Until There's a Cure, Chill Out

If acupuncture is safe but ineffective, while estrogen poses health risks, where does that leave women anxious to relieve hot flashes?

Without a lot of good alternatives, says Adriane Fugh-Berman, associate professor in the complementary medicine program at Georgetown University.

One of the most popular alternative hot flash treatments, she said, is black cohosh, the active ingredient in Remifemin, an over-the-counter herbal medicine. The Web site of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) says studies of black cohosh have yielded mixed results, and Fugh-Berman said her patients "didn't have much luck" with the substance.

Vitamin E, relaxation techniques and phytoestrogens (compounds found in plants that mimic estrogen's effects) are also being studied as hot flash treatments, Fugh-Berman said. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic are studying flaxseed, said Mayo internist Ann Vincent.

The NCCAM Web site states that there is "very little high-quality scientific evidence about the effectiveness and long-term safety" of current alternative therapies for menopausal symptoms.

For now, Fugh-Berman suggests, women might want to try simple environmental measures that pose little risk of side effects or other harm: consuming cold drinks, using portable fans or turning up the air conditioning.

Sometimes, she said, a small change in temperature can help readjust the body's core temperature and help a person feel cooler.

--Sandra G. Boodman