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If
You Are Considering CAM for Menopausal Symptoms
Although there is very little scientific
evidence to support the
effectiveness of CAM¹
therapies for menopausal symptoms, it is possible
that some CAM therapies may provide some relief to women during the
menopausal transition. Here are two important points to keep in mind if
you are considering these therapies:
- Tell your
health care providers about
any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full
picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure
coordinated and safe care.
- "Natural"
does not automatically mean
"safe." As noted earlier, botanical and other dietary supplements can
interact with each other and with prescription and over-the-counter
drugs, affecting how the body reacts. Supplements can pose other safety
issues as well. Some have been found to be contaminated, contain
unlabeled ingredients, or have different amounts of ingredients than
are listed on the label.
Women who are looking for alternatives to MHT should be aware that
CAM therapies are not their only option. Certain lifestyle changes can
contribute to healthy aging, including during the menopausal
transition. For example, quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, and
exercising regularly have been shown to reduce the risks of heart
disease and osteoporosis.
NCCAM
Research on CAM for Menopausal Symptoms
NCCAM supports a number of studies on CAM
treatments (such as
botanicals and mind-body practices) for menopausal symptoms, as do some
of the other institutes and centers at NIH. Recent examples of
NCCAM-funded projects include:
- An initiative to improve measures of hot
flashes, which is
expected to add to the understanding of hot flashes and to aid future
clinical studies
- A study of whether black cohosh can help
with the anxiety that may be experienced as a symptom of menopause
- A study to identify botanicals from
Central America that have been
used by the native population for menopausal symptoms and to develop
and test standardized extracts from these plants
- Several studies looking at the effect of
acupuncture on the
recurrence and severity of hot flashes in postmenopausal women and
others who may suffer from hot flashes, such as men being treated for
prostate cancer
- A study to determine the effects of
mindfulness-based stress
reduction (a type of meditation) on hot flashes in menopausal women
- A study to understand how soy
supplements might affect hot flashes and night sweats.
In addition, NCCAM and other NIH components
are cofunding an
initiative to establish a network of research centers looking at
potential new treatments for menopausal symptoms.
¹
- Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)
Article Source:
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