That first perimenopausal hot flash may likely take you by surprise. After all, you may still be getting your period, although it may be less frequent, harder to track or heavier than normal. After the second or third time experiencing what you believe is a hot flash or night sweat, the reality may start to sink in – this could be the start of the menopause transition. You notice you’re more consistently sweating at night, and spending way too much time standing directly in front of the A/C unit.
What are Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause?
Hot flashes and night sweats are known as vasomotor symptoms (VMS). They’re most-often caused by hormonal fluctuations associated with menopause, as well as perimenopause – which are the years before menopause and can start around 8-10 years prior.1
Vasomotor symptoms affect around 80% of women during menopause.2 VMS are mild in some women, but for many, they can be incredibly disruptive, or even debilitating.
Hot flashes and night sweats can also last much longer than you expect them to. The average duration is 7.4 years,3 however they may last up to 14 years in some women.4 That’s a long time to spend drenching the sheets and fighting constant exhaustion from a lack of sleep. Some women may even continue to have hot flashes for the rest of their lives, indefinitely. The bottom line is that every person’s experience with this symptom set will be unique.5
Menopause is a natural part of life, but that doesn’t mean you have to just “tough it out.” If you’re hoping for a solution to better manage certain menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats, read on. As the result of rigorous clinical research and innovative product development, Bonafide is excited to introduce ThermellaTM, a groundbreaking, hormone-free dietary supplement, clinically studied to reduce the impact of vasomotor symptoms.*
What is Thermella?
Thermella is a hormone-free, dietary supplement designed to treat the hot flashes and night sweats caused by the hormonal fluctuations often associated with menopause. You don’t need a prescription to access Thermella, and it has been clinically studied across multiple trials for both efficacy and safety.
“Thermella was uniquely and thoughtfully formulated to address the disruptive vasomotor symptoms commonly experienced during menopause. A large majority of women tend to suffer needlessly with these symptoms and they remain untreated,” explains Bonafide’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Alyssa Dweck. This is one of the main reasons Bonafide decided to explore the development of this novel treatment approach.
In addition to reducing hot flashes and night sweats, Thermella has been shown to help manage some indirect symptoms that may be influenced by VMS, as well. More specifically, this includes disrupted sleep, which, when left unaddressed, may negatively impact daily quality of life, mood and concentration.6,7 According to Dr. Dweck, “Oftentimes VMS have downstream and indirect effects on other symptoms such as disrupted sleep, diminished concentration, lower efficiency and productivity at work, relationships with others and overall quality of life. Naturally, by managing VMS, indirect associated symptoms will also most likely improve.”
How Does Thermella Work?
Thermella works to relieve VMS at their source – which is believed to be in the thermoregulatory center. This center is located within a section of the brain called the hypothalamus, which controls how our bodies regulate temperature, among other critical functions.8 Thermella works to rebalance this temperature control center, without the use of hormones or prescription drugs.
Let’s simplify the science behind how Thermella works.
The body’s thermoregulatory center in the hypothalamus is stimulated by a peptide called neurokinin B (NKB) and inhibited by estrogen. As estrogen declines during menopause, NKB activity increases, leading to more hot flashes and night sweats.9 “It’s all about balance. When estrogen declines, it no longer offsets NKB activity, and vasomotor symptoms increase,” explains Dr. Dweck.
“Thermella is a patented, non-drug, NK3R (neurokinin 3 receptor) antagonist – which means it works by modulating the activity of neurons in the brain’s thermoregulatory center. This helps to ease the vasomotor symptoms commonly experienced during menopause,” explains Trisha VanDusseldorp, Senior Director of Clinical Research at Bonafide.
Fezolinetant, known commercially as prescription VeozahTM, was the first FDA approved NK3 receptor antagonist available.10 “Thermella works by binding to NK3 receptors in the brain and blocks NKB overactivity [which leads to hot flashes]. Once Thermella binds to these receptors, there is less receptor activity, and vasomotor symptoms decline,” notes Dr. Dweck. This is the reasoning behind why Thermella helps to effectively mitigate VMS.
What’s in Thermella?
Thermella is composed of a proprietary blend of several plant-based ingredients; some that you may already be familiar with. “The ingredients in Thermella were chosen because they were shown in preclinical studies to effectively block the NK3 receptor activity in the brain – helping to restore normal thermoregulatory function, thereby reducing the frequency of hot flashes and night sweats,” explains Dr. VanDusseldorp.
Thermella’s key ingredients include:
- Curcumin extract – A bioactive compound with known anti-inflammatory properties, found in turmeric.11 Curcumin, when combined with vitamin E has also been shown in studies to reduce hot flashes in postmenopausal women 12
- Decaffeinated green tea extract – Catechins, a bioactive compound found in green tea, have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.13
- Spirulina extract – This is a blue-green algae which has also been shown to have beneficial antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in the body.14
Each of the ingredients included in Thermella is considered to be designated GRAS notified (generally regarded as safe).
Is Thermella Effective?
Several clinical studies and customer trials (some ongoing) have been conducted in order to determine Thermella’s safety and efficacy in addressing menopausal hot flashes and night sweats.
In an analysis of a three month, double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial, which concluded in May of 2024 and was conducted in women aged 40-65, the following results were reported:15
- 79% of participants noted an improvement in their hot flash frequency in just 2 weeks of starting Thermella
- 94% of women reported a reduction in hot flashes and night sweats by as early as one month and beyond with consistent, daily Thermella use
- 97% of women reported an improvement in quality of life, as measured by their total score on the Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale (HFRDIS), a validated clinical questionnaire
- 60% reported an improvement in sleep, also measured by the HFRDIS
This study showed benefits not only related to Thermella’s ability to reduce the frequency of VMS but also its positive impact on quality of life and a reduction in sleep disturbances, indicating the product has multiple benefits for those experiencing menopause symptoms.
How Does Thermella Compare to Other Supplements for Hot Flashes? What About Prescription VMS Drugs?
There are several options available for treating hot flashes and night sweats, from prescriptions to over-the-counter solutions. According to Dr. Dweck, “VMS can be treated with various prescription drugs, including hormone therapy, NK3 antagonists, such as fezolinetant, antidepressants, gabapentin and oxybutynin. All of these options require a prescription and may have the potential for side effects.”
While most supplements take months to work, Thermella works in as quickly as just two weeks, a breakthrough for those looking for fast relief. Additionally, Thermella is the first non-prescription treatment of its kind that targets hot flashes at the source by blocking neurokinin b (NKB) in the body’s thermoregulatory center.
It’s important to remember that Thermella works differently than options like prescription hormone replacement therapy, in that it does not work through hormonal pathways to ease menopausal hot flashes and night sweats – which eliminates the risk of any hormonal side effects. Additionally, it does not have the same impact on liver enzymes that is possible with use of prescription fezolinetant. “Fezolinetant requires liver enzyme testing at the onset of use, as well as at 3, 6 and then 9 months to ensure there are no elevations detected. It cannot be used in those with significant liver or kidney disease. “Unlike the drug, Thermella does not require liver enzyme testing with use and it’s prescription-free,” says Dr. Dweck.
Is Thermella Different from Relizen®?
Thermella also differs from Relizen, another dietary supplement in Bonafide’s VMS-fighting arsenal. “The mechanism of action is different between Relizen and Thermella. Unlike Thermella, which works as an antagonist to NK3 receptors in the brain, Relizen is thought to work via the brain’s serotonergic pathways,” explains Dr. Dweck. Thermella has been shown to work quickly, providing relief in just two weeks. Whereas Relizen, in separate clinical studies, takes longer to provide relief.
According to Andrew Green, Director of Product Marketing for Bonafide, Thermella and Relizen have both been shown to be safe and effective in separate, randomized, controlled clinical trials. “Both supplements are hormone-free and neither one works through hormonal pathways in the body. Any woman experiencing menopausal hot flashes may be a candidate for Thermella or Relizen, although Thermella may provide faster results,” he explains.
Hot flashes and night sweats can significantly reduce your quality of life. They may also last for a significant amount of time. While menopause may be a natural life stage, you don’t have to suffer through it; you can take control. When you’re ready, consider talking to your healthcare provider about the VMS solution which makes the most sense for you.
Resources
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21608-perimenopause
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6226273/
- https://www.swanstudy.org/
- https://wwswanstudy.org/up-to-14-years-of-hot-flashes-found-in-menopause-study
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15223-hot-flashes
- https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/menopause/sleep-problems-and-menopause-what-can-i-do
- https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/womens-health/later-years-around-50-years-and-over/menopause-and-post-menopause-health/menopause-and-your-mental-wellbeing
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22566-hypothalamus
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780128199756000297
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780128199756000297
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-turmeric
- https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/5/655
- https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/21/4514
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1755-5922.2010.00200.x
- Lederman S, et al. Menopause. [To be published] 2024. Presented at The Menopause Society's 2024 Annual
Meeting. Full data on file.
