Veozah! Who came up with that drug name? Is it an exclamation one might use when suddenly your interior temperature seems to rise boiling point in a nanosecond?
Well, apparently it is the latest non-hormonal drug approved for reducing hot flashes for women. The prescribing information for Veozah includes a warning for elevated hepatic transaminase, or liver injury. “Before using Veozah, patients should have blood work done to test for liver damage. While on Veozah, routine bloodwork should be performed every three months for the first nine months of using the medication. Patients experiencing symptoms related to liver damage—such as nausea, vomiting, or yellowing of the skin and eyes—should contact a physician. Veozah cannot be used with CYP1A2 inhibitors. Patients with known cirrhosis, severe renal damage or end-stage renal disease should not take Veozah.”
Hmmm sounds like the cure might be worse than the ailment? But when you have severe hot flashes, it is time for desperate measures. Acupuncture research is tricky as they use acupuncture basically as a sham for, ummm acupuncture, so unsurprisingly both Acupuncture and ‘sham’ acupuncture reduce hot flashes. So win-win situation here really. The research is there….
But, alas and heaven forbid, the medical establishment recommend you to a try safe and effective treatment with ZERO side effects for a smooth transition into menopause! Acupuncture definitely reduces the incidence of hot flashes. After over 10 years working with peri-menopausal and menopausal women, I have seen this change improve the lives of many of my patients. Add some herbal medicine and the effect can really be extraordinarily life-changing. So before you reach for what may seem like a magic pill, please try acupuncture and perhaps make a few alterations in your diet and lifestyle instead!!
Please find below the advice I give to all my patients who are plagued by power surges and personal summers!!
Patient Advice to Manage Hot Flushes
A healthy diet and detoxification (fasting) work hand-in-hand with acupuncture to a) reduce bioaccumulation, b) eliminate toxic waste products (bio-transformed metabolites) through the skin, kidneys, liver, lungs and lymphatic system, and c) enhance homeostasis by their balancing, harmonising and normalising effects.
Avoid the following food triggers for hot flushes:
Cheese /Dairy products – White bread – Coffee, tea, and alcohol – Red meat – Oily – greasy foods – Peanuts and vinegar
Do have a healthy diet emphasizing:
Soy products – Fish and white meat – Vegetable oils – rather than seed oils – Green veg – Fruit – (but not bananas, grapes, melons) – Whole grains
Basic Lifestyle Advice
Avoid hot showers and baths
Drink six glasses of water a day.
Dress in layers, cotton is best for breathability
Keep a thermos of cold water by the bed
Eliminate caffeine, esp. in the afternoon
Exercise, early in the day for 30-45 minutes EVERY DAY
Relaxation time – yoga, stretching, tai chi, or meditation is good before bed.
Do your best to keep your environment toxin free: with cleaning agents, insecticides, glues, paints, dyes etc well sealed and only use in a well aired area, if you have to use them.
AND GO SEE YOUR ACUPUNCTURIST!