Isoflavones - Menopause - help!

[kelownagirl]

Just wondering if anyone has used any homeopathic remedies for hot flashes. The hot flashes aren't really bothering me all that much but the night sweats are driving me crazy - I'm not getting any sleep. I don't want to take any hormones so I was looking at some of the OTC products such as Promensil which have plant estrogens called Isoflavones and claim to reduce hot flashes and night sweats.

Has anyone tried them with any success? Any weird or annoying side effects?

Thank you!

*sleepless in kelowna*


PS http://www.isoflavones.info/isoflavo...pause-symptoms

[malkin]

I tried and didn't notice any difference. I keep extra sleep shirts by the bed, so I can find a dry one in the night. (Ick)

[arielmoon]

Ugh! Night sweats are the worst! I was using Chinese herbs formulas from my acupuncturist for a while and it seemed to help a lot. I ran out recently and it hasnt been any worse. I did pick up more herbs but I havent taken them yet because I want to see if I still do need them. I did try some of the creams briefly but they did not seem to help for me. I know people that have found them effective though.

Best of luck!

[Grog]

I am still a ways away from menopause (hopefully) but a friend of mine with early-onset issues swore by soy products. (There is a soy-estrogen relationship, which you may want to research...) Increasing your tofu and soy milk consumption might help in a gentle way...

Good luck!

[kermit]

I met a woman that swears by evening primrose oil!

[divingbiker]

I had good luck taking Estroven for a while (OTC) but when I ran out I didn't get any more. Bad move. Then I got some black cohosh and it made no difference at all. So now I've started back on Estroven. It takes a couple of weeks for it to kick in, so I'm hoping to get some relief again soon.

I'm a vegan and eat a boatload of soy products, and it hasn't helped a bit, fwiw.

[tctrek]

+1 on Estroven. I've also used evening primrose. My menopause is over, but for about a year during the worst of it, I gave in and took hormone replacements. I was miserable. I'm now permanently warmer than I ever was in my life, but no more night sweats.

[kelownagirl]

I just read up on it.

"Estroven contains vitamins E, B-12, B-6, other B-vitamins, and folic acid, as well as black cohosh, Soy Isoflavone and herbs."

Interesting. Will see if it's available in Canada.

As for the soy, its the plant estrogens (isoflavones) that are supposed to help.

Someone else told me about black cohosh. Works for some people but not others.

Thanks for the feedback!

[marni]

I found that taking an extra vitamin E tablet along with increasing my soy milk intake helped. It does take a while to kick in- but I started with the extra vitamin E when I was younger to help with PMS.

marni

[kelownagirl]

OK, I've been taking Vitamin E once in awhile. Will make sure I take it regularly.

Someone else told me to avoid chocolate, coffee, and wine....

BWAAAAHAAAHAAAHAAAAA.......

[marni]

I tried giving all that up for a while but decided if I was going to miserable anyway, I would do it in style. I did quit them after 6 PM in the evening and switched to half caf coffee and espresso ( which actually has the least amount of caffeine but the best flavor) if I had to caffinate after 2 or 3 in the afternoon. Strangely enough, dark cherries seemed to help although I don't know why.

marni

[shootingstar]

Thought it was long-term diet of eating soy was what MAY benefit some women later in life not to have strong negative effects of menopause.

Meaning eating abit of soy in diet for several decades in life BEFORE menopause. (And please, this does not apply to soy sauce nor miso. Both are heavy in salt.) It doesn't mean stop eating abit of soy now, but just don't rely on the soy miracle.

I scarcely experience hot flashes..for 5-10 min. for 1-2 times per month. But a sister of mine, experiences some periodic hot flashes. Pretty mild and doesn't disturb her sleep, compared what some of you are experiencing.

[kelownagirl]

Thought it was long-term diet of eating soy was what MAY benefit some women later in life not to have strong negative effects of menopause.

Meaning eating abit of soy in diet for several decades in life BEFORE menopause. (And please, this does not apply to soy sauce nor miso. Both are heavy in salt.) It doesn't mean stop eating abit of soy now, but just don't rely on the soy miracle.

I scarcely experience hot flashes..for 5-10 min. for 1-2 times per month. But a sister of mine, experiences some periodic hot flashes. Pretty mild and doesn't disturb her sleep, compared what some of you are experiencing.

Thanks, that's a different take on it that I hadn't heard before. I agree about eating a bit of soy now and then wouldn't help much but I was hoping that taking one of the homeopathic remedies containing a measured amount of isoflavones on a regular basis might help. I will check further into what you are saying though - if that's true, then there won't be any use in taking the supplement.

[OakLeaf]

I'm wary of any refined soy products. I'm wary of soy generally - even homemade soy milk from organic beans gives me hormone problems - but being at high risk for breast cancer, I limit my consumption of refined soy products to a bit of Perpetuem on my longest runs and on supported rides that I know don't provide adequate protein at their snack stops, and that won't be passing through towns where I could buy a sandwich.

I really never had hot flashes until after my biopsy when I drastically cut my soy consumption. So it might have been preventing them, OTOH it could just have been coincidence.

#1 correlation for my hot flashes is alcohol. Not that I drink much any more (see above). But when I do, I know about it from the hot flash department.

[kelownagirl]

I was thinking the wine but I haven't been drinking any most nights for the past month coming up to my race and I'm still getting them. I'm not hormonal in the slightest so no worries there.

I'm wary of any refined soy products. I'm wary of soy generally - even homemade soy milk from organic beans gives me hormone problems - but being at high risk for breast cancer, I limit my consumption of refined soy products to a bit of Perpetuem on my longest runs and on supported rides that I know don't provide adequate protein at their snack stops, and that won't be passing through towns where I could buy a sandwich.

I really never had hot flashes until after my biopsy when I drastically cut my soy consumption. So it might have been preventing them, OTOH it could just have been coincidence.

#1 correlation for my hot flashes is alcohol. Not that I drink much any more (see above). But when I do, I know about it from the hot flash department.