There are a number of natural products that have been shown to offer relief from the various symptoms of menopause. A study published in Obstetrics and Gynecology (2005; 105(5 Pt 1):1074–1083) examined the effect of black cohosh extract on anxiety and other menopausal symptoms. In this study, 304 menopausal women were given either a placebo or a pharmaceutical-grade black cohosh extract for 12 weeks. At the end of the study period, women receiving the black cohosh experienced improvements in symptoms such as hot flashes, as measured by the Menopause Rating Scale. A meta-analysis published in the Journal of Women’s Health (1998 Jun;7(5):525–529) also concluded that black cohosh was both safe and effective for alleviating menopausal symptoms.
Several studies have evaluated flaxseed intake and menopausal symptoms. One study published in the Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology (2007 Summer;5(3):106–112) involved 30 women experiencing at least 14 hot flashes per week. Participants consumed 40 grams of crushed flaxseed daily. Over six weeks, the women experienced an average 57% reduction in the number of hot flashes. They also reported less joint and muscle pain, reduced sweating and chills, and an overall improvement in quality of life. Another double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study, reported in Family Practice News (February 1, 2005:48), involved 85 women experiencing at least five episodes of hot flashes or night sweats per day. Participants were assigned to receive either 40 grams of flaxseed per day or a placebo for three months, then switched treatments. During flaxseed supplementation, the median number of hot flashes declined by 38%. This reduction in symptoms was accompanied by increased urinary levels of enterodiol, enterolactone, and other lignans. Additional research published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention (October 2000;9:1113–1118) confirmed increases in urinary lignans following flaxseed supplementation. Flaxseed may influence estrogen metabolism, as shown in a study published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention (July 2000;9:719–725), which found that flaxseed supplementation increased the urinary ratio of 2-hydroxyestrogen to 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone.
Vitamin E has also been studied for menopausal symptom relief. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in Gynecology and Obstetrics Investigation (2007;64(4):204–207) evaluated 51 women who received either 400 IU of vitamin E or a placebo for four weeks, followed by a one-week washout period and an additional four weeks of supplementation. Vitamin E supplementation resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the number of hot flashes experienced by the women receiving the supplement.
