Menopause: Could Chinese herbal remedies reduce hot flashes?

ISLAMABAD -- During menopause, many people experience hot flashes. A recent review and meta-analysis investigate whether Chinese herbal remedies mightreduce the discomfort. Although the authors feel encouraged by the findings, much more data is necessary. Could Chinese herbal remedies relieve hot flashes? Hot flashes affect up to 90% of women during menopause. They have an association with poor sleep, depressed mood, and reduced quality of life. Eventually, hot flashes will stop without medical intervention, but for some people, they can last more than a decade. Scientists know that peripheral vasodilation plays a role in hot flashes, but they do not know precisely why they occur. One theory is that the reduction in oestrogen that occurs during menopause might be a factor.

Changes in the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine might also play a part. Currently, doctors treat hot flashes with either hormone replacement therapy or low dosages of paroxetine, which is an antidepressant medication. Although these treatments work well for many...