By: Shelagh McNally for Fibroids1According to the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), 40 percent of menopausal women seek medical attention to alleviate symptoms including hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, irritability and depression. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) used to be the standard treatment but studies have shown a connection between prolonged HRT use and an increase in heart disease and cancer. Women are now seeking out alternative solutions such as regular exercise, diet supplements and natural estrogen; between 1997 and 1999, women spent $27 billion dollars on these alternative therapies.
Physical activity is playing a role because the endorphins released during exercise raise the body’s opiod levels responsible for feelings of well being, while helping to regulate hormones. A study conducted by Dr. M. Hammart et al compared hot flash severity and frequency, finding that only 21.5 percent of physically active women experienced moderate to severe hot flashes compared to 44 percent who experienced none. The other benefits of exercise such as cardiovascular fitness, reduced tension and weight reduction also help with symptoms.
Soy food and their products are highly recommended because of their high concentrations of phytoestrogens, a type of natural estrogen. A 1999 University of Pittsburgh study found that phytoestrogens react like HRT, binding to the estrogen receptors in the body, and reducing symptoms. Another 1999 study by Washburn et al studied the diets of Asian women, who typically consume 20 to 80 mg of isoflavones daily (the phytoestrogens found in Soya). They found that few reported strong menopausal symptoms. The average American woman consumes less then 5 mg of isoflavones. In 1995 Murkies et al studied the diet of 58 postmenopausal women. The control group eating had a 40 percent reduction in hot flashes as opposed to the wheat group who experienced a 25 percent reduction.
Some women have reported great success with bodywork therapies such as acupuncture, massage and chiropractic therapy. Like exercise these therapies released endorphins that helped in relaxation and help with insomnia. In 1995, Wyon et al followed a group of 21 women who received acupuncture for their symptoms. Fifty percent of those treated had a significant decline in their hot flashes and other symptoms after treatment that lasted over six months.
Certain botanicals and herbal remedies have been found to relieve a variety of menopausal symptoms. Many of these herbs have been used in other cultures, both Western and Eastern, for centuries to relieve other gynecological problems. The most popular herbs include vitex, dang gui, American ginseng and cohosh, ginseng, licorice and evening primrose. While reasonably safe, many are not subject to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. More research is being conducted to determine how effective these herbs are as an alternative treatment. An increase in vitamins and minerals, including calcium, magnesium, vitamins C, E and K is also recommended.
The goal of any menopausal treatment is to reduce the symptoms and for those women who prefer not to use HRT, these “natural” therapies provide a safe alternative. For more information, consult your doctor or visit the Web site of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health: www.nccam.nih.gov.
