Nausea with Menopausal Hot Flashes

I am almost 47 and have been going through menopause for about 2 years. It is to the point now that every time I get around my husband, I have hot flashes. I have them throughout the day when he is not around, but they are worse if he is home. This must sound silly, but before a hot flash, I feel sick to my stomach. I have not heard anyone mention this before, it feels as though I am having morning sickness, then a hot flash a few seconds after the sick feeling passes. Is this normal? I tried taking ERT but I felt my mood swings were very much worse. I'm stuck in a hot, cold world. One moment I freeze from just normal air conditioning, the next I?m having to put my hair on top of my head, and taking off as much clothes as I can. During this, I'm crying the whole time. HELP

Mood swings and nausea often accompany hot flashes in menopause. Hot flashes often start as a wave from the intestinal area, moving up to the head as the blood vessels dilate. So the intestinal area is the first area affected. Generally, the more rapid the change in hormone levels, the more severe the symptoms. I suggest that you visit a medical or clinical herbalist or naturopath to assess your total health picture and advise you on the best diet and herbal protocol.
In the meantime, avoid hot flash triggers like alcohol, spicy foods and caffeine in tea, coffee and chocolate, and include relaxation exercises like yoga, meditation or tai chi in your daily routine. For general information on alleviating menopausal symptoms, please see our web site at www.richters.com. Choose "Q&A" from the main menu, and then enter "menopause" or "hot flash" for the search.
As well as following this dietary, lifestyle and herbal advice given for menopause, drinking a cup of chamomile tea three or four times a day can alleviate the nausea. Milk thistle is a safe and effective liver support herb that can help to stabilize hormones and alleviate mood swings. Check that you buy a standardized extract, and follow the dosage recommended on the bottle. You should feel the effects of these remedies within 2 to 3 weeks. If you have not noticed a change, then wait for the advice resulting from a full consultation with a natural practitioner.