Studies show that treating menopausal women with a pill containing Rhubarb extract reduces the frequency and severity of hot flashes.
Especially in perimenopausal women the extract had a positive effect. This is a period just before menopause really sets in, when women start experiencing irregular menstrual cycles.
Traditionally, hot flashes were treated with hormone replacement therapy, but the relationship between these hormones and heart disease and breast cancer has led to the search of alternatives. Hormone replacements should only be used in the short term, and are not a good long term treatment plan. A less risky substance could be rhubarb.
An interesting thing to note is that rhubarb extract has already been used for years to treat hot flashes in German women. Now it is being researched in North America, and will hopefully be available soon. The extract is called ERr 731 and compared with a placebo it significantly reduces hot flashes in menopausal women. By decreasing the frequency and severity of the hot flashes women reported an improved quality of life and more general satisfaction.
An other alternative to treat hot flashes is linseed oil, or flax seed oil. It is pressed from Linum usitatissimum, or commonly called “flax”. The oil is available in most supermarkets and has to be kept in the fridge. Even so, it has a very shelf life. Make sure to buy small amounts so it does not have to go to waste. The flax seed oil is very high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which are in part responsible for the decrease in hot flashes in women who diligently use it. The high fibre and lignan content in flax seed oil is particularly thought to play a major role in menopause relief. For it to have an effect though, the oil cannot be heated. This means you cannot use it in your cooking, unless if you add it to salads and other cold dishes. Most people mix a spoonful with yogurt, with peanut butter on bread, or add it to carrot juice to mask the taste.