Change of life remedies fill the shelves at the drug store and pharmacy - and even at Target. But, with little testing, and almost no long-term research, it's smartest to look carefully at the many homeopathic options in terms of individual ingredients.
Black Cohosh
Evidence suggests it can relieve hot flashes, night sweats, headaches, heart palpitations, and vaginal drying and thinning. The best documented of all herbal remedies, in European studies, black cohosh has been shown to suppress the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH), believed to be the root of many symptoms of menopause. Black cohosh has been approved for treatment of menopausal symptoms by German Commission E, Germany's leading authority in evaluating the safety and efficacy of herb remedies.
Commission E approves a therapeutic dose of 40 milligrams (mg) per day but recommends allowing a break of several weeks between every six months of continuous use. Remifemin is a trusted brand because its quality and dose are controlled by a reputable manufacturer and many of the European studies were done with this product which became available in the United States in 1996.
Vitamin E
While no well-controlled, large-scale studies prove that vitamin E reduces menopause symptoms, anecdotal evidence from many women and doctors, report that vitamin E reduces hot flashes. Vitamin E is structurally similar to estrogen at the molecular level and may act as a mild form of estrogen-replacement. Experts suggest 400-800 IU (international unites) daily.
Tofu and Soy
Tofu and other soy products offer naturally-occurring phytoestrogens (plant estrogens) that are similar in structure to our body's estrogen. Thirty to 50 milligrams of soy a day - 1 1/2 cups of low-fat soy milk, a half cup of tofu, or 2T of roasted soy nuts could be effective for soothing hot flashes, eliminating vaginal dryness, slowing bone loss, and protecting the heart. Long-term studies are underway and results should be available within two years.
Ginseng
A proven stimulant, ginseng (Panex ginseng) may give a boost to general feelings of well-being and erase some of the fatigue and possible even lift slight depressions. Some doctors believe that it may have an estrogen-like effect on the body, easing symptoms including vaginal dryness and hot flashes. Two recent scientific studies suggest that people taking ginseng - combined with vitamins and minterals - felt an improved quality of life. Other studies suggest it boosts psychological well-being and energy. Evidence of an effect on specific menopausal symptoms is anecdotal at this point.
In using homeopathic menopause symptom remedies:
- be wary of combination products. Any capsule with more than 6 ingredients contains only a small amount of each and the therapeutic benefit of any one herb goes down.
- be wary of creams - no matter what the ingredient, it may not be absorbed enough through the skin to be active.
- give remedies time to work. Some herbal remedies require 6 weeks to 3 months to become fully effective. If there is no relief from symptoms within that time, it's time to try something different.
- take the recommended dose - no more, no less. If you don't take enough, you may not see the benefits. If you take too much, there may be ill-effects.
- buy from a company whose name you know and whose other products you already trust. There is very little regulation of herbal products so you must depend on the reputation and credibility of the company producing the products.
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