We investigated the association between blood flow in the extremities and
hot flashes, and compared change in blood flow following
hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and
Gui-zhi-fu-ling-wan (
Keishi-bukuryo-gan), a
herbal therapy in post-menopausal women with
hot flashes. Three hundred and fifty-two post-menopausal women aged 46-58 years (mean: 53.4 +/- 3.6 years) with climacteric complaints participated in the study. One hundred and thirty-one patients with
hot flashes were treated with HRT (64 cases) or
herbal therapy (67 cases). Blood flow was measured with
laser doppler fluxmetry under the jaw, in the middle finger and in the third toe. Post-menopausal women with
hot flashes (129 cases) showed significantly higher blood flow under the jaw (13.6 +/- 4.13) than women without
hot flashes (166 cases) (5.48 +/- 0.84) (p < 0.0001). Blood flow at this site decreased significantly with either
therapy (p < 0.0001). On the other hand, the administration of Gui-zhi-fu-lingwan significantly increased (p = 0.002) the blood flow in the lower extremities, whereas HRT decreased the blood flow. Thus, we have demonstrated that
Gui-zhi-fu-ling-wan did not affect the activity of
vasodilator neuropeptides on sensory neurons of systemic peripheral vessels uniformly. Therefore,
Gui-zhi-fu-ling-wan, rather than HRT, is suggested as an appropriate
therapy for treatment of
hot flashes in the face and upper body with concomitant coldness in the lower body, which is one of the symptoms of menopause.