Posted on: Saturday, September 17, 2005
Herbal remedies of limited use for menopause symptoms
By Amy Tousman
Q. Which herbal therapies work best for symptoms of menopause?
A. A woman's body begins producing less estrogen around age 50. This signals the start of menopause. As estrogen levels decrease, some women experience hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, insomnia, memory lapses, vaginal dryness or heart palpitations. These symptoms are usually temporary, but can persist for several years in some women.
In the past, these symptoms were treated with hormone replacement therapy which combined estrogen and progesterone. With current health concerns about hormone replacement therapy, many women are seeking herbal remedies to ease menopausal symptoms. For hot flashes, however, hormone therapy does provide stronger relief than herbs.
For those who choose to use herbs, here's the scoop on which ones offer the most benefit:
Black cohosh: Helps relieve hot flashes, night sweats, headaches, palpitations and vaginal drying. May suppress hormones involved in hot flashes. It also may work on receptors in the brain that regulate body temperature. Safety beyond 6 months has not been tested.
Chasteberry (vitex): Helps normalize irregular periods, which are common in early menopause by boosting progesterone levels.
Red clover: Acts like estrogen in the body. It takes approximately four weeks to work. One study showed a modest drop in the number of hot flashes (from 8 to 5 per day). In a 2003 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, women who took 82 mg of red clover, hot flashes stopped sooner, even though the number of hot flashes didn't decrease significantly. Obese women in this study had a more pronounced drop in the number of hot flashes than thinner women.
Gingko: Improves blood flow to the brain, which may help with concentration and memory.
More hype than help:
Dong quai: Ineffective in reducing hot flashes and may contain a cancer-promoting substance.
Ginseng: May improve memory during menopause, but it has also been linked to spotting in postmenopausal women.
Licorice root: May relieve some menopausal symptoms, but can cause high blood pressure and potassium loss.
Wild yam: A substance in wild yam can be converted to progesterone in a laboratory, but this does not happen in the human body.
Before using any herbal products, check with your gynecologist to be sure they are safe for you in your particular situation.
Amy Tousman is a registered dietitian with the Health Education Center of Straub Clinic and Hospital. Hawai'i experts in traditional medicine, naturopathic medicine and diet take turns writing the Prescriptions column. Send your questions to: Prescriptions, Island Life, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; fax 535-8170; e-mail islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com. This column is not intended to provide medical advice.
