Found: Herbal remedy slashes hot flashes by 70%

Good news for women dealing with hot flashes: A new study in Phytotherapy Research found that milk thistle, an herbal supplement, can ward off the pesky menopausal symptom. Participants in a small study were given either a 400-mg. milk thistle supplement or a placebo daily. After 12 weeks, those taking the herb reported 70% fewer hot flashes and a 69% decrease in flash severity. Researchers say a compound in milk thistle, silymarin, helps the liver flush excess hormones, which trigger hot flashes and other symptoms.