by Jeanie Richards

Created on: October 16, 2007

Embracing the hot flash. What a concept! You're feeling the powerful physiological response by your body to hormonal fluctuations and are mindful of the equally powerful social cue that you, the once immortal, vibrant, young woman, the lithe, young goddess who once had the power to bring forth life from her body, are now in physical decline. You are aging. The fresh young maiden makes the transition to the crone. Menopause is here! Is it simply a matter of surrender to an unstoppable fate? Do we fight that wicked force of aging or do we embrace it and use it to our advantage? How does one actually cope with the physical, emotional and spiritual implications of menopause?

Hot flashes are, of course, a perfectly normal phenomenon experienced by millions of women every day as a result of declining estrogen levels in their bodies. For some, this change begins during the time of perimenopause. ("Peri" comes from the Latin word meaning "around"-hence, the time around menopause.) According to some experts, perimenopause can begin as early as 10 years before actual menopause occurs. Menopause is medically defined as one full year of the cessation of menstruation. Symptoms associated with menopause, including hot flashes, can persist, even if only intermittently, for up to five years or so after the official declaration of menopause. One physician I spoke with about this says it can be even longer. Is it necessary to accept such prolonged suffering? Are there means by which to ease this life cycle transition?

Fortunately, for some women (who are likely the minority) hot flashes never seem to be a problem. It is generally believe by the medical community that genetics contribute to the age of onset of menopause, as well as the degree to which different women experience menopause and whether or not they even have hot flashes. However, the rest of us (the majority) are likely to encounter at least some uncomfortable moments. Rest assured, there are different means available to lessen the impact of the malevolent hot flash.

For those interested in mitigating the hot flash by natural means, herbs can offer a reduction in, although by no means a cure for, hot flashes. Black cohosh is a time-honored and scientifically tested herb that is available in several forms: Remifemin, a lab-controlled and standardized form offered by a pharmaceutical company, is probably the most expensive form of black cohosh available to the consumer, but it also the most widely studied in a clinical

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