Women can take herbal treatments successfully for treating the problems of menopause, an expert says today.
Soy, black cohosh and red clover are all safe alternatives to hormone treatment, according to a senior gynaecologist.
The analysis, published in The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, suggests the herbs do not have significant side-effects – while hormone replacement therapy has been linked to breast cancer and blood clots.
Iris Tong, director of Women’s Primary Care at the Women’s Medicine Collaborative, of the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Rhode Island, USA, says women with a high risk of breast cancer should not take the herbs – which mostly contain plant oestrogens.
She says research has shown that soy treatments can cut problems from hot flushes by more than half.
She said today: "Up to 75% of women use herbal and complimentary medicines to treat their postmenopausal symptoms.
"Therefore, it is vitally important for healthcare providers to be aware of and informed about the non-pharmacological therapies available for women who are experiencing postmenopausal symptoms and who are looking for an alternative to HRT.”
Journal editor Jason Waugh added: “Postmenopausal symptoms can be very distressing and it is important to review the advantages and limitations of the non-pharmacological treatments available as well as the pharmacological ones.
"Even simple behaviour modification can make a difference to postmenopausal symptoms, including keeping the room temperature cool, wearing layered clothing, relaxation techniques and smoking cessation.”
Tong, IL. Nonpharmacological treatment of postmenopausal symptoms.
The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2013; 15:19–25
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