title: Efficacy of Cimicifuga racemosa, Hypericum perforatum and Agnus castus in the treatment of climacteric complaints: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The systematic review examines whether Cimicifuga racemosa (CR), Hypericum perforatum (HP), Agnus castus, vitamins and minerals, either as monotherapy or in combination, have an evidence-based impact on vasomotor, genital and psychological climacteric complaints. DATA SOURCES AND METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: We searched in the databases EMBASE, OVID and PubMed using the keywords "vasomotor symptoms, hot flashes, vaginal atrophy, psychological problems, endometrium, sleep, concentration, cognition in combination with vitamins, multivitamins, minerals, multiminerals, black cohosh, Cimicifuga, Agnus castus, chasteberry, chaste tree, monk's pepper and menopause" for randomized controlled trials (RCT). Relevant studies were reviewed by four independent reviewers qualitatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the studies with a comparison of CR vs. placebo do not show an evidence-based significant effect of CR on climacteric symptoms. The combination of CR and HP shows an improvement of climacteric complaints in comparison to placebo. In some RCTs, there was no significant difference between CR and hormone-replacement therapy. The combination of HP and Agnus castus showed no significant difference in the treatment of climacteric complaints.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CR monotherapy as well as HP and Agnus castus showed no better effect than placebo. The combination of CR with HP demonstrated a positive effect on climacteric complaints.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological Endocrinology, Clinic of Gynecology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Laakmann
authors.forename: Donata
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grajecki
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doege
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: zu Eulenburg
authors.forename: Kai J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Buhling
mesh_terms: D031885:Cimicifuga; D002979:Climacteric / Q000187:drug effects*; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D020902:Hypericum; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020950:Vitex
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts