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.

I have also made an appointment with an ear-nose-and-throat specialist just to be sure that nothing more serious is going on.

DEAR READER:
I appreciate your concern. However, Lipo-Flavonoid is a real product. It is distributed by DSE Healthcare Solutions, LLC in Edison, NJ.

Lipo-Flavonoid contains bioflavonoids, inositol, calcium, vitamin C and several of the B vitamins. It was created to treat the symptoms of Meniere’s disease (dizziness, ringing in the ears and loss of hearing). Many of my readers with tinnitis (ringing in the ears) or vertigo have had success using the product as well as many with Meniere’s. Like most products, it does not work for everyone.

The product can be purchased at most pharmacies in the ear care aisle. It can also be purchased by phone at 1-800-331-0221 or online at www.dsehealth.com.

To give you related information, I am sending you copies of my Health Reports “Ear Infections and Disorders” and “Dr. Gott’s Compelling Home Remedies”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 (per report) to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

Can you tell me where I can get rutin?

DEAR READER:
As I’ve said in the past, rutin is a bioflavonoid found in many fruits, vegetables and plants such as black tea, apple peels, citrus fruits and buckwheat. This supplement is used to treat hemorrhoids, Meniere’s disease, poor circulation, skin bruising, and more.

If your pharmacy doesn’t have a section for supplements, you will probably have better luck finding rutin at a health food store, so I suggest you begin there. You might tap into the internet for a source that might ship directly to your door. As a third option, I am told Nutraceutical Corporation in North Babylon, New York manufactures a 500 mg capsule for Thompson, a medical company.

Be sure to take the product according to the packaging instructions, as it does have side effects to include muscle stiffness, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, and more.

I also have a solution for skin that bruises easily or appears blotchy. I simply chop or grind a naval orange, peel and all and then eat it with a spoon. I usually mix in some crush pineapple and artificial sweetener to make it taste a bit better. I generally eat one crushed orange over several servings rather than all at once. It generally takes a few days before the bruises and blotches start to clear up.

The orange thickens the capillary walls. When these walls “leak” it shows as blotches or bruises. I’ve noticed that most people with these spots are on aspirin or other blood thinners. The orange doesn’t thicken the blood. I believe it would be good for people with a family history of aneurysms.

DEAR READER:
You are one of many that have touted Rutin (also known as bioflavonoids) for hemorrhoids. Bioflavonoids also help with tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and symptoms of Meniere’s disease and is one of the main ingredients in Lipo-Flavonoid which I have mentioned in previous columns for inner ear abnormalities. I am passing this information on to my readers for their use and input.

As for the orange for bruising, I believe this works because of the vitamin C. I am unsure that your therapy actually thickens and strengthens the capillary walls but if it works for you stick with it. You may find, however, that simply taking a multivitamin or vitamin C supplement may due the trick and will be far less time consuming than grinding, mixing, eating, and storing the orange “pudding” for later use.

I should mention that easy bruising is often associated with aspirin and other anti-coagulant therapy only if the dosage is too high. With proper monitoring this should not happen. Other individuals who often have difficulty with bruising are those with anemia. This is usually caused by a lack of iron. Iron supplements are available over-the-counter and may also solve the problem. As I always say, if you suddenly develop symptoms, see your doctor who can order appropriate testing. It is always best to be on the safe side and find that the problem is minor and easily corrected than to go undiagnosed and later find (after symptoms worsen) that the condition is caused by something serious, such as cancer.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Blood — Donations and Disorders”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.