Mailbag! RELIEF for Annoying Night Sweats
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted March 8, 2022
I get night sweats so bad I have to get up and change my clothes and sheets, not just once but two to three times a night. Do you have any advice for this?
–Petra from Boise, ID
Petra,
There are two main types of night sweats: hormonal and non-hormonal.
Hormonal night sweats are caused by changes like menopause. Non-hormonal night sweats can be caused by a variety of different health issues, including blood sugar problems, trauma, infections, certain drugs, and many other reasons.
Since there are so many underlying causes, it’s important to talk to your doctor about what you can rule out.
But if you’re pretty sure that it’s being caused by menopause, there are some things you can do.
While scientists still scratch their head as to the exact reason for menopausal hot flashes and night sweats, it’s clear that they’re due in part to wildly fluctuating hormones.
A part of your brain called the hypothalamus controls body temperature. But changing hormones can cause the hypothalamus to malfunction… and thus you get left with raging hot flashes!
Unfortunately, having to change clothes and sheets as you do is fairly common. But there is a lot you can do to calm down night sweats.
Dr. Scott’s Hormone Support Program
- Check for food additives. There are many things you eat that can make hot flashes worse. These include chocolate, caffeine, curry, alcohol, hot sauce, monosodium glutamate (MSG), and other food additives. Do your best to limit or remove these from your diet.
- Get some exercise. While it may seem backwards, sweating is one of the best ways to stop night sweating. Exercise helps balance mood, appetite, and sleep and well as improve hormonal control.
- Try herbs. There are many herbs used to help control hormones, including chaste tree, red clover, black cohosh, evening primrose, wild yam, and St. John’s Wort. Work with a functional medicine doctor to find a regimen that works for you.
- Support your liver. Your liver helps to balance and detoxify hormones. To support your liver’s efforts, make sure to take a good B complex vitamin.
- Load up on fiber. Believe it or not, getting a healthy amount of fiber helps remove hormones from your body. You don’t have to supplement with fiber if you’re eating enough veggies.
P.S. Have a health concern that’s worrying you? Click here to submit your questions and get featured in the weekly mailbag!
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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