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The Effect of Complementary and Alternative Therapy at Menopause Current Topics in Menopause 387
complementary and alternative medicine (CAMs), to alleviate symptoms and
improve their quality of life [20, 21]. According to MacLennan [17],
approximately 20-30% of women between the age 50-60 use HRT, while 60%
seek CAMs to alleviate vasomotor or other menopausal symptoms. Commonly
recommended lifestyle changes at the time of menopause include stress reduction,
increased fruit and vegetable intake, reduced caffeine and alcohol intake, smoking
cessation, and increased physical exercise. The evidence for these is anecdotal,
supported in some cases by epidemiological studies but not by intervention trials
[8].
This chapter reviews the scientific literature related to the most commonly used
CAMs for the management of menopausal symptoms investigating their
therapeutic properties, safety and efficacy.
COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES (CAMs) AND
OTHER NON PRESCRIPTIVE REMEDIES
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
(NCCAM), a complementary or alternative treatment is “a group of diverse
medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally
considered to be part of conventional medicine” [22]. NCCAM divides CAMs
into five major categories: (i) biologically based therapies (e.g. botanicals, herbs,
whole diets) (ii) whole medical systems (e.g. homeopathic medicine,
naturopathic); (iii) mind–body therapies (e.g. cognitive-behavioural therapy,
meditation); (iv) manipulative and body-based therapies (e.g. chiropractic and
osteopathic manipulation, massage, Rolfing); and (v) energy therapies (e.g.
therapeutic touch, Reiki) [22-24]. CAMS expenditure in the US are estimated to
be greater than $36 billion [25], while over $2.3 billion are spent by Australians
[26].
Although many women regularly use one or more CAMs, approximately 70 per
cent do not inform their clinicians’ about the use of these products, nor many
clinicians ask their patients about the use of alternative medicine [27].
Compounding this problem is that many women believe that botanical and herbal
products are natural and, therefore safe to use [28].