Daily Column

August 30th, 2008

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I read your letter from the 57-year-old lady with hot flashes. I also was bothered with the problem until someone told me to take bee pollen. I took 550 mg twice daily and haven’t had any flashes for years. I hope you can pass this on.

DEAR READER:
Hot flashes occur when a portion of the brain known as the hypothalamus gets mixed signals and cannot determine if the body is hot or cold. The action causes blood vessels to expand and contract in an irregular pattern. An increased flow of blood triggers a feeling of heat, with flushing of the face, neck and chest. This is often followed by chills, or a cooling down as the blood vessels contract.

Flashes can last from as few as 15 seconds to up to an hour. They can be mild to severe in intensity. During a flash a woman might experience weakness, palpitations, dizziness, fatigue, loss of sleep, or headache.

Hot flashes can be triggered by white sugar, stress, hot weather, spicy foods, drinks containing alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use, and more. A woman experiencing hot flashes often knows what is likely to trigger an attack and should avoid the stimulation.

Flashes deplete the body of B vitamins, potassium, magnesium and vitamin C. Supplements to counteract those depletions and deter flashes are available in the form of vitamin E in dosages between 400 and 800 IU daily; bioflavonoids in dosages of 250 mg five to six times daily; evening primrose oil, chickweed tincture, ginseng, bee pollen in doses of 500 mg taken three times a day, and more. Progesterone creams are absorbed directly through the skin. Some women even obtain relief through acupuncture.

If the bee pollen works for you, I suggest you stick with it. For others who wish to try supplements, you might give the supplement a try. Please let me know of your success or failure so I can report back.