If you are among the thousands of women who suffer with hot flashes, but are reluctant to take hormone replacement therapy, you might want to think about taking ground flaxseed.

A study conducted at the Mayo Clinic suggests that ground or crushed flaxseed may help reduce the frequency and intensity of hot flashes. It’s unclear why the flaxseed work, but the effect may be due to the weak estrogen-like effects of lignans—an antioxidant found in flaxseed that also has anti-cancer properties.

As an added bonus, flaxseed is high in fiber and a good source of omega-3 fatty acids—important news for those seniors concerned about brain and bowel function.

The study, published in the summer 2007 issue of the Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology included 29 women with hot flashes described as “bothersome”. The women ate 40 grams—about 4 tablespoons—of ground flaxseed daily for 6 weeks.

During that time, the women reported a 50 percent reduction in daily hot flash frequency and significant improvement in mood, joint or muscle pain, chills and sweating, and in hot flash severity. About half the women reported mild to moderate abdominal bloating and a few reported mild diarrhea or flatulence (gas).

Because the number of subjects is small, researchers advise caution in interpreting the data, and plan to conduct a larger trial in 2008.

Experts say there is little harm in trying this unproven remedy, unless you have a history of chronic diarrhea or bowel disorders. In addition, some reports suggest that flaxseed may lower blood sugar, so women taking diabetes medication should check with their health care provider before taking flaxseed.