Efficacy and Side Effects of Chinese Herbal Medicine for Menopausal Symptoms: A Critical Review
Joint Authors
Deng, Hongyong
Cui, Xue-jun
Xu, Lian-Wei
Jia, Man
Salchow, Roland
Kentsch, Michael
Sun, Zhuo-Jun
Kluwe, Lan
Source
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Issue
Vol. 2012, Issue 2012 (31 Dec. 2012), pp.1-19, 19 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2012-12-31
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
19
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
This study evaluates 23 (9 Chinese and 14 non-Chinese) randomized controlled trials for efficacy and side effects of Chinese herbal medicine on menopausal symptoms.
Menopause was diagnosed according to western medicine criteria in all studies while seven Chinese studies and one non-Chinese study further stratified the participants using traditional Chinese medical diagnosis “Zheng differentiation.” Efficacy was reported by all 9 Chinese and 9/14 non-Chinese papers.
Side effects and adverse events were generally mild and infrequent.
Only ten severe adverse events were reported, two with possible association with the therapy.
CHM did not increase the endometrial thickness, a common side effect of hormone therapy.
None of the studies investigated long-term side effects.
Critical analysis revealed that (1) high-quality studies on efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine for menopausal syndrome are rare and have the drawback of lacking traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis (Zheng-differentiation).
(2) Chinese herbal medicine may be effective for at least some menopausal symptoms while side effects are likely less than hormone therapy.
(3) All these findings need to be confirmed in further well-designed comprehensive studies meeting the standard of evidence-based medicine and including Zheng-differentiation of traditional Chinese medicine.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Xu, Lian-Wei& Jia, Man& Salchow, Roland& Kentsch, Michael& Cui, Xue-jun& Deng, Hongyong…[et al.]. 2012. Efficacy and Side Effects of Chinese Herbal Medicine for Menopausal Symptoms: A Critical Review. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine،Vol. 2012, no. 2012, pp.1-19.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1028398
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Xu, Lian-Wei…[et al.]. Efficacy and Side Effects of Chinese Herbal Medicine for Menopausal Symptoms: A Critical Review. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine No. 2012 (2012), pp.1-19.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1028398
American Medical Association (AMA)
Xu, Lian-Wei& Jia, Man& Salchow, Roland& Kentsch, Michael& Cui, Xue-jun& Deng, Hongyong…[et al.]. Efficacy and Side Effects of Chinese Herbal Medicine for Menopausal Symptoms: A Critical Review. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2012. Vol. 2012, no. 2012, pp.1-19.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1028398
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-1028398