Menopause

Sign/Symptoms
Abdominal Bloating Balance Impaired Bloating Breast Atrophy Breast Skin Thinning Breast Swollen Breast Tenderness Breast: Decreased Elasticity of Skin Chills Clitoris: Size Decrease Fatigue Flatulence (Farting) Headache (Cephalgia) Heartbeats Felt By Patient (Palpitations) Hot Flashes (Hot Flushes) Indigestion (Dyspepsia) Insomnia Labia Minora: Size Decrease Leg: Restless Leg Syndrome Libido (Sex Drive) Decrease Menstrual Periods Abnormal Mind: Anxiety Mind: Depression Mind: Irritability Mind: Malaise Mind: Mood Swings Mind: Panic Mind: Poor Concentration Mind: Poor Memory Skills Mind: Sleep Disturbances Night Sweats Osteoporosis (Reduced Bone Density) Pain Back Pain During Urination (Dysuria) Pain Joint (Arthralgia) Pain Muscle (Myalgia) Pain Vaginal During Intercourse (Dyspareunia) Sweating (Perspiring) Urinary Frequency Increased Urinary Incontinence Urinary Urgency Vaginal Dryness Vaginal Irritation Vaginal Itching Vaginal Wall Thinning Vulvar Dryness

Drugs
Norethisterone Oestradiol

Treatments
Alternative Medicine Evening Primrose Oil No Recommendation Very Low Evidence Kampo Weakly in Favour Low Evidence Kava (Piper Methysticum) No Recommendation Very Low Evidence Licorice (Glycyrrhiza Glabra, Gan Cao) No Recommendation Low Evidence Mugwort (Artemisa Vulgaris) No Recommendation Very Low Evidence Naturopathic Medicine No Recommendation Very Low Evidence Strychnos Nux Vomica (Maqianzi, Poison Nut) Strongly Against Very Low Evidence Alternative Therapies Neural Therapy No Recommendation Very Low Evidence Avoid Stimulants (e.g caffeine) Weakly in Favour Low Evidence Lifestyle Changes Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Weakly in Favour Low Evidence Increase Exercise Strongly in Favour Moderate Evidence Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Weakly in Favour Low Evidence Vulvo Vaginal Hygiene Strongly in Favour Moderate Evidence

Attributes
Commonality is common Gender = F

Further Tests
Androstenedione Concentration Androstenedione (Decreased) Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Concentration Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) (Increased) Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Concentration Luteinizing Hormone (LH) (Increased) Progesterone Concentration Progesterone (Decreased) Urine Estradiol (E2) Concetration Urine Estradiol (E2) (Decreased) Urine Estriol (E3) Concentration Urine Estriol (E3) (Decreased)

Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:

Strychnos Nux-Vomica (Maqianzi, Poison Nut) [1, 25, 26, 27]:

WARNING! This substance is HIGHLY POISONOUS. The seeds contain Strychnine, which may cause convulsions, breathing difficulties and death, even if as little as 5 milligrams is ingested.

Recommendation: Strongly against (There is no evidence in the form of clinical trials which reports the effectiveness of Strychnos Nux-Vomica, because it is highly poisonous to humans, and is not recommended.)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Red Clover (Trifolium Pratense) [1, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: weakly in favor (Early studies show that Red Clover might help in reducing the symptoms of menopause. However, this was not a fully reliable study, and further research is needed)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Mugwort (Artemisa Vulgaris) [1, 15, 16, 17]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It has been proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has been discounted due life-threatening side effects

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that mugwart helps to reduce symptoms of menopause. More research is needed.)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Licorice (Glcyrhiz Gaba) [1, 11, 12, 13, 14]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. Licorice has been shown to have potentially harmful side effects in people with high blood pressure, liver or kidney diseases)

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that licorice helps treat some symptoms of menopause. More research is needed)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Kava (Piper Methysticum) [1, 7, 8, 9, 10]:

WARNING: In rare cases, kava may lead to liver failure and other life threatening problems. The FDA warns that those who have had liver problems, or are on medicacations which may affect the liver, patients should check with their doctors before taking Kava. Other side effects include headache, upset stomach, drowsiness, weight loss, bloody urine, and muscle weakness.

Recommendation: weakly in favor (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Kava helps to treat symptoms of menopause. More research is needed)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Kampo [1, 5, 6]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Initial studies indicate a possible reduction of hot flush symptoms in menopause when using Kampo. However, more studies are needed, and the side effects of the treatment are relatively unknown.)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Evening Primrose Oil [1, 2, 3, 4]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (Claims that Primrose oil can help to reduce the symptoms of menopause have not been supported by studies done)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Black Cohosh (cimicifuga Racemosa) [28, 29,30] :

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (Available evidence does not support claims that Black Cohosh helps to treat symptoms of menopause in any way. Studies have yielded mixed results)

Grade of Evidence: moderate quality of evidence

Reflexology:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (Available evidence does not support claims that Reflexology helps to treat the symptoms of menopause)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Neural Therapy:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Neural Therapy helps to treat the symptoms of menopause)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Naturopathic Medicine:

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Naturopathic Medicine helps to treat the symptoms of menopause)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

* www.gradeworkinggroup.org

Summary References

Treatments:

1. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009

2. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/evening-primrose

3. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/eveningprimrose/

4. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4395826.stm

5. Shibata, Yoshiharu and Jean Wu. "Kampo Treatment for Climacteric Disorders: A Handbook for Practitioners." Paradigm Publications, 1997

6. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/kampo

7. http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=SP05005.pdf

8. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/kava

9. http://www.kavazen.com/pages/library.htm#KavaZen and Kava Safety

10. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/kava/index.htm

11. Winston, David; Steven Maimes (2007). Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief. Healing Arts Press.

12. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15190039

13. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/licoriceroot/

14. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-licorice.html

15. Anliker MD, Borelli S, Wüthrich B. Occupational protein contact dermatitis from spices in a butcher: a new presentation of the mugwort-spice syndrome. Contact Dermatitis. 2002;46:72-74.

16. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/mugwort

17. Fetrow CW, Avila JR. Professional's Handbook of Complementary & Alternative Medicines. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2004.

18. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/redclover/

19. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19609225

20. http://www.babyhopes.com/articles/natural-fertility-boosters.html

21. http://indigo-herbs.co.uk/acatalog/Red_Clover_Flowers_Info.html

22. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/trifolium_pratense.html

23. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/red-clover

24. http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69350.cfm

25. David Michael Wood et al. Case report: Survival after deliberate strychnine self-poisoning, with toxicokinetic data. Critical Care October 2002 Vol 6 No 5

26. Arnold, M.D., Harry L. (1968). Poisonous Plants of Hawaii. Tokyo, Japan: Charles E. Tuttle Co.. p. 20. ISBN 0804804745.

27. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/strychnos-nux-vomica

28. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21072305

29. Borrelli F, Ernst E. Black cohosh for menopausal symptoms: a systematic review of its efficacy. Pharmacological Research. 2008;58(1):8–14.

30. Borrelli F, Ernst E. Black cohosh for menopausal symptoms: a systematic review of its safety. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2008;199(5):455–466

Public Discussion

No discussions exist for this condition yet. You can be the first to create one!

Comment

This is a beta test version of the Everyone Healthy Database.Any medical information published or self diagnosed conditions on this website is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice and you should not take any action or change your current treatment before consulting with a certified health care professional. Please send comments, corrections and enquiries to admin@everyonehealthy.com.
Copyright 2024 everyone healthy. All rights reserved