Review: sparse good quality evidence supports the use of alternative therapies for menopausal symptoms
Q Are complementary and alternative therapies effective for menopausal symptoms?
METHODS
Data sources:
Medline, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library (to March 2005), AMED, MANTIS, reference lists, experts, and websites.
Study selection and assessment:
randomised, placebo controlled trials and meta-analyses that evaluated alternative therapies (categorised by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women (including those with breast cancer). 70 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) met the selection criteria: 48 assessed biologically based therapies (including 31 of phytoestrogens), 9 assessed mind-body therapies, 1 assessed manipulative therapy, 2 assessed energy therapies, and 10 assessed whole medical systems. Methodological quality of most RCTs …
