Hot flash is thought to be caused by fluctuations in hormones and often associated with menopause though hot flash can occur at any age and for both men and women. 

Symptoms include sudden intense heat, profuse sweating, visible reddening of the skin, feeling faint, and rapid pulse. 

Hot flash may occur sporadically, or be a common occurrence and disrupt the quality of one’s life.

Accompanying symptoms include “night sweats” that interrupt sleep, insomnia, depression, poor mood, inability to focus and pay attention.

According to the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) certain foods and lifestyle habits aggravate symptoms of hot flash. These include hot and spicy foods, alcohol and caffeine. It’s also thought that obesity issues may contribute to menopausal symptoms like hot flash.

Hot Flash Formula

The essential oils in this formula may be effective as a comfort care measure to promote natural relief for symptoms of hot flash.

To a 5ml colored glass euro-dropper bottle add these pure essential oils
Click on each oil for more info

Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea) - 10 drops

CAUTIONS: As Clary Sage can make some people feel exceedingly woozy and faint please avoid using it when driving or needing to focus. 

Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) - 20 drops

CAUTIONS: Peppermint cools by constricting your blood capillaries, therefore please use in extremely weak dilutions. It may be a mucous membrane irritant (low risk), choleretic (increases bile production liver), neurotoxic. Maximum dermal use level 5.4%. Research indicates that Peppermint Oil may aggravate GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease), a type of heart burn. Due to its strong cooling action Peppermint should not be used by children under 10 years of age.

Cypress (Cupressus Sempervirens) - 20 drops

CAUTIONS: Skin sensitization if oxidized, recommend refrigeration.

Lemon (Citrus limon) - 20 drops

CAUTIONS: Skin sensitization if oxidized, phototoxic (low risk). Maximum dermal use level 2.0%. Citrus oils are considered phototoxic and care should be taken when using them in skin applications. Please avoid exposure to direct sunlight or sunlamps for up to 12 hours after use as pigmentation of the skin may result.

Rose Geranium (Pelargonium roseum) - 10 drops

CAUTIONS: Rose Geranium can lower blood sugar and should be avoided in cases of hypoglycemia. Due to its hormonal effect avoid Geranium during pregnancy.

Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii) - 10 drops

CAUTIONS: Skin sensitization (low risk). Avoid use with drugs metabolized by CYP2B6 (oral use). Maximum dermal use level 6.5%.

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) - 10 drops

CAUTIONS: Avoid use with drugs metabolized by CYP2B6 (Diabetes medication). Skin sensitization. Maximum dermal use 0.7%. Avoid use with hypersensitive skin, diseased or damaged skin, children under 2 years of age.

Cap bottle tightly and shake vigorously to blend essential oils. Allow to synergize for eight hours, or longer before using.

Method of Application

Aromatic Mist - Makes a wonderfully cooling aromatic mist. Simply inhale the aromatic vapors. 

Clients report with regular use signs of hormonal imbalance like hot flash diminish in severity and are less frequent, or even stop completely.

Preparation – what you will need

• 2oz ounce Colored Glass Misting Bottle.
• Purified or Pure Fresh Spring Water.
• 120-240 drops Certified Organic Witch Hazel (astringent, mild preservative).
• 12-24 drops Hot Flash Relief Formula.

I prefer just to mix these ingredients together and shake well before misting each time. However, if you'd like to use an emulsifier to keep oils blended in water and a preservative follow these additional directions.

• Aloe vera - 1-3 teaspoons (emulsifier). 
• Glycerin - 1 teaspoon (optional, humectant).
• 1/16th teaspoon Citric Acid Powder - A natural preservative for skincare products. Citric acid powder can be purchased at many natural health food stores and online. As citric acid powder is often a corn derivative look for a non-GMO source.

How to Prepare Citric Acid Powder for Use in Skin Care Products:

Boil 2 cups of distilled water and then add 0.05 percent to 0.1 percent citric acid powder to the water. Stir until dissolved. Set aside to cool. Add when cooled to your homemade skincare products such as lotions, face and body oils as a preservative.

Instructions

• Half fill a two (2) ounce colored glass bottle that has an atomizer or misting top, with pure filtered or fresh spring water.
• Add witch hazel to act as an astringent and skin tonic.
• Shake bottle well after the addition of witch hazel to mix thoroughly into water.
• Add your pure essential oil Hot Flash Formula one drop at a time to your aloe vera and mix thoroughly.
• Continue to add drops of pure essential oil to aloe vera gel until you’ve added 12-24 drops total (2-4% dilution).
• Add Glycerin and Citric Acid (if using) to essential oil and aloe vera gel mixture and blend thoroughly.
• Add essential oil and aloe vera gel mixture to water and witch hazel, top off with purified or fresh spring water, cap bottle tightly with atomizer top and shake well to thoroughly blend ingredients together before using.

Directions for use

Lightly spray to both sides of your head and inhale the aromatic vapors. Avoid direct skin and eye contact.  Use your Hot Flash Formula aromatic mist as needed.

Direct Inhalation - Dispense 1-3 drops of your Hot Flash Formula on a cotton ball or smell strip and inhale the aromatic vapors for 10-15 seconds. May repeat as needed.

CAUTIONS: Possible skin sensitivity. Please avoid direct skin contact.

Find out more about how to heal yourself using essential oils, along with recipes to try in my newest award-winning book available on Amazon, The Essential Oils Complete Reference Guide: Over 250 Recipes for Natural Wholesome Aromatherapy.

READ first article in this series, Essential Oils for Women's Health Bartholin's Cyst.