Natural Ingredients Address Menopausal Symptoms (Women on the Verge: Ingredients to Ease Menopause Changes)

Mood Benders

In addition to the physiologic symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats, other commonly reported symptoms include psychological symptoms such as mood changes (increased sadness, depression and/or anxiety). Researchers combed through MEDLINE and EMBASE databases from 1966 to April 2006, as well as the Commission E reports and the German Regulatory Health Authority, looking for botanical and dietary supplements that were used for treatment of mood and anxiety disorders by middle aged peri- and postmenopausal women.³⁹ The authors concluded St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) and black cohosh were the most useful in alleviating mood and anxiety changes during menopause; Asian ginseng holds promise but needs more research; kava “holds promise for decreasing anxiety but should be used carefully;” and Ginkgo biloba and valerian do not appear to reduce depression or anxiety in menopausal women.

The combination of St. John’s wort and black cohosh has been studied for its role in climacteric conditions and mood changes resulting from menopause. A study on the combination of the two herbs (Remifemin® plus, from Enzymatic Therapy) on Korean peri- or postmenopausal women revealed it was more effective in menopausal patients with mood complaints compared to the black cohosh monotherapy.⁴⁰ A double blind study of 301 women found the combination was significantly more effective than placebo for general menopause symptoms and depression.⁴¹

The Calming Horizon

During the SupplySide West 2007 show in Las Vegas, Mark Blumenthal from the American Botanical Council mentioned the possible 2008 introduction into the U.S. marketplace of Phytostrol N-ERr 731 (Muller-Goppingen, Germany), a Rhaponticum rhubarb root extract for menopause conditions. The herb has been available in Germany since 1993, and several trials have found a reduction in menopause symptoms based on its phystoestrogenic compound lindleyin. A study published in the 2007 issue of Menopause claimed rhubarb extract ERr 731 decreases anxiety and improves health state and general well-being in perimenopausal women.⁴² In a 12-week double blind, placebo-controlled trial of 109 women, researchers found the use of the extract could significantly reduces the occurrence and severity of climacteric complaints in perimenopause.⁴³

The blending of noted herbs for menopause conditions also holds promise. A combination product containing standardized extracts of black cohosh, dong quai, milk thistle, red clover, American ginseng and chaste-berry (as Phyto-Female Complex®, from SupHerb) offers relief of hot flashes and night sweats, and benefits sleep quality.⁴⁴ The subjects who took the complex experienced a 25-percent reduction of hot flashes and a 23-percent reduction in night sweats, versus 8-percent and 15-percent reductions revealed in the placebo group at the end of the second week. By the end of 12 weeks, the group taking the complex experienced a 73-percent reduction in hot flashes and a 69-percent reduction of night sweats, versus 38 percent and 29 percent, respectively.