What natural alternatives to hormone replacement therapy are there?
Women who decide not to supplement their declining levels of estrogen with prescription hormones may want to choose from a variety of “natural” remedies that may help relieve their menopausal symptoms. Black cohosh root may bring some relief from hot flashes, with potentially fewer side effects than estrogen. Creams made from wild yam extract converted in a lab into a form of progesterone have been promoted by some alternative practitioners for the treatment of hot flashes and vaginal dryness, although little research has been done on their safety or efficacy. These products are sold as an alternative to synthetic progesterone (or progestin).
