A device and method for non-invasive treatment of menopausal hot flashes. The device includes a hand-held assembly sized to be held in the palm of a users hand a cooling plate within the assembly and a cradle which docks with the assembly. The cradle plugs into an AC power source and includes a Peltier-effect element for cooling a contact plate. The contact plate in the cradle abuts the cooling plate in the docked assembly and cools the same, keeping it at the lowered temperature and ready for immediate use. The cradle includes a heat sink for dissipating heat generated by the Peltier-effect element. The assembly is undocked from the cradle. The cooled plate is placed against the skin on the back of the neck and is moved back and forth to stimulate cold thermoreceptors in the skin, thereby counteracting the false trigger which caused the hot flash.
