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)
  • Complementary Medicines & Therapies (CM&T)
  • 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 (WHO) 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 Medicine

What is traditional medicine?

DotS the definition of traditional medicine may vary. In Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine: Traditional Medicine the WHO’s definition is:

“Traditional medicine has a long history. It is the sum total of the knowledge, skill, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness”.6 

Menopause Symptoms

Do herbs help with menopause symptoms?

In Complementary Medicines and Therapies: Options for Menopausal Symptoms – Main Points, published 15 April 2025, the Australasian Menopause Society note:

  • Some complementary medicines may help with mild symptoms, but overall more evidence is needed”.7


Hot Flushes and Night Sweats

Do herbs help with 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) (now the Menopause Society) explain:

“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”.8 

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”.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?

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”.11

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”.12

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

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. ACOG Explains: Managing Menopause Symptoms [American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists]
  2. Anxiety and Natural Therapies
  3. BMS TV: Complementary and Alternative Therapies
  4. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  5. Botanical Dietary Supplements – Background Information
  6. Botanical Supplement Fact Sheets
  7. Can Hot Flashes Be Managed Through Diet?
  8. Complementary Medicines and Therapies for Hot Flushes
  9. Complementary Medicines and Therapies: Options for Menopausal Symptoms
  10. Complementary and Alternative Medicine
  11. Complementary/Alternative Therapies for Menopausal Women
  12. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  13. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  14. Did You Know? Supplements and Medications Can Interact In Unexpected Ways
  15. Dietary Supplements
  16. Dietary Supplements
  17. Dietary Supplements
  18. Dietary Supplements [Topics]
  19. Dietary Supplements: What Is Safe? Common Misconceptions About Dietary Supplements
  20. Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know
  21. Drugs and Supplements: Herbs, Supplements and Vitamins [Topics]
  22. Efficacy of Plant-Derived Dietary Supplements In Improving Overall Menopausal Symptoms In Women: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  23. FDA 101: Dietary Supplements
  24. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  25. Find An AMS Member [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  26. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  27. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
  28. Herbsociety.org [Herb Society of America]
  29. Herbal Medicines
  30. Herbs and Supplements [Topics]
  31. Hot Flashes
  32. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
  33. Hot Flushes, Night Sweats, Brain Fog? Here’s What We Know About Phytoestrogens for Menopausal Symptoms
  34. How To Find Relief for Hot Flashes At Night
  35. Herbs for MenopauseIntegrative Medicine: Find Out What Works
  36. Is Kratom Safe To Use?
  37. Is It Safe To Use Herbal Weight Loss Supplements?
  38. 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
  39. Key Technical Issues of Herbal Medicines With Reference To Interaction With Other Medicines
  40. 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?]
  41. Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
  42. Lots of Women Try Herbs Like Black Cohosh for Menopausal Symptoms Like Hot Flushes – But Does It Work?
  43. Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  44. Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  45. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Dietary Supplements Useful In Some Situations, But Also Can Be Harmful
  46. Menopause Management: Complementary Therapies – Herbal Therapies and Remedies for Menopause
  47. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    Herbs for Menopause
  48. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  49. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide
  50. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  51. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  52. Menopause, Perimenopause, Hormone Therapy and Other Treatments With Madelyn Butler, MD [Podcast]
  53. Menopause: Things You Can Do
  54. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  55. NatMed
  56. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
  57. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 4 Tips: Start Talking With Your Health Care Providers About Complementary Health Approaches
  58. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 6 Things To Know When Selecting A Complementary Health Practitioner
  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: Ginkgo
  62. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Green Tea
  63. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  64. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  65. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
  66. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Placebo Effect
  67. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Red Clover
  68. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Soy
  69. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: St. John’s Wort
  70. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Valerian
  71. Natural Remedies To Help Manage Perimenopause Symptoms
  72. Natural Therapies
  73. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  74. Non-Estrogen Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
  75. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  76. Office of Dietary Supplements
  77. Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets
  78. Office of Dietary Supplements: My Dietary Supplement and Medicine Record
  79. Phytoestrogens
  80. Questions and Answers on Dietary Supplements
  81. SAMe
  82. Should You Try An L-Tyrosine Supplement? A Look at Its Benefits and Side Effects
  83. Supplements: What Works, What Doesn’t and the Truth About Menowashing
  84. The First WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit [17-18 August 2023]
  85. The Power of the Placebo Effect
  86. The Truth About Menopause Supplements | Dr Sarah Berry
  87. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  88. Traditional Medicine
  89. Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine
  90. Treatments for Menopause: Natural Therapies for Menopause
  91. Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
  92. Vaginal Dryness Alternative Treatments
  93. WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine
  94. WHO International Standard Terminologies on Traditional Chinese Medicine
  95. Webinars: Previous – Non-Hormonal Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  96. Webinars: Previous – Non-Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  97. What Are Adaptogens and Are They Healthy?
  98. What Can I Do To Help With Hot Flashes?
  99. What Is Traditional Chinese Medicine?
  100. 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: 25 June 2025
  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: 25 June 2025
  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: 25 June 2025
  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: 25 June 2025
  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: 25 June 2025
  6. Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine: Traditional Medicine. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/health-topics/traditional-complementary-and-integrative-medicine#tab=tab_1 Accessed: 25 June 2025
  7. Complementary Medicines and Therapies: Options for Menopausal Symptoms – Main Points. Published 15 April 2025. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/health-info/fact-sheets/complementary-medicines-and-therapies Accessed: 25 June 2025
  8. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats: Nonhormone Treatment Options – Not Recommended. 2023:2. North American Menopause Society https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/default-document-library/nonhormone-treatment-menonote_f5afc19f-211e-4c1f-8a04-b2d558c6fa66.pdf Accessed: 25 June 2025
  9. 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: 25 June 2025
  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: 25 June 2025
  11. Herbal Medicines. Page Last Reviewed: 18 October 2022. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/herbal-medicines/ Accessed: 25 June 2025
  12. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats: Nonhormone Treatment Options – Not Recommended. 2023:2. North American Menopause Society https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/default-document-library/nonhormone-treatment-menonote_f5afc19f-211e-4c1f-8a04-b2d558c6fa66.pdf Accessed: 25 June 2025
Topic Last Updated: 25 June 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 25 June 2025

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