If you’re suffering from night sweats and frequently wake to find yourself and your bedding drenched in sweat, you may not necessarily need to rush to your local GP for prescribed medication. There are, in fact, several natural remedies you can try which are simple and often inexpensive.
1. Keep cool
Water – the most natural remedy on Earth – could help you combat your night sweats. By drinking a glass of ice cold water before bed, you will help yourself stay cool even during the warmest nights. Placing a fan in your room at night, opening a window, or having a tepid bath before bed will also help you stay cool at night. Wearing thinner and cooler pyjamas will also help you stay cool.
2. Lifestyle changes
Simple lifestyle changes may help you avoid night sweats. Avoiding hot drinks, spicy food and alcohol before bed will help to reduce your body temperature. Studies have shown that daily exercise helps to reduce symptoms of menopause, such as night sweats. Sleeping in natural, breathable fibres, such as cotton, at night can also help to regulate your body temperature. Read ‘Bedding to keep you cool at night’ for further advice.
3. Acupuncture
Studies have shown that regular acupuncture treatments help to reduce night sweats in menopausal women by 28%.
4. Oils and herbs
Herbal supplements have also been known to reduce overheating during sleep. Studies have shown that Black Cohosh, a member of the buttercup family, could help to alleviate symptoms of menopause and night sweats. Berries from the chaste tree have been used for thousands of years. Studies today show that they can help reduce symptoms of menopause, such as night sweats.
5. Vitamins
Not only do vitamins form an important part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle, but they are also known for helping to reduce night sweats.
Women who supplement their diet with multivitamins, in particular vitamin C, have often seen a reduction in menopause symptoms, such as night sweats.
If natural remedies do not alleviate your symptoms, or if you are unsure, then consult your GP.