Hot flashes (vasomotor symptoms) are a common experience during menopause. Hot flashes cause a flushed sensation in the face or body. They may occur before, during, or after menopause. Often symptoms will resolve within one year of the end of menopause, but occasionally symptoms continue.

Talk to your doctor about any medications and supplements that you are taking.

Are there any supplements that can be used safely to help hot flashes?

Below is a list of supplements that may help hot flashes.

• Those that are most effective and most likely safe include soy foods or soy extract, black cohosh, and flaxseed.
• Soy foods or soy extract. Some research found that women had fewer hot flashes when surveyed 12, 16 and 24 weeks after starting soy, although other research has not shown this benefit. Soy may improve the severity of the symptoms as well.  Usual dose: for soy protein (food) is 20-60 grams and soy extract is 35-120 mg/day. Four ounces of firm tofu contains 13 grams of soy protein; one cup of soy beans contains 30 grams; one soy "burger" includes 10 - 12 grams; and an 8-ounce glass of plain soy milk contains 10 grams. Most common side effects: nausea, bloating, diarrhea or constipation. Do not use soy if you are allergic to it. Discuss soy use with your physician if you have a history of breast, ovarian, or uterine cancer or hormone-sensitive conditions such as endometriosis.

• Black cohosh.  Some research has shown that black cohosh reduced hot flashes. Usual dose: 20-40 mg twice a day. A common supplement brand is Remifemin.  Each tablet contains 20 mg of black cohosh. Black cohosh may be more effective when used along with St. John’s Wort (SJW). Be careful about using SJW with other drugs, since this herb can speed up metabolism and therefore cause other drugs to be less effective. Most common side effects: headache, dizziness, nausea. Do not use it if you have an allergy to black cohosh or other members of the Ranunculaceae (buttercup or crowfoot) family.  Discuss its use with your physician if you have a history of blood clots, seizures, liver disease or high blood pressure.