• Try to get enough sleep. Go to bed and wake up at the same times every day. Keep your room cool and dark. Use your bed only for sleeping and sex. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, large meals, or physical activity before bed.
• Engage in physical activity for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.
• Set limits for yourself, and look for positive ways to unwind and ease daily stress. Try relaxation techniques, reading a book, or spending some quiet time outdoors.
• Talk to your friends or go to a support group for women who are going through the same thing as you. You also can get counseling to talk through your problems and fears.
• Ask your doctor about therapy or medicines. Menopausal hormone therapy can reduce symptoms that might be causing your moodiness. Antidepressants might also help.

Source: Office on Women’s Health in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Soy contains phytoestrogens which is estrogen-like substances from a plant. But, there is no proof that soy really does make hot flashes better. Researches still do not know the risk of taking soy pills and powders. If you really want to give it a try, take soy in your foods such as tofu, soymilk, and soy nuts. It can’t hurt you. Plus you’d be less likely to overdose in foods than taking soy pills.

Whether the supplemental herbs such as wild yam, dong quai, and valerian root Again help or not is unknown. There is no proof that these herbs help with hot flashes.

Although plant based products seem to be safe, there’s no proof whether they are actually safe nor helpful at easing symptoms of menopause. The best way is to talk to your doctor before taking anything.

Department of Health and Human Services.

• Soy. Soy contains phytoestrogens (estrogen-like substances from a plant). But, there is no proof that soy  —  or other sources of phytoestrogens  —  really do make hot flashes better. And the risks of taking soy  —  mainly soy pills and powders  —  are not known. The best sources of soy are foods such as tofu, tempeh, soymilk, and soy nuts.
• Other sources of phytoestrogens. These include herbs such as black cohosh, wild yam, dong quai, and valerian root. Again, there is no proof that these herbs (or pills or creams containing these herbs) help with hot flashes.

Products that come from plants may sound like they are safe, but there is no proof that they really are. There also is no proof that they are helpful at easing symptoms of menopause. Make sure to discuss these types of products with your doctor before taking them. You also should tell your doctor about other medicines you are taking, since some plant products can be harmful when combined with other drugs.

Source: Office on Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.