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But not all complementary therapies have an effect.
“Hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness are very common
symptoms of menopause, affecting up to 80 percent of menopausal
women,” said senior author Dr. Taulant Muka of Erasmus University
Medical Center in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. “Many women in Western
countries try herbs or other products from plants to manage these
symptoms,” he noted, but these “natural” products may not
necessarily be useful or safe.
“Our results simply indicate that some plant-based therapies, such
as soy and red clover, can be beneficial in reducing menopausal
symptoms, but some others not (e.g. black cohosh and Chinese
medicinal herbs),” Muka told Reuters Health by email.
The researchers extracted data from 62 randomized controlled trials
of plant-based alternative therapies and their effects on hot
flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness: 36 addressed
phytoestrogens – estrogenlike molecules from plants such as soy or
red clover, 16 tested black cohosh and 10 tested other medicinal
herbs.
Together, the trials included more than 6,600 women ranging in age
from 18 to 75 years old, and followed for between four weeks and two
years.
Using phytoestrogens was associated with fewer hot flashes during
the day and with less vaginal dryness, but did not influence night
sweats.
Some studies tied black cohosh therapies to a lessening of overall
menopause symptoms score but not specifically to fewer hot flashes
or night sweats. Chinese medicinal herbs were not associated with a
decrease in menopause symptoms, according to the results in JAMA.
In early postmenopause, hormone replacement is an effective therapy
for menopausal symptoms, Muka said, but it may not be an option for
women at increased risk of breast cancer.
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Phytoestrogens like those found in soy can act like estrogen in the
body, Muka said. “This may explain the aggregate beneficial effects
on menopausal symptoms we found for phytoestrogens.”
The long-term efficacy and safety of these plant-based therapies is
unclear, however, and “healthy lifestyle changes form the backbone
for easing the discomfort related to menopausal symptoms and keeping
you healthy in the long run,” he said.
You should discuss any natural or herbal products with your doctor
before taking them, and ask about potential medication interactions,
Muka added.
There is little evidence for long-term effectiveness – or risks – of
plant based therapies, since most studies only last 12 to 16 weeks,
he said.
SOURCE: http://bit.ly/28LS3vW JAMA, online June 21, 2016.
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