Yoga Helps Reduce Hot Flashes

Some of the most life-altering symptoms of peri-menopause are hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances and mental fogginess. Yoga is commonly recommended as a form of exercise for peri-menopausal women, but not necessarily for help with controlling peri-menopausal symptoms. A study recently published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology suggests that women experiencing such symptoms could benefit from a regular integrated yoga practice.

Researchers conducted a randomized controlled study in 14 centers of yoga research in Bangalore, India to assess the effect of a regularly practiced yoga on peri-menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and sleep disturbance. They randomized 120 peri-menopausal women between the ages of 40 and 55 to either a yoga or control group. The women in the yoga group practiced yoga postures (asana), breathing exercises and cyclic meditation for one hour 5 days per week. The control group participated in supervised simple physical exercises for the same amount of time per week.

Results: The women in the yoga group experienced a greater reduction in hot flashes, night sweats and sleep disturbances. In addition, the women practicing yoga experienced improved cognitive functions such as concentration, memory (remote and short term) and an overall "mental balance".


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Reference: Chattha R, Nagarathna R, Padmalatha V, Nagendra HR. Effect of yoga on cognitive functions in climacteric syndrome: a randomised control study. BJOG 2008;115:991-1000