Complementary and alternative menopausal treatments are deemed unconventional forms of medical treatments. They comprise of dietetic and herbal supplements, acupuncture therapy, chiropractic care, massage, biofeedback, homeopathy and consuming particular victuals that are considered to have safeguard and recuperative qualities.

Alternative therapy is often employed on its own, while complementary therapies are alternative course of treatments that are employed along with tradition line of treatments like drugs or surgery.

Menopausal women might experience succour from the niggling symptoms if they incorporated botanicals like phytoestrogens in their daily diet. Black cohosh and flaxseed are other dietary supplements that might allay menopausal symptoms.

Botanicals - The plant-derived medicine that has since ages been employed by prehistoric tribal healers and are the basis for almost half of the locally available prescription drugs. Botanicals comprising of herbs and dietary supplements form a major part of alternative treatments.

Efficacy of Botanicals in relieving Menopausal symptoms – Certain types of botanicals like phytoestrogens could aid in alleviating menopausal symptoms. Phytoestrogens are materials that are present in plant-derived foods which are believed to be having weak estrogen-similar effects. These might function within the body as a weak estrogen form. Certain types might aid in lowering cholesterol and have been recommended to mitigate hot flashes and profuse night sweating. Isofavones are a type of plant estrogen that could be noted in certain foods like soy produce –tofu, soy milk and soybeans.

Black cohosh is commonly obtainable and has been touted by the North American Menopause Society as a useful short term aid (no longer than six months) in treating hot flashes, night sweating and dryness in the vagina. There are unclear safety concerns on its usage past 6 months. The side effects are noted to be quite uncommon and might lead to irritation in the stomach and intestines.

Flaxseed or linseed is another kind of phytoestrogen made up of lignans and is believed to assuage menopausal symptoms especially hot flashes, though there is hardly any scientific proof to back this claim. Additionally, certain studies have revealed that flaxseed might lower the risk of getting breast cancer in women. It is obtainable in varied forms such as whole seed, crushed up meal and seed oil. Though, only the mashed up or crushed version of flaxseed is believed to contain lignans which the body could assimilate.

Evening primrose oil is another form of botanical that is frequently employed for the treatment of hot flashes, though there is absence of any scientific proof to back it. Feeling nauseous and diarrhoea are some side effects encountered. It is advisable to not take evening primrose oil in those women that are having other medical conditions or those that are taking particular medicines.

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