title: Herbal therapies for perimenopausal and menopausal complaints.
abstract: Consumer use of alternative medicines in the United States is growing rapidly. Included in this phenomenon are herbal therapies instead of or as adjuncts with traditional medicine for perimenopausal and menopausal complaints. Of significant concern is the safety of these herbs. Since many women are using herbal therapies, clinicians must be knowledgeable about their use, quality, and safety. There are currently no government standards on the quality of herbal products in the United States, and some products are either unsafe or little is known scientifically about them. Selected herbal therapies touted in the lay press for common perimenopausal and menopausal complaints are examined, with advice on their use and safety based on scientific sources.
authors.affiliation: St. David's Medical Center, Austin, Texas 78765-4039, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Israel
authors.forename: E Q
authors.initials: EQ
authors.lastname: Youngkin
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology*; D008517:Phytotherapy