This Simple Mind-Body Practice Cuts Menopausal Hot Flashes in Half

• Hot flashes occur when the hypothalamus becomes hypersensitive during menopause, triggering rapid blood vessel dilation and sweating. These vasomotor symptoms affect 80% of women and often persist for years
• A recent randomized clinical trial found that a six-week self-hypnosis program reduced menopausal hot flash frequency and severity by about 53%, with sustained improvements at 12 weeks
• About 90% of women using self-hypnosis reported noticeable relief, and those who practiced most consistently achieved the strongest reductions in hot flash frequency and daily interference
• The therapy was especially effective for breast cancer survivors, a group unable to use hormone-based treatments, producing a 64% reduction in symptom severity without adverse effects
• Beyond hypnosis, evidence also supports cognitive behavioral therapy to reduce how disruptive symptoms feel, relaxation practices to ease stress, and natural progesterone to help rebalance hormones during menopause