Alternative Medicines for Menopause Symptoms

Since the revelation of serious adverse effects of hormone replacement therapies, menopausal women have sought relief for their symptoms using complementary and alternative medicines. In spite of some enthusiastic reports, good evidence of safety and effectiveness has been lacking for these therapies. This has been confirmed by a large systematic review of published studies, now available in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Researchers in Oregon identified all randomized controlled trials published in English that compared a complementary or alternative therapy with placebo or an appropriate control for treating menopausal symptoms. Seventy trials met their inclusion criteria. Forty-eight of them studied phytoestrogens or other biological agents. Other studies covered mind-body, energy, manipulative, or body-based therapies.

Some individual studies suggested benefits of different therapies, but the data were insufficient to support effectiveness of any of the therapies, using the standards of evidence normally employed for medications. The authors conclude that many of the alternative therapies warrant further study in adequate, well-controlled studies of rigorous design. Without this sort of evidence, it’s not easy for a physician to recommend any treatment for menopause symptoms.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicines – part of NIH – has the job of studying alternative medicines, and we hope that they will select one or two ‘favorites’ and fund appropriate studies.