On April 24, 2006, Newsweek reported that researchers have studied the
physiology of hot flashes for more than 30 years but still don’t know exactly
how or why they occur.

According to Chinese medicine, the imbalanced heat-cool system in the body
causes menopausal symptoms. Excess heat in body systems causes hot flashes.

If excess heat enters body’s surface, it causes dryness of the skin and vagina.
If excess heat enters the blood, it causes heavy menstrual periods.
If excess heat enters nerve system, it causes irritability and insomnia.

In fact, a 1975 study on: “body temperatures during menopausal hot flashes”
(J. Appl. Physiol. 38) has confirmed the Chinese heat theory. During hot flashes,
there was a sudden rise in the skin temperature of about 1 to 4 degrees Fahrenheit.

First, the brain gets a sudden signal that the body is too hot.
Second, the heated body begins to perspire.
Third, evaporation cools things down.