If you're a woman of a certain age, which can be anywhere from the mid-40s up, chances are good your body is changing in ways you haven't had to deal with since puberty. And it's easy to see the changes as bad, especially when they bring along unpleasant side effects.

One of the most unpleasant is hot flashes, when your internal temperature seems to soar out of control and you want to strip off your clothing and hang out in a walk-in freezer. While there are pharmaceutical remedies to help, you might start by trying a few natural ones that may stop symptoms before they start or help ease them.

Even if you've never had a hot flash, if you're of the age when you know they're a possibility, taking soy isoflavones and black cohosh may help and certainly doesn't hurt. I've been taking both for about three years now and while I know my mom was going through the insanity of menopause by this age, I'm still free of nightsweats and the desire to shed my clothing. There are also herbal blends for women in menopause that contain blends to help.

If you're looking for another remedy, search the internet, wear layers of light clothes so you can shed some, or see your doctor. And good luck on your journey.