The risks associated with hormone replacement therapy are well-documented, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease, blood clots and stroke are all associated with this therapy. Many women choose natural treatments for menopause that include dietary supplements and botanical products with phytoestrogens, some of which claim to offer relief for hot flashes, mood swings and other menopause symptoms. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine issues a caution: Very few of these have been thoroughly investigated in well-designed clinical studies.
About Menopause
Menopause generally occurs around the age of 51 or 52, although it varies depending on the individual, according to the alternative medicine center. Menopause is when a woman's menstrual periods come to an end. A woman who goes 12 months without a period is said to have gone through menopause. It also may occur prematurely through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Symptoms of menopause may include hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood swings and depression. Doctors don't consider menopause a medical condition that requires treatment, but rather part of the natural aging process in women.
About Natural Treatment
Six botanicals, black cohosh, dong quai root, ginseng, kava, red clover and soy, and one dietary supplement, DHEA, have been discussed by the National Institutes of Health State-of-the-Science conference panel, according to alternative medicine center. LIttle research has been published on natural menopause therapies. Of those published, studies were small, were conducted for short periods of time and had design limitations. The national center intends to fund further studies on natural remedies that show promise and to assess their safety.
The Science
Black cohosh has been looked most closely as a natural therapy for menopause symptoms, and results of studies have been markedly mixed, according to the alternative medicine center. The center funded a study that indicated that black cohosh, used alone or with other herbs, didn't relieve night sweats and hot flashes. There's no evidence that dong qua, ginseng and kava relieve hot flashes, but they may be helpful for other purposes, such as mood swings and sleep disturbances, in the case of ginseng.
Studies on red clover and soy yielded inconsistent, inconclusive or mixed results, according to the national center. These contain phytoestrogens, which purportedly have an estrogen-like effect. The center warns that much is unknown about using these botanicals and to beware especially if you've had or are at risk for breast, uterine or ovarian cancer; endometriosis; and uterine fibroids. They also may interfere with oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy and selective estrogen receptor modulators, drugs used to treat cancer.
Cautions and Concerns
Marketers of natural menopause remedies often use the term "bio-identical hormone replacement therapy" to sell their wares. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration doesn't acknowledge this as a legal or meaningful term. These pills, creams and gels may make claims that they work just a well as drugs approved by FDA for menopause. The FDA states that there's no clinical evidence to support the efficacy of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, and that not much is known about the long-term safety of these natural alternatives. If you're taking or using bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, the FDA urges you to speak with your doctor to make sure that you're receiving the best treatment for your personal needs.
Other Ways to Address Menopause
When it comes to menopause, getting through it is all about having the right attitude, says integrative physician Dr. Andrew Weil. Women who view it as an end to their youth, child-bearing years and sexuality may be more prone to reach for the unproven cure, he says, while those who are more accepting of this life transition manage menopause better. If you're looking for an alternative to hormone replacement therapy, the national alternative medicine center points out that natural treatments aren't your only choice. Quitting smoking, exercise and a healthy diet can make this transition easier, as well as reduce the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis.
