A randomized placebo-controlled trial on the effectiveness of an herbal formula to alleviate menopausal vasomotor symptoms.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of a formula containing Chinese herbs and Cimicifuga racemosa in alleviating vasomotor symptoms and improving quality of life.


METHODS
Between September 2004 and October 2005, 93 healthy women aged 45 to 65 years who reported six or more vasomotor symptoms per 24 hours were recruited into a 20-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Women were consulted in clinics conducted within the Sydney metropolitan area. After a 4-week baseline period, women were randomly allocated to receive herbal (equivalent to 3,150 mg dry herb) or identical placebo tablets for 16 weeks. Women recorded the number and severity (1 = mild to 4 = very severe) of vasomotor symptoms in a daily hot flash diary and completed the Greene Climacteric and Hot Flash Related Daily Interference scales at each monthly consultation.


RESULTS
Intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses found no statistically significant differences in mean hot flash scores (product of frequency and intensity), Greene Climacteric Scale scores, and Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale scores between the placebo and herbal treatment groups after 16 weeks of intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
This herbal formula containing Chinese herbs and Cimicifuga cannot be recommended to alleviate menopausal vasomotor symptoms or improve quality of life.
van der Sluijs
Corinne Patching
CP
CompleMED, Centre for Complementary Medicine Research, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Bensoussan
Alan
A
Chang
Sungwon
S
Baber
Rodney
R
D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal