Herbs for Menopause

“Herbal medicines are those
with active ingredients made from plant parts,
such as leaves, roots or flowers”.1

Umbrella

What may the Herbs for Menopause Umbrella include?

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

  • Botanical Products
  • Botanicals
  • Chinese Medicine
  • Herbal Medicines/Products/Remedies/Supplements/Therapies/Treatments
  • Herbs
  • Medicinal Herbs
  • Phytomedicines
  • Phytotherapy
  • Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Botanical

What is a botanical?

DotS the definition of a botanical may vary. The (United States) Office of Dietary Supplement’s (ODS) definition is:

“A botanical is a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal or therapeutic properties, flavor, and/or scent”.2

Herbs

What are herbs?

DotS the definition of herbs may vary. In Botanical Dietary Supplements – Background Information: What Is A Botanical? the ODS’s definition is:

“Herbs are a subset of botanicals”.3

Different Herbs

What are some different herbs?

DotS different herbs may include:

  • Black Cohosh (Actaea Racemosa, Cimicifuga Racemosa)
  • Dong Quai (Angelica Sinensis)
  • Evening Primrose/Evening Primrose Oil (Oenothera biennis)
  • Flaxseed/Flaxseed Oil
  • Ginkgo Biloba
  • Ginseng (Panax Ginseng or Panax Quinquefolius)
  • Kava/Kava Kava (Piper Methysticum)
  • Red Clover (Trifolium Pratense)
  • Soy
  • St John’s Wort

Herbal Products

What are herbal products?

DotS the definition of herbal products may vary. The ODS’s definition is:

“Products made from botanicals that are used to maintain or improve health are sometimes called herbal products, botanical products, or phytomedicines”.4

Herbal Medicines

What are herbal medicines?

DotS the definition of herbal medicines may vary. In Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine: Herbal Medicines the World Health Organization’s definition is:

“Herbal medicines include herbs, herbal materials, herbal preparations and finished herbal products, that contain as active ingredients parts of plants, or other plant materials, or combinations”.5

Traditional Chinese Medicine

What is traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)?

DotS the definition of TCM may vary. In Traditional Chinese Medicine: What You Need To Know – What Is Traditional Chinese Medicine? the (United States) National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) explain:

“Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has evolved over thousands of years. TCM practitioners use various mind and body practices (such as acupuncture and tai chi) as well as herbal products to address health problems”.6

Hot Flushes and Night Sweats

Are herbs recommended for the treatment of hot flushes and night sweats or vasomotor symptoms (VMS)?

On page two in Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats: Nonhormone Treatment Options – Not Recommended, dated 2023, the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) explain:


Herbal Medicine“Treatments not recommended for VMS either because there is evidence showing that they do not reduce VMS or because there is not enough evidence showing that they are effective in reducing VMS include acupuncture, paced respirations, supplements/herbal remedies, cooling techniques, avoidance of triggers, dietary modification, exercise, yoga, mindfulness-based intervention, relaxation, suvorexant, cannabinoids, calibration of neural oscillations, chiropractic interventions, clonidine, and pregabalin.

There are many dietary supplements available over the counter and advertised as remedies for relief of hot flashes and night sweats. There are limited studies showing that these supplements are effective at relieving VMS, and there is a lack of government regulation ensuring their safety and purity, so none of these are recommended treatments for hot flashes and night sweats”.7

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – Non-hormonal Options With Evidence To Support Efficacy, published online 01 December 2023, the authors also note:

“Similarly, nutritional supplements and botanicals have not been found to be more effective than placebo for moderately to severely bothersome VMS in robust clinical trials”.8

In Menopause and Natural Therapies Herbs: Over the Counter Herbal Products the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) elaborate on:

“We know that about 13% of Australian women use CAM therapies for managing hot flushes, and that the three most commonly used CAM therapies are phytoestrogens (plant-based female hormones), evening primrose oil and ginseng. We know that these are not necessarily the most effective remedies, and we also know that only about 25% of these women consult an expert for advice about these therapies. Therefore, many women may be making inappropriate – or indeed, ineffective – choices”.9

Safe or Not

Are herbs safe?

In FDA: 101: Dietary Supplements – What Are the Risk of Dietary Supplements? the (United States) Food and Drug Administration caution:

“Before buying or taking a dietary supplement, talk with a health care professional—such as your doctor, nurse, registered dietician, or pharmacist—about the benefits and risks.

Many supplements contain ingredients that can have strong effects in the body. Additionally, some supplements can interact with medications, interfere with lab tests, or have dangerous effects during surgery. Your health care professional can help you decide what supplement, if any, is right for you”.10

Health Care Provider

What if I choose to use herbs for menopause?

If you choose to use herbs for menopause it may also be in your best interest to choose to tell all your health care providers you are doing this.

In Menopause and Natural Therapies: Over the Counter Herbal Products the JH elaborate on:

“When buying herbal medicines over the counter, you need to consider some of these factors:

  • The quality and standard of herbal preparations, including those available over the counter and online, can vary considerably
  • Some herbal products can interact with other pharmaceutical therapies, but their labels might not necessarily carry a warning
  • The best way to use herbal remedies is under the guidance of a well-trained herbalist/naturopath”.11

In Herbal Medicines the (United Kingdom) NHS note:

“If you’re consulting your doctor or pharmacist about health matters, or are about to undergo surgery, always tell them about any herbal medicines you’re taking”.12

On page two in Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats: Nonhormone Treatment Options – Not Recommended the NAMS explain:

“Despite the lack of evidence supporting their use for VMS, if you plan to use dietary supplements, let your health care professional know so they can ensure they are safe for you, that they don’t interact with any of your medications, and so that they can be appropriately monitored”.13

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Herbs for Menopause?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Herbs for Menopause?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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New or Updated

  1. 8 Myths and Truths About Menopausal Hot Flashes
  2. ACOG Explains: Managing Menopause Symptoms [American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists]
  3. Anxiety and Natural Therapies
  4. BMS TV: Complementary and Alternative Therapies
  5. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  6. Botanical Dietary Supplements – Background Information
  7. Botanical Supplement Fact Sheets
  8. Complementary and Alternative Medicine
  9. Complementary/Alternative Therapies for Menopausal Women
  10. Dietary Supplements
  11. Dietary Supplements
  12. Dietary Supplements
  13. Dietary Supplements [Topics]
  14. Dietary Supplements: What Is Safe? Common Misconceptions About Dietary Supplements
  15. Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know
  16. Drugs and Supplements: Herbs, Supplements and Vitamins [Topics]
  17. Efficacy of Plant-Derived Dietary Supplements In Improving Overall Menopausal Symptoms In Women: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  18. FDA 101: Dietary Supplements
  19. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
  20. Herbsociety.org [Herb Society of America]
  21. Herbal Medicines
  22. Herbs and Supplements [Topics]
  23. Hot Flashes
  24. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
  25. Hot Flushes, Night Sweats, Brain Fog? Here’s What We Know About Phytoestrogens for Menopausal Symptoms
  26. How To Find Relief for Hot Flashes At Night
  27. Herbs for MenopauseIntegrative Medicine: Find Out What Works
  28. Is It Safe To Use Herbal Weight Loss Supplements?
  29. 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
  30. Key Technical Issues of Herbal Medicines With Reference To Interaction With Other Medicines
  31. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Treating Menopause Symptoms [Other Languages and Formats] [+ Video: Does the Menopause Happen Suddenly?]
  32. Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
  33. Lots of Women Try Herbs Like Black Cohosh for Menopausal Symptoms Like Hot Flushes – But Does It Work?
  34. Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  35. Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  36. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Dietary Supplements Useful In Some Situations, But Also Can Be Harmful
  37. Menopause Management: Complementary Therapies – Herbal Therapies and Remedies for Menopause
  38. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    Herbs for Menopause
  39. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  40. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide
  41. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  42. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  43. Menopause and HRT: Fact and Fiction
  44. Menopause and Natural Therapies
  45. Menopause, Perimenopause, Hormone Therapy and Other Treatments With Madelyn Butler, MD [Podcast]
  46. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Managing Your Symptoms – Hot Flushes and Night Sweats [NICE Guideline]
  47. Menopause: Things You Can Do
  48. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  49. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  50. NatMed
  51. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
  52. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 4 Tips: Start Talking With Your Health Care Providers About Complementary Health Approaches
  53. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 6 Things To Know When Selecting A Complementary Health Practitioner
  54. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Black Cohosh
  55. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Dietary and Herbal Supplements
  56. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Ginkgo
  57. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Green Tea
  58. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  59. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  60. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
  61. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Placebo Effect
  62. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Red Clover
  63. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Soy
  64. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: St. John’s Wort
  65. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Valerian
  66. Natural Remedies To Help Manage Perimenopause Symptoms
  67. Natural Therapies
  68. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  69. Non-Estrogen Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
  70. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  71. Office of Dietary Supplements
  72. Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets
  73. Office of Dietary Supplements: My Dietary Supplement and Medicine Record
  74. Phytoestrogens
  75. Questions and Answers on Dietary Supplements
  76. SAMe
  77. Should You Try An L-Tyrosine Supplement? A Look at Its Benefits and Side Effects
  78. The First WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit [17-18 August 2023]
  79. The Power of the Placebo Effect
  80. The Truth About Menopause Supplements | Dr Sarah Berry
  81. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  82. Traditional Medicine
  83. Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine
  84. Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
  85. Vaginal Dryness Alternative Treatments
  86. Video Series-2023: NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  87. Video Series-2023: New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
  88. Video Series-2024: Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  89. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: A Simple Approach To Menopause: The Menopause Quick Six (www.MQ6.ca)
  90. WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine
  91. WHO International Standard Terminologies on Traditional Chinese Medicine
  92. Webinars: Previous – Non-Hormonal Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  93. Webinars: Previous – Non-Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  94. What Are Adaptogens and Are They Healthy?
  95. What Can I Do To Help With Hot Flashes?
  96. What Is Traditional Chinese Medicine?
  97. What To Eat When You Have Hot Flashes?
  98. Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? Episode 3: Dr Annice Mukherjee: Your Essential Menopause Toolkit
  99. Wild Yam

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Herbal Medicines. Page Last Reviewed: 18 October 2022. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/herbal-medicines/ Accessed: 06 August 2024
  2. Botanical Dietary Supplements – Background Information: What Is A Botanical? Updated: 11 December 2020. Office of Dietary Supplements https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/BotanicalBackground-Consumer/ Accessed: 06 August 2024
  3. Botanical Dietary Supplements – Background Information: What Is A Botanical? Updated: 11 December 2020. Office of Dietary Supplements https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/BotanicalBackground-Consumer/ Accessed: 06 August 2024
  4. Botanical Dietary Supplements – Background Information: What Is A Botanical? Updated: 11 December 2020. Office of Dietary Supplements https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/BotanicalBackground-Consumer/ Accessed: 06 August 2024
  5. Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine: Herbal Medicines. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/health-topics/traditional-complementary-and-integrative-medicine#tab=tab_1 Accessed: 06 August 2024
  6. Traditional Chinese Medicine: What You Need To Know – What Is Traditional Chinese Medicine? Last Updated April 2019. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health https://nccih.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/chinesemed.htm Accessed: 06 August 2024
  7. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats: Nonhormone Treatment Options – Not Recommended. 2023:2. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/nonhormone-treatment-menonote.pdf Accessed: 06 August 2024
  8. Davis, S. R., Taylor, S., Hemachandra, C., Magraith, K., Ebeling, P. R., Jane, F., and Islam, R. M. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – Non-hormonal Options With Evidence To Support Efficacy Published Online: 01 December 2023 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2023.2258783 Accessed: 06 August 2024
  9. Menopause and Natural Therapies: Over the Counter Herbal Products. Page Last Updated: 19 January 2024 | Topic Last Reviewed: 20 November 2018. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-herbs Accessed: 06 August 2024
  10. FDA 101: Dietary Supplements – What Are the Risks of Dietary Supplements. Content Current As of: 02 June 2022. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/fda-101-dietary-supplements Accessed: 06 August 2024
  11. Menopause and Natural Therapies: Over the Counter Herbal Products. Page Last Updated: 19 January 2024 | Topic Last Reviewed: 20 November 2018. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-herbs Accessed: 06 August 2024
  12. Herbal Medicines. Page Last Reviewed: 18 October 2022. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/herbal-medicines/ Accessed: 06 August 2024
  13. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats: Nonhormone Treatment Options – Not Recommended. 2023:2. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/nonhormone-treatment-menonote.pdf Accessed: 06 August 2024
Topic Last Updated: 06 August 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 06 August 2024

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