St. John's Wort for Hot Flashes in perimenopausal women?

  St. John's Wort for Hot Flashes in perimenopausal women?

Menopause or the 'climacteric' is often defined as the cessation of menstration which typically occurs in women between the ages of 45 and 55. Essentially, this means that when women 'hit' menopause, that this represents their loss of fertility.

Black Cohosh for hot flushes?

Black Cohosh for hot flushes?

The results of a recent study suggest that black cohosh is more effective for reducing menopausal symptoms of hot flushes and night sweats than fluoxetine. However, fluoxetine was more effective in improving symptoms of depression.

"The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of fluoxetine and black cohosh in the treatment of women with postmenopausal symptoms."

"At the end of the sixth month of treatment, black cohosh reduced the hot flush score by 85%, compared with a 62% result for fluoxetine. By the sixth month of the study, 40 women had discontinued the study--20 (33%) in the fluoxetine group and 20 (33%) in the black cohosh group. Compared with fluoxetine, black cohosh is more effective for treating hot flushes and night sweats. On the other hand, fluoxetine is more effective in improvements shown on Beck's Depression Scale."

Reference:
Oktem M, Eroglu D, Karahan HB, Taskintuna N, Kuscu E, Zeyneloglu HB. Black cohosh and fluoxetine in the treatment of postmenopausal symptoms: a prospective, randomized trial. Adv Ther. 2007 Mar-Apr;24(2):448-61.

Novel dietary supplement improves skin in post-menopausal women

 New study on supplement to improve skin:

"OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to quantify the effects on skin in post-menopausal women of a novel dietary supplement (Imedeen Prime Renewal) that contained soy extract, fish protein polysaccharides, extracts from white tea, grape seed and tomato, vitamins C and E as well as zinc and chamomile extract."

"CONCLUSION: In summary, this novel dietary supplement, Imedeen Prime Renewal, provides improved condition, structure and firmness of the skin in post-menopausal women after 6 months."

Reference:

Skovgaard GR, Jensen AS, Sigler ML. Effect of a novel dietary supplement on skin aging in post-menopausal women. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2006 Oct;60(10):1201-6. Epub 2006 May 3.

Recent clinical trial on herbal formula containing black cohosh, dong quai, milk thistle... for menopausal symtoms

"OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy and safety of the herbal formula Phyto-Female Complex (SupHerb, Netanya, Israel; ingredients: standardized extracts of black cohosh, dong quai, milk thistle, red clover, American ginseng, chaste-tree berry) for the relief of menopausal symptoms."

"CONCLUSION: Phyto-Female Complex is safe and effective for the relief of hot flushes and sleep disturbances in pre- and postmenopausal women, at least for 3 months' use."


Reference:
Rotem C, Kaplan B. Phyto-Female Complex for the relief of hot flushes, night sweats and quality of sleep: randomized, controlled, double-blind pilot study. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2007 Feb;23(2):117-22.

Technorati Tags: menopause, hot+flushes, black+cohosh

Natural treatments for menopause

 Natural treatments for menopause?

Though the results of the Herbal Alternatives for Menopause (HALT) study have yet to be published, I am sure that many women will be interested in the results—especially considering the recent safety concerns regarding Hormone Replacement Therapy.


Women were randomly assigned to: (1) black cohosh 160 mg daily; (2) multibotanical (50 mg black cohosh, alfalfa, chaste tree, dong quai, false unicorn, licorice, oats, pomegranate, Siberian ginseng, boron) four capsules daily; (3) multibotanical plus telephone counseling to increase dietary soy; (4) conjugated equine estrogen 0.625 mg +/- 2.5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate; or (5) placebo.

Reference:

Newton KM, Reed SD, Grothaus L, Ehrlich K, Guiltinan J, Ludman E, Lacroix AZ. The Herbal Alternatives for Menopause (HALT) Study: background and study design. Maturitas. 2005 Oct 16;52(2):134-46.

Does dong quai have estrogenic effects in postmenopausal women?

 Dong quai for menopause?

This recent study suggests that Dong quai does not have estrogen-like effects.

"CONCLUSION(S): Used alone, dong quai does not produce estrogen-like responses in endometrial thickness or in vaginal maturation and was no more helpful than placebo in relieving menopausal symptoms" (Hirata et al, 1997).

Reference:
Hirata JD, Swiersz LM, Zell B, Small R, Ettinger B. Does dong quai have estrogenic effects in postmenopausal women? A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Fertil Steril. 1997 Dec;68(6):981-6.