A wide variety of alternative medicines are used to improve post-menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, vasomotor and psychological symptoms, osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases and memory related issues. Alternative medicines for menopause symptoms include herbal or natural supplements (Amberen, Dong quai, and Black cohosh etc.), complimentary therapies, and bio-identical hormones. Most women prefer these alternative remedies as these are thought to be safer and harmless. However, there is little efficacy and safety of most of them. By the same token, a number of serious and potentially fatal interactions have been documented between herbal preparations and standard conventional medicines. In spite of all this, the use of alternative methods is increasing day by day.
Regarding herbal supplements for menopause, their efficacy and safety must be authorized by a trustworthy organization. All the ingredients contained in the product must be labeled clearly and tested by the regulatory authority. Unfortunately, most of the natural formulas are not tested and authorized by the regulatory authority. Perhaps, the manufacturers think of no need of authorized stamps as they consider their preparations natural and say “Natural supplements do not cause any harm to the body.” But they don’t think of humanity that labeling the preparation as “Natrual” does not mean that they do not cause any harm to the body.
Up to the date, less numbers of herbal preparations and supplements are reported safe and effective. Natural supplements such as Amberen, Dong quai, Black cohosh, Evening primrose oil, Ginseng and Ginkgo, St John’s wort are being used for years. These products are beneficial for menopausal symptoms and safe in their working. Amberen offers psycho-emotional balance in the body because of the ingredients contained in it. A randomized trial has proved that Dong quai works superior to the placebo used in relieving menopausal symptoms. Similarly, Black cohosh is an herbaceous plant and alleviates the most common short term menopausal symptoms like hot flushes and night sweats.
Why do the menopausal women use herbal supplement to ease their symptoms? Why don’t they go for HRT (hormone replacement therapy)? Most probably they consider the supplements safer than HRT as HRT results in a lot of cumbersome outcomes. The women who can not bear the offensive outcomes of HRT turn to the natural therapies and herbal supplements like Amberen and St John’s wort. Although many herbal alternatives are not tested and authorized by the regulatory organizations but the women fed up of with conventional therapies seek relaxation in these supplements.
Summarily, prescription and non-prescription therapies are being used now-a-days. Among prescription therapies for menopausal symptoms, HRT is the only option available that offers hormones like estrogen and progesterone to the body. Among non-prescription therapies, acupuncture, reflexology, magnetism, herbal supplements like Black cohosh, Ginkgo and Amberen are used and liked by the women undergoing menopause.
Significantly, life style modification of women undergoing cumbersome symptoms is necessary and helpful to ease stress and depression. Healthy diet and regular exercise play an important role in our healthy life as well as ease the women experiencing menopausal symptoms.
