What are some natural remedies for menopause symptoms?
Some women report relief for hot flashes and other menopause symptoms with complementary or alternative therapies. Talk to your doctor or nurse before taking any herbal or vitamin supplement. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements in the same way they regulate medicines. Many supplements can interfere with medicines and make them work incorrectly or not at all.
Some research studies show relief from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms with these herbal supplements, but other studies do not. Many herbal supplements should not be used with other medicines. Some herbal supplements women use for menopause symptoms are:3
- Black cohosh. The underground stems and root of black cohosh are used fresh or dried to make tea, capsules, pills, or liquid extracts. Black cohosh is used to help treat menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes.
- Red clover. Red clover has phytoestrogens (fayh-toh-ES-truh-juhnz), which are similar to estrogen. Phytoestrogens are also found in some cereals, vegetables, legumes (peas, beans, soy). You can take red clover in tea or as a pill. Red clover may not be safe for women who should not take menopausal hormone therapy with estrogen.
- Soy. Soy is a plant in the pea family. The seeds of soy are soybeans. Soybeans make isoflavones, a type of phytoestrogen. Soy can be found in dietary supplements or added to foods such as cheese and pasta. Soybeans can be cooked and eaten or used to make foods such as tofu and soy milk. Soy may not be safe for women who should not take menopausal hormone therapy with estrogen.
- Mind and body practices. Yoga, tai chi, and acupuncture may help reduce menopause symptoms, including sleep and mood problems, stress, and muscle and joint pain. One study also found that hypnosis (a trance-like state during which your mind is relaxed) helped decrease hot flashes by 74%.4
Research continues on these and other alternative ways of relieving menopause. Talk to your doctor or nurse before trying natural remedies.