Question: I am going through menopause and I am having an awful time with hot flushes and night sweats. I don't particularly want to take HRT — what natural remedies can I try instead?

Answer: You're not alone in wanting to avoid HRT — a recent study in the journal Menopause found that more than 50 per cent of women aged 45-65 years use drug-free remedies for annoying symptoms like mood swings, hot flushes and night sweats. Try some of these approaches for relief.

• To control hot flushes and night sweats, take black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) This herb helps defuse hot flushes by lowering blood levels of luteinising hormone, which dilates blood vessels, making the skin hot. In one scientific review, taking black cohosh reduced the average number of hot flushes in study participants from five a day to less than one.

• St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) has a long history of combating mild to moderate depression, especially when it's triggered by hormonal fluctuations. Two studies from Germany and South Korea have found that teaming black cohosh with St John’s wort eased menopausal symptoms and also improved mood and sleep.

• Steep 2 teaspoons of chopped fresh sage leaves (Salvia officinalis) or 1 of dried in 1 cup of boiling water and sip up to 3 cups a day. This herb has astringent properties that counter excessive sweating.

• Chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus) can help regulate blood flow by increasing progesterone levels and is very useful for women experiencing heavy bleeding, especially during perimenopause.

• Upping your intake of phytoestrogens (natural plant hormones with mild oestrogen-like qualities) will help balance hormonal fluctuations. Good food sources include soy products, especially tofu, and flaxseed - grind some in a coffee grinder and sprinkle 1 tablespoon over your morning muesli or yoghurt.

  YOUR SAY: Do you have any natural remedies that have helped to relieve menopausal symtoms? Tell us below...