WHAT ARE HOT FLASHES AND WHY DO THEY OCCUR DURING THE MENOPAUSE?
Hot flashes are sudden episodes of intense heat that usually start in the face and upper chest and can spread to the rest of the body. They may be accompanied by redness, sweating, palpitations and anxiety, and end with a feeling of cold or chills. During the menopausal transition, ovarian activity decreases and oestrogen levels fluctuate before eventually falling. These changes affect the brain circuits that regulate body temperature. As a result, the temperature range that the body considers comfortable narrows, and even a slight variation can trigger an exaggerated response to dissipate heat:Hot flushes are very common, but their duration and intensity vary considerably. The Menopause Society states that they affect up to 80 per cent of women and can persist, on average, for between seven and ten years. They may begin before menstruation ceases completely and continue into post-menopause.
- The blood vessels in the skin dilate, causing heat and redness.
- Sweating increases to cool the body.
- The heart rate may speed up.
- After losing heat, chills, shivering or tremors may occur.
Hot flushes are one of the most common symptoms of the menopause and also one of the most treatable with natural support. In our comprehensive guide to perimenopause and medicinal mushrooms, we explore which specific mushroom helps with each menopausal symptom, including strategies for managing hot flushes holistically. This article focuses on the science behind how Reishi and other mushrooms can help support you during this stage.
If you want to know whether you are experiencing hot flushes, read on:
- They usually last between one and five minutes
- A sudden feeling of heat in the face, neck and chest.
- Redness and sweating.
- Palpitations or a feeling of anxiety.
- Chills or a feeling of coldness once they subside.
NIGHT-TIME SWEATS: THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SAME SYMPTOM
Hot flushes are the result of instability in the brain’s thermoregulatory system following changes in and a decline in oestrogen levels. Environmental measures can help manage them; when they are bothersome, there are hormonal and non-hormonal treatments that should be selected on an individual basis.
If these episodes of sudden heat occur during sleep, we refer to them as night sweats; hence, hot flushes and night sweats are considered two sides of the same coin. These symptoms are responsible for causing night-time awakenings, tiredness, irritability and difficulty concentrating the following day.
WHAT SCIENCE SAYS ABOUT REISHI AND THERMOREGULATION / THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
The so-called ‘mushroom of longevity’, namely Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), has a chemical profile that has led scientific researchers to regard it as a powerful adaptogenic substance capable of having a direct impact on the central nervous system (CNS); this may be of interest in relation to episodes of hot flushes and night sweats.
The most recent studies have shown that G. lucidum contains around 400 active biomolecules, such as beta-glucans (polysaccharides) and triterpenoids including ergosterol (provitamin D2) and ganoderic acids, omega-3 fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins and minerals, amongst others.
Beta-(1,3)-(1,6)-D-glucans, specifically amongst the beta-glucan-type polysaccharides, and triterpenes have attracted considerable attention from a medical and scientific perspective, due to their high concentration in the extract of this mushroom and their potential benefits for human health.
It contains polypeptides and triterpenes that act as precursors to neurotransmitters and endorphins. These help to elicit an appropriate response to stressful situations that may be experienced during an episode of hot flushes or night sweats.
In this regard, the published evidence also includes interesting articles on Cordyceps (which helps regulate endocrine function) and Lion’s Mane (which helps improve mood); consequently, these three pure mushrooms hold great potential for women’s health during this challenging stage.
Furthermore, new studies have been conducted on other natural substances in relation to hot flushes:
- Green tea extract: the polyphenols in green tea may help to alleviate hot flushes and night sweats.
- Probiotics: the inclusion of probiotic strains (such as Lactobacillus plantarum, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium infantis, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum) is also being studied during the period of greatest hormonal change in women.
OTHER HABITS THAT HELP MANAGE HOT FLASHES (LAYERING CLOTHES, PLANT-BASED DIET, RELAXATION TECHNIQUES)
For mild symptoms, the MenoGuía published by the Spanish Association for the Study of the Menopause recommends: Following these guidelines may help, although their effectiveness during the hormonal changes that occur in perimenopause and menopause also depends to a large extent on genetics, each individual’s specific circumstances and the severity of the symptoms themselves.
- Wear several light layers of clothing that can be easily removed as and when needed
- Keep the house, particularly bedrooms, at a pleasant, cool temperature, especially at night.
- Use a cool, damp flannel or towel on the neck during hot flushes or night sweats.
- Cut down on very hot drinks. At this point, it is important to note whether coffee, tea or alcohol act as triggers, as many women have reported this. If so, avoid them as much as possible.
- Do not smoke. Smoking is associated with more frequent or intense hot flushes.
- Respect your circadian rhythms as much as possible by maintaining regular bedtimes and wake-up times.
- Avoid caffeine and other stimulants from the evening onwards and do not consume alcohol.
- Maintain physical activity to prevent the onset of other symptoms. This not only helps to cope with and alleviate metabolic changes, but also acts on the central nervous system by balancing mood.
HOW TO INCORPORATE REISHI (FORM, RECOMMENDED DOSAGE, TIME OF DAY)
Reishi is a mushroom used in traditional medicine. Thanks to early medical texts and oral tradition, we now know that it was consumed as an infusion to maximise the benefits of its compounds. It is a woody species, so cooking it is not a suitable method of consumption. As scientists, thanks to advances in biotechnology, we have managed, on the one hand, to optimise its production, achieving the highest possible concentration of the active biomolecules of interest following the selection of the best strains. Furthermore, after obtaining the fruiting body (the fruit of the mushroom), we have managed to develop its consumption (from infusion to extract) using advanced laboratory techniques, from which we obtain a highly concentrated extract.
At Hifas da Terra, we have been researching mushrooms for over 25 years and optimising their production processes and the extraction of their active biomolecules through our R&D&I projects. As a result, we are now one of the leading biotechnology companies in the development of dietary supplements based on fungi such as Reishi, Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps – species with a long tradition in Eastern medicine that are gradually gaining recognition in modern science thanks to the constant publication of related scientific advances.
The extract, the most concentrated form of Reishi on the market, is available in solid form (you can take it as capsules) or liquid form (as drops or syrups).
Reishi is often combined with other natural substances, such as other adaptogenic mushrooms, vitamins, minerals and botanicals like green tea, gotu kola, etc., to harness the potential of these combinations.
