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What is menopause Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy Advantages Controversial Complimentary Links
Is HRT for You
ALTERNATIVE
THERAPIES
The acceptance of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as a menopausal
treatment has not been without controversy. For many women HRT is not the
treatment of first choice, preferring instead to try what appear to them to be
less risky options offered by natural and complementary medicine
Be sure to consult with you healthcare provider before trying any
alternative therapies!
HERBAL THERAPY
Herbs are not to be considered 'natural' HRT; some people use them
as remedies and supplements to try and ease the
transition to and through menopause. In a study conducted at the
Extreme caution must be taken in herbal medicines.
This is because many herbs are toxic at low levels and many people have
allergies to certain herbs. Herbal
medicine may have much to offer women in the treatment of symptoms associated
with menopause, but more research is needed in this
area to say for sure. Blending of
tradition and science has begun, which has the potential to allow practitioners
and patients to be confident in a wider range therapeutic interventions.
VITAMINS AND MINERALS
Many think that some of the common complaints associated with
menopause are caused by the lack of adequate nutrients
in our diets. According to the FDA’s 2000 reports the average American’s are not meeting the
recommended daily allowances when it comes to vitamin and mineral intake.
Studies show that if we have proper nutrient intake we will be all
around healthier. Also
keep in mind menopausal women need more calcium and vitamin D. According to a study published in the American Journal of Medicine which
involved 223 randomly assigned postmenopausal women calcium citrate causes
beneficial changes in circulating lipid levels in postmenopausal women (Reid et
al., 2002)
SOY AND PHYTOESTROGENS 
A phytoestrogen
is a naturally-occurring plant nutrient that exerts an
estrogen-like action on the body. Scientists have discovered hundreds of
phytoestrogens including soybeans, whole grain cereals, seeds (especially
flax), nuts (especially walnuts) and many herbs.
Medical research has demonstrated numerous benefits associated with
phytoestrogens. In a study published in the journal Menopause, for
example, the women who participated ate one of three diets; two diets were rich
in phytoestrogens such as soybeans and flax seeds, and the other diet was a
standard diet. Of two diets rich in soy one had the soy in a single dose and the other had it
split up into two doses. In the both
groups that ate the phytoestrogen-rich diet, cholesterol levels declined, and a
decrease in diastolic blood pressure was noticed in the twice a day group.
There was also a difference in the vasomotor symptoms for the twice a day
group, and the
menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness, did not decrease
significantly. There were no changes at
all in the regular diet. (Washburn et al., 1999).
In another study published in Climacteric,
researchers found NO significant reduction in menopausal symptoms when women
supplemented their diets with soy (Kotosopoulos
et al., 2000). So
while soy and phytoestrogens seem to be good for our cardiovascular heath, they
do not seem to be having in real effects on the actual symptoms of menopause.
Home What is menopause Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy Advantages Controversial Complimentary Links
Is HRT for You