Complementary medicines and therapies - Australasian Menopause Society (2025)

Complementary medicines and therapies - Australasian Menopause Society (1)

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AMS Complementary Therapies Fact Sheet87.77 KB

Complementary medicine and therapies (CM&T) is a broad term usedto describe a wide range of health care medicines, therapies and otherproducts that are not generally considered as part of conventionalmedicine (National Health and Medical Research Council). Some womenthink about using CM&T to manage their menopausal symptoms becausethey do not want to use prescribed medications or are unable to use them.If you are thinking about using CM&T, ask your doctor if it will affect othermedications you might be taking. Some CM&T are promoted as naturaland safe with little evidence the therapy works. Often there is no way to knowif CM&T are safe or uncontaminated, especially if bought online. Your doctorcan help you to understand the benefits and risks of a CM&T. The tableprovides a summary of commonly used CM&T for menopausal symptoms.

The traffic light colours indicate:

Complementary medicines and therapies - Australasian Menopause Society (3)Red -Do not use (insufficient evidence that it works and/or safety concerns)

Complementary medicines and therapies - Australasian Menopause Society (4)Orange - Use with caution (may work but safety concerns)

Complementary medicines and therapies - Australasian Menopause Society (5)Green -OK to use (some evidence that it works and safe for most women)

Medicine/Therapy

Symptom

Comments

Rec'n*

Botanical/herbal/Vitamin supplements

Vitamin E

Hot flushes

Vitamin E can decrease the number of hot flushes by 1-2 per day.

Complementary medicines and therapies - Australasian Menopause Society (6)

St John’s Wort

Mood symptoms

Can improve mood and may help with mild depression. This therapy interacts with many prescription medicines.

Complementary medicines and therapies - Australasian Menopause Society (7)

Soy isoflavones or phyto-oestrogens

Menopausal symptoms

May help hot flushes. Not helpful for sleep.

Complementary medicines and therapies - Australasian Menopause Society (8)

Wild yam cream or progesterone cream

Endometrial (lining of the uterus) protection

No evidence that it is effective.

Complementary medicines and therapies - Australasian Menopause Society (9)

Red clover

Menopausal symptoms

Can slightly reduce the frequency of hot flushes. Post menopausal women may see a greater reduction.

Complementary medicines and therapies - Australasian Menopause Society (10)

Omega-3 supplements

Hot flushes

No evidence that effective for menopausal symptoms but can lower high triglycerides.

Complementary medicines and therapies - Australasian Menopause Society (11)

Black cohosh

Menopausal symptoms

There are different forms of Black Cohosh and some extracts (isopropanolic) may be beneficial. There are possible safety concerns.

Complementary medicines and therapies - Australasian Menopause Society (12)

Evening primrose oil

Hot flushes

No evidence that it is effective.

Complementary medicines and therapies - Australasian Menopause Society (13)

Ashwagandha

Menopausal symptoms

Insufficient evidence of benefit and concerns for gastrointestinal and liver side effects.Complementary medicines and therapies - Australasian Menopause Society (14)

Mind-body therapies

Acupuncture

Hot flushes

May be effective at reducing frequency and severity of hot flush versus a placebo, but not compared to sham acupuncture.

Complementary medicines and therapies - Australasian Menopause Society (15)

Cognitive behavioural therapy

Menopausal symptoms

Can help some women with menopausal symptoms (sleep/ hot flushes/mood).

Complementary medicines and therapies - Australasian Menopause Society (16)

Hypnosis

Menopausal symptoms

Hypnosis might be helpful for some women.

Complementary medicines and therapies - Australasian Menopause Society (17)

Yoga

Menopausal symptoms

Yoga might be helpful for some women.

Complementary medicines and therapies - Australasian Menopause Society (18)

Homeopathy

Menopausal symptoms

No evidence that is it effective.

Complementary medicines and therapies - Australasian Menopause Society (19)

Other

Bioidentical compounded hormone therapy

Menopausal symptoms

Do not take it if you can’t take prescribed menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for safety reasons.

Complementary medicines and therapies - Australasian Menopause Society (20)

* Rec'n = Recommendation

Information obtained from The North American Menopause Society (The 2023 nonhormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society).

The AMS website also has fact sheets for information about other treatment options.For any concerns or questions about options to manage your menopausal symptoms, visit your doctor or go to the Find an AMS Member service on the AMS website.

Complementary medicines and therapies - Australasian Menopause Society (21)

Note:Medical and scientific information provided and endorsed by the Australasian Menopause Society might not be relevant to an individual’s personal circumstances and should always be discussed with their own healthcare provider. This Information Sheet may contain copyright or otherwise protected material. Reproduction of this Information Sheet by Australasian Menopause Society Members, other health professionals and their patients for clinical practice is permissible. Any other use of this information (hardcopy and electronic versions) must be agreed to and approved by the Australasian Menopause Society.

Content updated 15 April 2025

Complementary medicines and therapies - Australasian Menopause Society (2025)
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