05/12/2021
Try this technique to reduce hot flashes!
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Treating hot flashes can have two aspects:
Long term treatment
and short-term management.
Long term includes nutritional changes,
minimizing sugars and processed foods,
adding supplements, herbs, acupuncture if needed...
while short term management would include
managing the onset of a hot flash as it occurs.
Obviously, as a man I wouldn't dare to claim
that I know what a hot flash feels like,
but as an acupuncturist, I can understand the mechanism
and offer ways to deal with it,
as it is quite similar
to a "wave" of anxiety.
Many women I see in the clinic
tell me that a hot flash can appear out of the blue -
in the middle of the night,
having a conversation with a friend
in the midst of driving or holding a meeting...
in other words - not fun at all!
However, what makes it worse
is often the panicky sense of losing control -
and just as with a panic attack -
that feeling of loss of control
can magnify the whole incident.
So, the following breathing exercise
is a short drill that will not only help you
gain back a sense of control,
which in itself is very calming,
but will also mainly work
on the part of your brain
that has to do with your heart rhythm.
So, without going into too much physiology here,
studies show that a long deep inhale
causes your heart to beat faster,
while a long exhale sends a signal
to your heart to slow down.
Meaning that two quick short inhales
followed by a long exhale -
will slow down your heart rate
which will help calm you down,
and reduce the intensity
of the hot flash you may be experiencing.
Once again:
Two quick short inhales,
followed by a long exhale
That's it.
You do this a few times
until you feel more relaxed.
Sometimes you might feel the onset
of a hot flash before it is "full blown" -
that's a great time to implement the technique
and dissolve the wave before it
actually gains momentum.
So, go ahead and try it,
and feel free to share
if it worked for you!
