there are also alternative, natural remedies that may help with these frustrating symptoms. Sage (Salvia officinalis) is most commonly known as a culinary herb; however, it’s also rich in essential oils that contribute to its medicinal function. Its estrogenic properties have been shown to relieve the frequency and intensity of hot flashes and night sweats and to help regulate hormone imbalances after just a few weeks of use.