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Alternative medicine
By Mayo Clinic staffSome women use dietary supplements to curb hot flashes, including:
- Black cohosh. Black cohosh has been used widely in Europe for treating hot flashes and has been popular among women with menopausal symptoms in the United States. While its safety record has been good, there's little evidence that it's effective for menopausal symptom relief.
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Soy and red clover. Women in Asian countries, where soy is a regular part of the diet, are less likely to report hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms than are women in other parts of the world. One reason might be related to ingestion of isoflavones — estrogen-like compounds in soy, red clover and many other plants. However, studies giving soy to women with hot flashes have generally found no benefit. Selected isoflavones have mixed results for menopausal symptom relief.
Isoflavones can have weak estrogen-like effects, so there's some concern about cancer risk for women who take them. If you've had breast cancer, talk to your doctor before supplementing your diet with isoflavone pills or red clover. Experts generally consider whole foods containing soy or isoflavones to be healthy and safe, when consumed in moderation.
Take all herbal supplements with caution. Just because manufacturers claim their products are natural doesn't mean they're safe. All supplements have potentially harmful side effects, and supplements may interact with medication you're taking for other medical conditions. Always review what you're taking with your doctor.
- Casper RF, et al. Menopausal hot flashes. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 22, 2009.
- Schorge JO, et al. The mature woman. In: Schorge JO, et al. Williams Gynecology. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3158924. Accessed April 21, 2009.
- Menopause: Medicines to help you. U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Office of Women's Health. http://www.fda.gov/womens/medicinecharts/menopause.html. Accessed April 22, 2009.
- Nathan L, et al. Menopause and postmenopause. In: DeCherney AH, et al. Current Diagnosis and Treatment Obstetrics & Gynecology. 10th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2002. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2393309. Accessed April 21, 2007.
- Manson JE, et al. Estrogen therapy and coronary-artery calcification. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2007;356:2591.
- Herbal products for menopause. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp158.cfm. Accessed April 22, 2009.
