Many women going through menopause experience symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and anxiety. For relief, some women turn to hormone replacement therapy with synthetic hormones. Others prefer to use natural herbs for hormone replacement.
History
Herbs have been used for centuries to treat different types of health problems. According to Natural Approaches to Menopause, doctors began regularly using herbs as medicine around 3000 BC. They continued to use herbal remedies often until the early 1900s, when synthetic medications were more widely used.
Types
Holistic Online lists several herbal remedies that have been used to treat menopausal symptoms. These include black cohosh, chaste tree (or vitex), dandelion, dong quai, ginseng, licorice, sage and red clover.
Efficacy
The National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) states that studies on herbs for hormone replacement have shown conflicting evidence about whether they work. While ginseng may have some benefit, the few studies that have been performed did not show a benefit to using black cohosh, dong quai or red clover.
Side Effects
NCCAM warns that certain herbs, especially black cohosh and kava, may cause liver damage. Dong quai may exacerbate bleeding disorders, and red clover may be dangerous to women prone to breast or uterine cancer.
Warnings
Always tell your health care practitioner about any herbal remedies or vitamins that you are taking. Some herbs may interact with prescription or over-the-counter medications that you take, or may make certain health conditions worse.
