Question: Can you suggest a natural treatment for night sweats? I am a 59-year-old woman who cannot take any kind of hormone therapy. I sweat every night no matter what I try. Less blankets, no blankets, changing my pajamas; it doesn’t matter.
Dr. Hibberd’s answer:
Night sweats are often not caused by serious medical conditions, but doctors are trained to search for malignancy, infection, GERD, endocrine, cardiac or internal diseases. I presume you have been checked and have no serious underlying disorder.
Here are some tips for you.
- Avoid caffeine.
- Eliminate alcohol.
- Don’t eat spicy or fatty foods in the evening.
- If you smoke, quit.
- De-stress. Try relaxation techniques especially before bed.
- Try stopping all supplements that might be contributing to your nigh sweats.
If these strategies don’t help, go to your doctor and ask for a prescription for a low dose clonidine (a blood pressure drug) patch. It is very useful for those seeking a non-hormonal treatment for hot flashes and night sweats. There are other agents available, but try these first, and let me know how things go.