Broadening our perspectives on complementary and alternative medicine for menopause: A narrative review

Tonob, Dunia; Melby, Melissa K.

doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2017.01.013

Cited by 16 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…Moreover, data from surveys show that women prefer CAM to conventional therapies because they consider CAM natural and safe, having a positive effect on maintaining good general health and having no or mild side effects. However, women often do not inform physicians about their decision to start using CAM since they feel that healthcare providers (HCPs) lack knowledge about it and prefer to receive information from different sources (media, friends and relatives) [12–14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Non-hormonal strategies for managing menopausal symptoms in cancer survivors: an update

Biglia

Bounous

Seta

et al. 2019

ecancer

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Vasomotor symptoms, particularly hot flushes (HFs), are the most frequently reported symptom by menopausal women. In particular, for young women diagnosed with breast cancer, who experience premature ovarian failure due to cancer treatments, severe HFs are an unsolved problem that strongly impacts on quality of life. The optimal management of HFs requires a personalised approach to identify the treatment with the best benefit/risk profile for each woman. Hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) is effective in managing HFs but it is contraindicated in women with previous hormone-dependent cancer. Moreover, many healthy women are reluctant to take HRT and prefer to manage symptoms with non-hormonal strategies. In this narrative review, we provide an update on the current available non-oestrogenic strategies for HFs management for women who cannot, or do not wish to, take oestrogens. Since isoflavones have oestrogenic properties and it is not known if they can be safely consumed by women with previous hormone-dependent cancer, they were excluded. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors/selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, as well as other neuroactive agents, some herbal remedies and behavioural strategies are considered.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For this reason, a result which is similar to that achieved by placebo must be a good one, even if it is not significant. Moreover, menopause is a complex period of life where many physical and psychological changes interact, determining a higher susceptibility to the relationship between the woman and HCPs [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non-hormonal strategies for managing menopausal symptoms in cancer survivors: an update

Biglia

Bounous

Seta

et al. 2019

ecancer

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“…However, the approaches used by WHI to process the data and interpret the results have been questioned, and the benefits associated with the use of HRT in menopausal and post-menopausal women, such as cardioprotective effects, prevention of fractures and control of vasomotor symptoms, are now being emphasized [ 55 , 56 , 57 ]. Despite this, complementary and alternative therapeutic approaches are in demand [ 53 , 58 , 59 , 60 ]. Therefore, many women choose nutritional supplements containing phytoestrogens from herbal sources as an alternative to HRT [ 61 ].…”

Section: Menopause Therapymentioning

confidence: 99%

Therapeutic Perspectives of 8-Prenylnaringenin, a Potent Phytoestrogen from Hops

et al. 2018

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Hop (Humulus lupulus L.), as a key ingredient for beer brewing, is also a source of many biologically active molecules. A notable compound, 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN), structurally belonging to the group of prenylated flavonoids, was shown to be a potent phytoestrogen, and thus, became the topic of active research. Here, we overview the pharmacological properties of 8-PN and its therapeutic opportunities. Due to its estrogenic effects, administration of 8-PN represents a novel therapeutic approach to the treatment of menopausal and post-menopausal symptoms that occur as a consequence of a progressive decline in hormone levels in women. Application of 8-PN in the treatment of menopause has been clinically examined with promising results. Other activities that have already been assessed include the potential to prevent bone-resorption or inhibition of tumor growth. On the other hand, the use of phytoestrogens is frequently questioned regarding possible adverse effects associated with long-term consumption. In conclusion, we emphasize the implications of using 8-PN in future treatments of menopausal and post-menopausal symptoms, including the need for precise evidence and further investigations to define the safety risks related to its therapeutic use.

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“…Since the long-term use of estrogen could increase the incidence of breast cancer or endometrial cancer [ 4 , 5 ], hormone replacement therapy was restricted for use [ 6 ]. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an important aspect of alternative therapy for menopausal syndrome [ 7 , 8 ]. Though many herbs are effective in the treatment of menopausal syndrome with different mechanisms [ 9 , 10 ], the Chinese herb mixture has been used to treat menopausal syndrome for thousands of years [ 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Herb Formula ZhenRongDan Balances Sex Hormones, Modulates Organ Atrophy, and Restores ERα and ERβ Expressions in Ovariectomized Rats

Zhou

Chen

et al. 2018

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

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Herb mixtures are widely used for treatment of the menopausal syndrome long before the hormonal therapy. However, there is insufficient data for herb remedies in treating menopausal syndromes. Here we aim to investigate the effect of ZhenRongDan (ZRD) in balancing female hormones, regulating expression of estrogen receptors (ERs), and preventing organ atrophy in menopausal rats. Rats that underwent bilateral ovariectomy were used in the experiments; the effects of ZRD on serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), and estradiol (E2) levels were observed. Histology of vagina and ERs expression in vagina, uterus, and adrenal gland were also examined. ELISAs were used to analyze the changes of FSH, LH, PRL, and E2 in serum, and the morphological changes of the cervical epithelium cells were observed by Hematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) staining. Immunohistochemistry and western blot were applied to detect estrogen receptors subtypes alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ) expression in vagina, uterus, and adrenal gland. We found that ZRD could significantly reduce the weight of the adrenal gland and increase the weight of the uterus. It could decrease the release of FSH and LH as well as increasing E2 and PRL levels. Furthermore, ZRD could improve the number of cervical vaginal epithelial cells and increase the thickness of the vaginal wall. And the altered expressions of ERα and ERβ are also restored by ZRD. ZRD could obviously relieve the endocrine disorders, modulate organ atrophy, and restore ERα and ERβ expression in the ovariectomized rat model.

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Broadening our perspectives on complementary and alternative medicine for menopause: A narrative review

Cited by 16 publications

References 65 publications

Non-hormonal strategies for managing menopausal symptoms in cancer survivors: an update

Non-hormonal strategies for managing menopausal symptoms in cancer survivors: an update

Therapeutic Perspectives of 8-Prenylnaringenin, a Potent Phytoestrogen from Hops

Herb Formula ZhenRongDan Balances Sex Hormones, Modulates Organ Atrophy, and Restores ERα and ERβ Expressions in Ovariectomized Rats

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