CAM for Menopause

Just as many complementary, alternative and integrative medicines are emerging nowadays, more and more people are patronizing non-scientific based treatment for any illness, disease, physical or physiological disablement. Even menopausal women are now exploring these medicines to either prevent or lessen the effects brought by this natural phenomenon.

According to The Peterson Group experts had found out that many middle aged women use black cohosh, multibotanical supplements and dietary soy has grown dramatically, perhaps in part due to fear of prescription hormones. This makes it important for doctors to be prepared to provide patients with up-to-date, evidence-based information as there are a lot of women who tend to believe claims of almost impossible effects in an almost impossible time frame. With little flowery words from fraudsters and a desperate middle-age, the deal may spread like wildfire among other women.

Patients should know that few CAM remedies for menopause-related symptoms have been scientifically evaluated and, to the extent they have been studied, robust evidence for the efficacy of many therapies is lacking. In randomized controlled clinical trials, soy foods, is flavone supplements, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids have not consistently been shown to be better than placebo for treating hot flashes.

On the other hand, a growing body of evidence suggests that mind and body practices such as yoga, tai chi, qi gong, and acupuncture may benefit women during menopause.

Mind and Body Therapies for Menopausal Symptoms

A 2010 review of 21 papers assessed mind and body therapies for menopausal symptoms. The researchers found that yoga, tai chi, and meditation-based programs may be helpful in reducing common menopausal symptoms including the frequency and intensity of hot flashes, sleep and mood disturbances, stress, and muscle and joint pain.

Another 2010 review based in Jakarta, Indonesia assessed studies that examined the use of acupuncture for hot flashes related to natural or induced menopause. The studies that the researchers included in their review were limited to acupuncture studies performed using needles stimulated by hand or electrically. The researchers found that acupuncture may reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes; they also concluded that the effect may occur regardless of where the acupuncture needle is placed on the body. However, some studies did not provide sufficient evidence to support the use of acupuncture for hot flashes due to their small size and poor quality. Further research is needed to provide more conclusive results.

The Peterson Group is also currently conducting research and studies relating to menopausal stage of women, hot flushes and how further the use of alternative medicines can ease pain or side effects related to it.