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Associate Director, UCLA Center for Dietary Supplement Research: Botanicals Medical Director, Cedars-Sinai Integrative Medicine Program, Los Angeles, CA Dr. Hardy is on the scientific advisory board for Pharmavite and Herbalife. Hot flashes are the most common and bothersome symptom for most women in menopause. In a national probability survey of menopausal women, 70% reported experiencing hot flashes; this was the main symptom that caused survey respondents to seek treatment from their physicians.1 Frequency, duration, and severity of hot flashes vary greatly among women, but most have hot flashes of mild-to-moderate intensity for several years around the onset of menopause. An unfortunate minority of women, about 20% by some estimates, experiences hot flashes for up to 15 years.2 Estrogen is one of the few therapies proven to decrease hot flashes. However, since the termination of the Women’s Health Initiative study, many women and their health care providers have rejected this option. This has left us in the position of actively seeking other safe, effective therapies.

Chill Out: A Good Treatment for Hot Flashes?