Your Body Thermostat

Your body thermostat changes over time. Maybe you are a ‘hot’ young woman with your midriff showing in the middle of winter, okay, early spring, or you are later on in life during pre-to-post menopause, there are changes.

Everybody’s thermostat is a little different. I had a boyfriend who just wore a heavy sweater in Winter, no matter how cold. He was a violinist, so he always protected his hands and wore gloves.

This blog is, however, mainly for women. I have noticed that many women tend to have cold hands and feet. Some even have Raynaud Disease where small arteries spasm, minimizing blood flow to hands and feet creating numbness and cold.

If you are in these categories, I highly suggest taking a Body Being & Heart Reiki course. Not only will you end up with a healing tool guaranteed for life but you will get ‘Reiki Pads,’ hands that are marvelously warm! Do you want your warmer hands? Want to know more about Reiki, CLICK HERE?

What I discovered…

What I discovered as I moved towards menopause was I didn’t have a body thermostat. So, if it was hot, and climate is getting warmer, I was hot. And if it was cold; I was cold. I drink cold drinks, even with ice these days and hot drinks like tea or tisanes when I am cold. I dress in layers and keep a sweater nearby for when I cool down.

If I am hot, I also cool down with a spritz of cold water from one of those natural beauty toners…found in health food stores, does the job. I spritz on face, ears, back of ears and back of neck and arms….some if not all of this. And I do have an air conditioner in the healing room for clients but also for myself to chill or relax from bicycling to my place.

My special cool down trick is placing flat agate stones in the freezer…and then on any body part which needs it. (do not do this with fragile stones or quartz, they will fracture.)

And when it is really hot I avoid going outside between noon and 4 pm if possible. I think this is why Southern countries have siestas! That’s my story, what is yours?

Do Remember…yourself

And to remind you of when you were a hot young chick, just in case you are not that now… Read my poem which I am renaming Barbie Dolls Blues…cause I ain’t got those Barbie Doll boobs…anymore.

 Barbie doll blues for the naked lady

who ain’t got those Barbie doll boobs

or naked navel.

She whispers to her own Self remember:

braless in a transparent Indian shirt

riding down Park Avenue to see ‘Oh Calcutta!’

Quel toit tu as!…eh

Remember mushrooms on the mountain

or being picked up at the airport by Head Limousine

or the college pin up spread for the Japanese magazine

long lost.

Where did all those adventures go

and wasn’t it outrageous fun.

Who are you anyway…

a sultry Solstice Goddess made new each year?

And She whispers

Yes!

Smiles her High Priestess Smile

promising more kisses for the Shaman

who may or may not return.

And her Soul sings sadness

Joy…..Ecstasy

All & Everything

through the days and nights of endless consciousness

expanding and contracting

till it becomes a blip upon the screen.

Still I hear Her

weary is the soul who does not.

Passion and the Priestess are ageless

and blessed is the one that touches

the peace that passeth all understanding

if only for a moment in her arms.

Goddess, moon blessed, sun kissed

on the shimmering sea of life

hold me

touch me

I am thou

and we are one

finally.    

And Finally Scientific Fact

Below is scientific observations put together by Ai. One thing to mention to those of you experiencing hot flashes. Count yourself lucky. Hot flashes signify a lowering of your estrogen and indicate that estrogen driven breast cancer is less likely in your future.

Your Body Thermostat: Navigating Temperature Changes

Many postmenopausal women find themselves suddenly “running hot”—or just as often, shivering with chills—wondering what happened to their body’s thermostat. If you’re experiencing wild swings in body temperature, you’re not alone. Understanding the science behind these changes can help you manage discomfort and regain confidence in your own skin.

What Is Your Body’s Thermostat?

Your body’s thermostat is controlled by the hypothalamus, a small region in your brain. It’s responsible for keeping your core temperature steady, much like the thermostat in your home. Through signals and hormones, the hypothalamus triggers sweating to cool you off or shivering to warm you up, usually keeping you comfortable regardless of external conditions.

How Menopause Disrupts Thermoregulation

During and after menopause, estrogen levels dramatically decrease. Estrogen is more than just a reproductive hormone—it also helps keep your hypothalamic thermostat running smoothly. With less estrogen, the hypothalamus becomes overly sensitive to even small changes in core body temperature. This sensitivity narrows the “thermoneutral zone”—the small window where your body feels comfortable—so even a minor blip can set off waves of heat or chills.

• Hot flashes: This narrowed threshold is why hot flashes—a sudden, surprising rush of heat over the face, neck, and chest—are so common for postmenopausal women. Your body reacts by trying to cool down through sweating, even if the room isn’t warm.

• Night sweats: Hot flashes don’t stop when you sleep. Night sweats can wake you up drenched, making restful sleep elusive.

• Cold flashes: Less often discussed, some women also experience sudden chills, another sign of a hypersensitive thermostat.

The Physiology Behind the Fluctuations

Recent research shows that postmenopausal women have a slightly lower core body temperature on average—by about 0.25°C—compared to premenopausal women, likely contributing to changes in metabolism and sometimes weight gain. With lower estrogen, key neural pathways linked to temperature regulation (including specialized neurons in the hypothalamus) become more reactive, triggering hot or cold spells even in neutral environments.

Looking After Your Body Thermostat

You can help your body adjust with a few lifestyle tweaks:

• Dress in layers: Easy to add or shed as temperatures fluctuate.

• Keep hydrated: Water assists in body temperature control.

• Nutrients matter: Magnesium, folate, and a balanced diet support your skin and sweat glands, both crucial for efficient heat regulation.

• Manage stress: Simple mindfulness or relaxation practices can reduce the frequency and intensity of hot flashes.

• Consider your environment: A cool room, fans, and breathable bedding all help minimize overheating, especially at night.

When to Seek Help…and come for a CranioSacral Therapy Session!

Hot flashes, chills, and night sweats are normal but can be severe for some women. If your symptoms are impacting your quality of life—by robbing you of sleep or making you uncomfortable during daily activities—speak with your healthcare provider. Treatments, ranging from lifestyle adjustments and your hippocampus with CranioSacral Therapy are available and can be tailored to you.

Embracing the Change

Menopause may reset your body’s thermostat, but you’re not powerless. By understanding and supporting your body’s changing needs, you can reclaim comfort and enjoy this new chapter with greater ease and vitality.

Sending Love, Light at the end of the hormonal tunnel!

Kyra Lober, Your Practical, Magical Healer and Author!