In menopause-related disorders, hot flashes represent an inconvenience for social life and intimate life. Hot flashes concern 50 to 80% of women at menopause. They are due to the cessation of estrogen production by the ovaries. The brain then sends out hormones in abundance to stimulate production, causing an imbalance and a sudden increase in body temperature. For women seeking natural treatment, sage provides relief from hot flashes in women going through menopause. Sage also has virtues on nocturnal sweating peaks.
Menopause: when the thermostat no longer works
Hot flashes and excessive sweating are the most common symptoms of menopause. Many women going through menopause recognize that the first signs of hot flashes suggest a “thermostat gone”. Some women feel these disorders weakly, or not at all. On the other hand, among those who experience them, the inconveniences are significant.
At night, hot flashes can lead to trouble falling asleep and sleeping. The consequence is daytime fatigue that can affect the entire social and professional sphere of women. Sometimes, additional disorders can exist such as palpitations, an increase in blood pressure, dizziness and a feeling of oppression. These episodes are usually isolated and relatively brief. However, in some women, hot flashes can last up to an hour.
Menopausal hot flashes are caused by a malfunction in the thermal regulation center that keeps body temperature constant. This depends on estrogen. However, during menopause, the production of estrogen decreases causing irregularities within the thermal regulation center
Menopause: Sage reduces hot flashes
Sage officinalis (Salvia officinalis) is a plant native to countries around the Mediterranean, whose leaves are used both in cooking and in medicine.
Sage in botany is called “Salvia officinalis”. This designation refers to its therapeutic effect. "Salvia" comes from the Latin salvare, which means "to save" and from "salvere", which means "to be healthy", "officinalis" means in pharmacy (the dispensary) "usual". Sage has more than 200 species.
In herbal medicine, two species of sage are used: clary sage (Salvia sclarea) and Spanish sage (Salvia lavandulifolia).
In the treatment of hot flashes, it is common to use Clary Sage. In disorders related to menopause, sage intervenes directly on the upset thermal regulation center. Sage would reduce the frequency and intensity of hot flashes as well as phases of excessive sweating. The associated inconveniences such as sleep disorders, fatigue, lack of energy will also be soothed.
How does sage work?
Sage contains many active substances: flavonoids, diterpenes, triterpenes, phenolic acids and essences including camphor and thujones.
Sage extracts have shown estrogenic activity (similar to female hormones). Indeed, since Antiquity, sage has been considered the medicinal plant that regulates female disorders.
In herbal medicine, it is recognized as having antiseptic, antiperspirant, antispasmodic, diuretic, bactericidal properties. Sage is proposed to relieve difficult digestions, excessive perspiration and, in local applications, to fight against inflammations of the mouth, throat and nose.
The effects of sage on stomach aches and difficult digestions are due to flavonoids and essences. Its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic action could be linked to the presence of phenolic acids.
Sage infusions are prepared with 1 to 3 g of dried leaves in a cup of boiling water, to infuse for ten minutes. The recommended dose is three cups per day maximum.
At the recommended dose, side effects of sage are rare (nausea and vomiting).
Finally, it seems that sage can interact with treatments for anxiety and sleep disorders or psychic disorders. If you are taking such treatments, you should consult a practitioner before taking sage.