Complementary and Integrative Health and Menopause

Complementary and Integrative Health and Menopause

“There are many alternative medicines that claim
to help ease the symptoms of menopause.
But few of them have been proved in studies”.1

Umbrella

What may the Complementary and Integrative Health and Menopause Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Acupuncture
  • Alternative Medicine Practices/Products/Remedies/Therapies/Treatments
  • Ayurveda/Ayurvedic Medicine
  • Bioidentical Hormone Therapy/Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
  • Bioidentical Hormones
  • Chinese Medicine Remedies/Therapies/Treatments
  • Chiropractic
  • Complementary Health Practices/Products/Remedies/Therapies/Treatments
  • Complementary Medicine (CM)
  • Complementary Medicine Practices/Products/Remedies/Therapies/Treatments
  • Complementary Medicines and Therapies (CM&T)
  • Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
  • Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH)
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Energy Medicine
  • Herbal Remedies/Treatments
  • Homeopathy
  • Hypnosis/Hypnotherapy
  • Integrative Health Care/Medicine
  • Manipulative and Body Based Therapies
  • Massage/Remedial Massage
  • Meditation
  • Menopause/Perimenopause/Postmenopause
  • Mind and Body Approaches/Practices/Therapies/Treatments
  • Mindfulness
  • Natural Approaches/Practices/Products/Remedies/Therapies/Treatments
  • Naturopathy
  • Non Mainstream Health Care
  • Nutrition/Nutritional/Dietary Approaches
  • Osteopathy
  • Prayer
  • Psychotherapy
  • Qi Gong
  • Reflexology
  • Reiki
  • Relaxation
  • Remedial Therapy
  • Spiritual Healing
  • Supplements
  • Tai Chi
  • Therapeutic Touch
  • Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
  • Traditional Medicine
  • Yoga

Complementary Treatments

Is there an association between complementary treatments and menopause symptoms?

In Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment: Alternative Medicine the (United States) Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“There are many alternative medicines that claim to help ease the symptoms of menopause. But few of them have been proved in studies. Some complementary and alternative treatments that have been or are being studied include:

  • Plant Estrogens, also called phytoestrogens…
  • Bioidentical hormones…
  • Cognitive behavioural therapy…
  • Black Cohosh…
  • Yoga…
  • Acupuncture…
  • Hypnosis….

You may have heard of or tried other dietary supplements, such as red clover, kava, dong quai, DHEA evening primrose oil and wild yam, a natural progesterone cream. There’s no scientific proof that they work. Some of these products may be harmful”.2

Natural Therapies

What are natural therapies?

DotS the definition of natural therapies may vary. In Natural Therapies: What Are Natural Therapies? the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) definition is:

“Natural therapies are treatments and health practices that don’t use traditional medicine. They’re part of a broad range of therapies known as complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) and therapies.

Natural therapies include:

  • Vitamins, minerals and fish oils)
  • Herbal medicine (tea, tablets and liquids)
  • Nutrition

CAM includes health practices, such as:

  • Relaxation
  • Mindfulness
  • Meditation
  • Aromatherapy
  • Acupuncture
  • Yoga”.3

More Research

Is “more high-quality research on complementary therapies is required to confirm the benefits and risks to menopausal women”?

In Complementary Therapies for Management of Menopausal Symptoms: A Systematic Review To Inform the Update of the International Menopause Society Recommendations on Women’s Midlife Health: Abstract – Conclusion: Plain Language Summary, published 07 January 2026, the authors include:

Complementary and Integrative Health and Menopause

  • “In summary, complementary therapies including vitamin D, black cohosh and Chinese herbal medicine may help some menopausal symptoms, but more high-quality research is needed to understand how effective and safe these treatments truly are. In general, most complementary therapies appeared safe, with few serious side effects reported. However, more high-quality research on complementary therapies is required to confirm the benefits and risks to menopausal women”.4

Black Cohosh

Is there an association between black cohosh and menopause symptoms?

In Black Cohosh: What Have We Learned? last updated November 2024, the NCCIH elaborate on:

  • “A 2023 review of 22 studies of products containing black cohosh extracts, alone or in combination with other herbs, found that they were potentially beneficial for overall menopause symptoms. Data on specific symptoms showed improvements in hot flashes but not anxiety or depressive symptoms
  • It’s uncertain whether black cohosh can reduce hot flashes related to breast cancer treatment”.5

Safe or Not

Are these therapies safe?

On page two in Complementary & Alternative Therapies: Non-Hormonal Treatments for Menopause Symptoms, reviewed 25 November 2025 and amended July 2026 (to update Fezolinetant and add Elinzanetant), the (British) Women’s Health Concern (WHC) note:

“One of the powerful messages coming from the NICE Guideline is that herbal remedies which are not regulated by a medicine authority should not be considered safe, as there is much variety in their effectiveness and potency and there may be significant side effects or interactions. The same warning is given for compounded bioidentical hormone therapy which is not regulated or subject to the same quality control as conventional HRT”.6

Healthy Lifestyle

Is there an association between implementing or maintaining a healthy lifestyle and the improvement of menopause symptoms?

On page one in the Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause one of the recommendations is:

  • “Women should be advised that implementing or maintaining a healthy lifestyle can improve menopause symptoms. A healthy diet (one low in saturated fat and salt and rich in calcium and vitamin D), stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake and including regular exercise can be beneficial. Reducing caffeine intake may also improve symptoms”.7

Health Care Provider

What if I choose to use CIH?

In Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment: Alternative Medicine the Mayo Clinic explain

“Talk with your healthcare professional before taking any herbal or dietary supplements for menopause symptoms. The FDA does not oversee herbal products. Some can be harmful or affect other medicines you take, putting your health at risk”.8

What is the FDA?

FDA can be an abbreviation for the (United States) Food and Drug Administration.

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Complementary and Integrative Health and Menopause?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

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Links

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New or Updated

  1. BMS TV: Complementary and Alternative Therapies
  2. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  3. CBT for Menopausal Symptoms
  4. Can Hot Flashes Be Managed Through Diet?
  5. Cannabis and Public Health: About CBD
  6. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Menopausal Symptoms
  7. Complementary & Alternative Therapies: Non-Hormonal Treatments for Menopause Symptoms
  8. Complementary Medicines and Therapies for Hot Flushes
  9. Complementary Medicines and Therapies: Options for Menopausal Symptoms
  10. Complementary Therapies for Management of Menopausal Symptoms: A Systematic Review To Inform the Update of the International Menopause Society Recommendations on Women’s Midlife Health
  11. Complementary and Alternative Medicine
  12. Complementary and Alternative Therapies [Topics]
  13. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  14. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Menopause
  15. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  16. DHEA
  17. Did You Know? Supplements and Medications Can Interact In Unexpected Ways
  18. Does CBD Help With Anxiety?
  19. Drugs and Supplements: Herbs, Supplements and Vitamins [Topics]
  20. Exercise In Menopause
  21. Find A Member [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  22. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  23. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  24. Handling Hot Flushes and Night Sweats| Dr Louise Newson [20 April 2025]
  25. Health Benefits of DIM [Diindolylmethane]
  26. Health.gov.au/perimenopause [Australia]
  27. Herbal Medicines and Complementary Therapies
  28. Herbal Remedies and Complementary Medicines for Menopause Symptoms
  29. Herbs and Supplements [Topics]
  30. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Alternatives To Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  31. Hot Flushes, Night Sweats, Brain Fog? Here’s What We Know About Phytoestrogens for Menopausal Symptoms
  32. How Fezolinetant Changes Management of Hot Flashes [Video]
  33. How To Manage Menopausal Symptoms
  34. IMS Interview Series for Women: Lifestyle Medicine With Prof. Rossella Nappi | For Women
  35. Integrative Medicine
  36. International Menopause Society (IMS) Recommendations and Key Messages on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause
  37. Kratom: Unsafe and Ineffective
  38. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms of Menopause [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP] [Other Languages and Formats]
  39. Lubricant Alternatives: What To Use and What To Avoid
  40. Looking After Yourself Around the Time of Menopause
  41. Maritime Pine
  42. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Can Medications and Supplements Interact With One Another?
  43. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Does CBD Live Up To Its Claims?
  44. Menopausal Symptom Treatments
  45. Menopause
    Complementary and Integrative Health and Menopause
  46. Menopause Checklist Podcast
  47. Menopause Hormone Therapy and Complementary Alternative Medicine, Quality of Life, and Racial/Ethnic Differences: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN)
  48. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    Complementary and Integrative Health and Menopause
  49. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
  50. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  51. Menopause, Perimenopause, Hormone Therapy and Other Treatments With Madelyn Butler, MD [Podcast]
  52. Menopause: Continuing the Conversation – A Holistic Approach To Menopause [Video]
  53. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment– Alternative Medicine
  54. Menopause: Ensuring A Tranquil Transition
  55. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
  56. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
    Complementary and Integrative Health and Menopause
  57. Menopause: How To Talk To Your Doctor
  58. Menopause: Things You Can Do
  59. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Black Cohosh
  60. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Dietary and Herbal Supplements
  61. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  62. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  63. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Hypnosis
  64. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Kratom
  65. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Placebo Effect
  66. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Red Clover
  67. Natural Remedies To Help Manage Perimenopause Symptoms
  68. Natural Therapies
  69. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
  70. Navigating Menopause Care Resource Guide
    Complementary and Integrative Health and Menopause
  71. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  72. Office of Dietary Supplements: Black Cohosh
  73. Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets
  74. Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin and Mineral Fact Sheets
  75. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2024: Non-Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  76. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2025: Lifestyle Medicine
  77. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations: Evidence-Based Management of Vasomotor Symptoms [09 June 2026]
  78. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations – Lifestyle, Diet, Exercise
  79. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations – Midlife Body Changes
  80. Probiotics May Help Boost Mood and Cognitive Function
  81. Pueraria
  82. Resources: Fact Sheets [Multiply Languages]
    Complementary and Integrative Health and Menopause
  83. Revolutionizing Menopause Management: A Deep Dive Into Fezolinetant [+ Video]
  84. Supplements for Menopause: Here’s What the Evidence Actually Says
  85. Supplements: What Works, What Doesn’t and the Truth About Menowashing
  86. The First WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit
  87. The 2023 Nonhormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society
  88. The Role of Lifestyle Medicine In Menopausal Health: A Review of Non-Pharmacologic Interventions
  89. Therapy Could Be Effective Treatment for Non-Physical Symptoms of Menopause
  90. Thinking About Acupuncture or Herbs for Menopause? Read This First
  91. Traditional Medicine
  92. Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine
  93. What if HRT isn’t right for me? And is cold-water swimming really the answer to everything? Your Menopause Questions Answered
  94. What Is Chasteberry, and What Can It Do?
  95. What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
  96. World Menopause Day [18 October 2025]
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  97. Your Daily Dose: Perimenopause, Don’t Suffer In Silence

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Alternative Medicine. 09 July 2026. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353401 Accessed: 10 August 2026
  2. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Alternative Medicine. 09 July 2026. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353401 Accessed: 10 August 2026
  3. Natural Therapies: What Are Natural Therapies? Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/look-after-yourself/stay-healthy/natural-therapies/ Accessed: 10 August 2026
  4. Maunda, A., Marden, A., Rao, V., et al. Complementary Therapies for Management of Menopausal Symptoms: A Systematic Review To Inform the Update of the International Menopause Society Recommendations on Women’s Midlife Health: Abstract – Conclusion: Plain Language Summary. 07 January 2026 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2025.2584061 Accessed: 10 August 2026
  5. Black Cohosh: What Have We Learned? Last Updated: November 2024. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/black-cohosh Accessed: 10 August 2026
  6. Complementary & Alternative Therapies: Non-Hormonal Treatments for Menopause Symptoms. Reviewed 25 November 2025. Amended July 2026:2. Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/03-NEW-WHC-FACTSHEET-Complementary-And-Alternative-Therapies-JULY2026-B.pdf Accessed: 10 August 2026
  7. Hamoda, H., Mukherjee, A., Morris, E., Baldeweg, S. E., Jayasena, C. N., Briggs, P., Moger, S. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause. First Published 10 June 2022:1. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20533691221104879 Accessed: 10 August 2026
  8. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Alternative Medicine. 09 July 2026. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353401 Accessed: 10 August 2026
Topic Last Updated: 10 August 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 10 August 2026

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