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Treatment Alternatives for Menopause Using alternative methods for menopause can be an individual choice. Not all women choose to go on hormone replacement therapy, or for some reason, hormone replacement therapy is contraindicated. Of primary importance is our diet. It should be superior in that it is high in fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, grains and seeds. Red meats should be eliminated or kept at a minimum. Avoid stimulants (caffeine, alcohol, unnecessary drugs). Exercise is good for physical and emotional health. Weight bearing exercise is good for osteoporosis prevention. Vitamin E can be used to control hot flashes and vaginal dryness. Food sources of vitamin E include whole grains, nuts and wheat germ oil. It may be difficult to obtain adequate doses of vitamin E in the diet only. Recommended daily dose is 400-600 IU daily. Avoid if you have high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease. Soy products are currently being studied as a good alternative choice for estrogen and control of hot flashes. Specifically, isoflavones are special compounds found in soybeans that are actually a natural plant form of estrogen. Not all soy products contain useable isoflavones. Good food sources include tofu, soy milk, roasted soy butter, tempeh and catalog sources of soy powders (see reference). Not good sources of isoflavones include soy sauce, soybean oil, miso, soy foods made from burgers (depending on how they are processed). What remains to be proven is how effective isoflavones are in control of menopausal symptoms. The recommended dosage, whether it is considered "unopposed estrogen", how effective it is in prevention of osteoporosis or heart disease. Studies are currently being done to study these issues. Soy products remain a promising alternative in treatment of menopausal symptoms. There are numerous herbs found to be used in menopause and women's health in general. These include: black cohash, false unicorn root, wild yam, hops, ginseng and donquai. Any of these herbs are not free of side effects. Consultation of an herbal specialist is recommended. Source: Patient education material from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology was used as a source of information to develop the content for this topic.
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