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Hot flashes, night sweats, difficulty sleeping, and mental changes can be frustrating and uncomfortable symptoms for women experiencing menopause.
Menopause is the permanent end of a woman's menstrual period; it is a normal part of aging. Some of the above symptoms are due to decreased estrogen activity of the ovaries and others may just a result of aging in general.
For a long time, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was considered to be conventional treatment for menopausal symptoms. However, a large study called the Women's Health Initiative, raised concerns about long term safety of HRT. The study found that treatment with HRT for greater than 4 years can increase a woman's risk for heart disease and breast cancer. Because of this, many women are turning to "CAM" (complimentary and alternative medicine) for relief of menopausal symptoms.
There is a need for more high-quality scientific studies to investigate CAM for menopause. Currently, there are six botanicals used for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. These include black cohosh, dong quai root, ginseng, kava,
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red clover, and soy.
Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa, Cimicifuga racemosa) has received the most attention for its possible effects on menopausal symptoms out of the six botanicals. There are dozens of over-the-counter products containing black cohosh that claim to decrease hot flashes, eliminate night sweats, help mental focus, and more. Researchers are unsure, but think that black cohosh may acts like estrogen in the body, therefore eliminating menopausal symptoms that are a result of the halt in estrogen production by the ovaries. Overall, black cohosh has a good safety record over the years but some concerns have recently arisen associating it with liver problems.
Since CAM therapies can have side effects and can interact with other botanicals, supplements, or drugs it is very important to let your health care providers know any alternative medicine that you take. This includes letting your community pharmacist know exactly what you are taking to aide you in your selections and choices about treating your menopausal symptoms. Another thing to keep in mind is that "alternative" or "natural" does not mean SAFE. Botanical and dietary
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supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and therefore may contain unlabeled ingredients, or have different amounts of ingredients than are listed on the label.
It is also important for women looking for relief of menopausal symptoms to make certain lifestyle changes. These include smoking cessation, healthy diet and exercise, and getting a good night's rest. For more information on CAM therapy, prescription medications, and lifestyle changes your community pharmacist is always willing and available.
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