What are the available natural alternatives for relieving menopause?

Many women have found that alternative therapies and natural supplements are most effective in alleviating their menopausal symptoms. A few of the most popular natural alternatives are soy phytoestrogens, black cohosh and red clover. Further studies need to be conducted to determine what risks, if any, are associated with natural therapies.

Phytoestrogens:

Often referred to as phytoestrogens or plant-estrogens, isoflavones are not hormones, but are similar in shape to the estrogen produced within our bodies and have the ability to bind to the same estrogen receptors as the actual hormone does. Isoflavones are a class of flavonoids that are plant- derived compounds.

Soy

Soy products contain natural compounds called isoflavones, which are similar in chemical structure to estrogen. These compounds may decrease or even eliminate menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes. Foods rich in soy include soybeans, tofu, tempeh and soymilk. Because of their weak estrogen- like effects, soybean isoflavones may be an option for relieving menopausal symptoms.

Isoflavones found in soybeans have three main types: genistein, daidzein and glycitein. Genistein has been the most widely researched isoflavone while research on daidzein has been catching up. Most isoflavones found in soy are in their inactive form called glycosides, which must be converted into the free-form before they can be absorbed by the body. The active form is called an aglycone. There is wide variability from person to person on how well isoflavones are absorbed, with poor absorption leading to insufficient results.

In Japan, where soy foods are consumed daily, women are only one-third as likely to report menopausal symptoms as women in the United States or Canada. Even though their estrogen activity is weak, isoflavones may be potent enough to reduce menopausal symptoms. In fact, research has shown that women who ate soy flour daily experienced about a 40 percent reduction in menopausal symptoms.

Since estrogen helps protect against osteoporosis and heart disease, women are at greater risk for both of these problems after menopause. Adding soy foods or an isoflavone supplement may provide some benefit.

Typically, soy foods are divided into two categories: non-fermented and fermented soy products. Traditional non-fermented soy foods include fresh green soybeans, whole dry soybeans, soy nuts, soy sprouts, whole-fat soy flour, soymilk and soymilk products, tofu, okara and yuba. Traditional fermented soy foods include tempeh, miso, soy sauces, natto and fermented tofu and soymilk products.

In fermented soy, a potent form of soy, which can be used as a treatment for menopause, isoflavones are broken down into their "free" active form for improved absorption. In Asian countries, the longstanding dietary principles of Koji fermentation have been used to make foods such as miso soup. Koji Fermentation not only creates aglycones that assist in menopausal relief, but also makes other health nutrients available, such as powerful antioxidants that are not available in soy itself. This unique combination has helped women achieve results when other soy products and natural menopause remedies failed.

Red Clover

Red clover, a member of the legume family, is rich in phytoestrogens compounds, which function like estrogen in the body, and bioflavonoids. Because of all of these characteristics it is thought to help alleviate a number of perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and other symptoms linked to estrogen levels. Some studies on a proprietary extract of red clover isoflavones, although not thoroughly convincing, indicate that it may significantly curtail instances of hot flashes in menopausal women.

Black Cohosh:

A group of clinical studies have demonstrated positive results in the use of black cohosh in the treatment of menopause symptoms in studies that lasted as long as six months. Menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, mood swings and sleeplessness have shown improvement with black cohosh.

It is not clear how black cohosh works. Some researchers think black cohosh contains plant estrogens and therefore has hormonal effects, but the latest reports have found no estrogens or hormonal effects. Black cohosh is generally well tolerated and side effects are uncommon. It may produce nausea, vomiting, dizziness and headaches. Black cohosh should not be taken during pregnancy as it has not been studied extensively. It is suggested that it may stimulate contractions and lead to premature labor

Other:

Other alternative treatments for relieving menopausal symptoms and side effects include: evening primrose oil, dong qua?i, ginseng, St. John's wort, chasteberry, calcium and magnesium