menopausal symptoms, but a recent six-month trial of 71 postmenopausal women found that when used on its own, it didn’t offer any relief from VMS.
You can buy dong quai in the form of a powder, pill, or tincture, but taking it alone or in commercially prepared products is likely to be ineffective and may cause unwanted side effects like skin rash or heavy menstrual bleeding.
If you want to try it, herbal experts recommend that you see a qualified Chinese herbalist who can prescribe an appropriate combination of herbs tailored to your particular needs.
Herbal Cocktails
A host of other over-the-counter nutritional supplements and herbal mixtures claim to relieve a wide range of menopausal complaints. These cure-all cocktails may contain ginseng, fenugreek, licorice, sarsaparilla, flaxseed, red clover, or chaste-tree berry. There is little data on their effectiveness or safety.
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Are these treatments safe?
Nobody really knows for sure. Although a number of these substances have been used for years by herbalists, most alternative treatments haven’t been widely studied, so questions about safety remain.
Many natural remedies are considered nutritional supplements rather than drugs, and thus aren’t as closely regulated by the government as prescription and over-the-counter medications. Yet some of them can be just as powerful — and dangerous — as traditional drugs. And because there’s so little data on these substances, no one really knows yet how much of them you need to take to feel better. It’s also hard to know what you’re getting; studies have shown that the potency and quality of such products vary widely.
If you choose to try an alternative treatment, you may need to be patient; the effects can take as long as twelve weeks to kick in.
It’s smart to consult your doctor as well as a qualified herbalist or naturopath before using alternative therapies. And let your doctor know if you want to try these treatments; he or she may be able to recommend one that’s appropriate for you (although some physicians might want to steer you away from such remedies altogether).
You should also tell your healthcare providers about any health problems you have and any medications you’re on. Like traditional drug treatments, some alternative remedies may interfere with the medicines you’re taking or cause problems if you have certain conditions.
What else can I do?
Eat a low-fat, calcium-rich diet; don’t smoke; if you drink alcohol, do so in moderation; and exercise regularly. These are the most important steps you can take to ease the discomfort of menopausal symptoms.
They’re also crucial in keeping heart disease and bone loss at bay. Some women have also reported that reducing stress through yoga has also helped reduce bothersome symptoms.
Also, wear clothing in layers, so you can peel off a sweater if you get a hot flash. Try to avoid wearing any heavy tops or pullovers that you can’t remove (in public) if you need to.