Natural Menopause Relief

Understanding Natural Options for Menopause Symptoms

Many women are now considering natural relief of menopause as an alternative to conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to relieve their symptoms of menopause and lower the risk of osteoporosis and other conditions.

 

According to a 1997 study conducted by the North American Menopause Society, more than 30 percent of women use natural menopause treatments, such as:

 

At this time, there isn't enough scientific evidence to determine whether these therapies are beneficial. In addition, there is insufficient information to prove whether these therapies are as safe as or safer than the conventional drugs used for menopause symptoms, osteoporosis, or heart disease.

 

Plant Products Used For Menopause Relief

Botanical products containing or acting like estrogens may provide some of the benefits of estrogen in relieving the symptoms of menopause. For example, studies have suggested that soy food products can benefit women with mild hot flashes.

 

Some limited research provides conflicting results on the safety and effectiveness of natural hormone replacement therapy products -- such as ginseng, black cohosh, and dong quai -- that are marketed for menopausal symptoms.

 

Currently, research is being conducted on these and other plant-derived products that have shown potential in reducing menopausal symptoms, including:

 

Through this research, the medical community hopes to learn more about how these products work and assess the safety and effectiveness of these botanical products. Studies are needed to identify the possible benefits of these products in promoting bone, heart, and brain health, as well as the potential risks of increasing breast, endometrial, or other cancers in diverse populations of postmenopausal women.