Abstract

Session presented on: Tuesday, July 23, 2013:

Purpose: Systematically review clinical trials of Traditional East Asian Medicine, herbals, soy and isoflavone preparations, and body-mind therapies for managing symptoms of hot flashes and at least one additional symptom, including mood, sleep, pain, and cognitive symptoms.

Methods: Searched PubMED/Medline, CINAHL Plus, PsycInfo, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, EMBASE, AMED, and Alt-Health Watch for randomized controlled trials reported in English between 2004 and 2012. Of 1193 abstracts identified, 59 trials included data on hot flash and at least one other symptom.

Results: Several trials of acupuncture (13), herbals including black cohosh (18), soy and isoflavone preparations (17), and body-mind therapies (9) yielded significant effects on multiple symptoms. Seven acupuncture trials revealed significantly reduced hot flash frequency, intensity or bother, along with improved mood and sleep. Chinese herbal medicine significantly reduced HF frequency, and mood, sleep, and pain. Four of 9 black cohosh trials significantly improved hot flashes, sleep and mood. Two trials of at least 60-70 mg of isoflavones daily significantly reduced vasomotor, sleep, cognitive and pain symptoms. Equol supplements of 30 mg/d for non-Equol producing women significantly reduced vasomotor, psychological and somatic symptoms. Two trials of Genistein preparations reduced hot flashes by 30-51% but not other symptoms. Red Clover isoflavone (80 mg/d) significantly reduced hot flashes, night sweats, sleep, cognition and pain symptoms. Mindfulness and relaxation therapy significantly reduced hot flashes and sleep symptoms. Yoga significantly reduced hot flashes and improved cognitive symptoms. Exercise trials yielded mixed results, with half significantly reducing hot flashes and one cognitive symptoms.

Conclusion: Few investigators report treatment effects in ways that allow clinicians to consider symptom clusters when prescribing therapies, despite promising therapies

Author Details

Nancy Fugate Woods, PhD, RN, FAAN; Annette Thomas, BSN; Ellen Sullivan Mitchell, RN, PhD; Janet Schnall, MS, AHIP; Lisa Taylor-Swanson, EAMP, BS, MS Dipl. OM (NCCAOM); Rita Ismail, BSN; Lori Cray, PhD, RN

Sigma Membership

Unknown

Type

Presentation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Systematic Review

Research Approach

N/A

Keywords:

Menopause, Symptom Clusters, Complementary Therapies

Conference Name

24th International Nursing Research Congress

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Prague, Czech Republic

Conference Year

2013

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All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

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Toward therapeutics for symptom clusters during the menopausal transition and early postmenopause: A systematic review

Prague, Czech Republic

Session presented on: Tuesday, July 23, 2013:

Purpose: Systematically review clinical trials of Traditional East Asian Medicine, herbals, soy and isoflavone preparations, and body-mind therapies for managing symptoms of hot flashes and at least one additional symptom, including mood, sleep, pain, and cognitive symptoms.

Methods: Searched PubMED/Medline, CINAHL Plus, PsycInfo, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, EMBASE, AMED, and Alt-Health Watch for randomized controlled trials reported in English between 2004 and 2012. Of 1193 abstracts identified, 59 trials included data on hot flash and at least one other symptom.

Results: Several trials of acupuncture (13), herbals including black cohosh (18), soy and isoflavone preparations (17), and body-mind therapies (9) yielded significant effects on multiple symptoms. Seven acupuncture trials revealed significantly reduced hot flash frequency, intensity or bother, along with improved mood and sleep. Chinese herbal medicine significantly reduced HF frequency, and mood, sleep, and pain. Four of 9 black cohosh trials significantly improved hot flashes, sleep and mood. Two trials of at least 60-70 mg of isoflavones daily significantly reduced vasomotor, sleep, cognitive and pain symptoms. Equol supplements of 30 mg/d for non-Equol producing women significantly reduced vasomotor, psychological and somatic symptoms. Two trials of Genistein preparations reduced hot flashes by 30-51% but not other symptoms. Red Clover isoflavone (80 mg/d) significantly reduced hot flashes, night sweats, sleep, cognition and pain symptoms. Mindfulness and relaxation therapy significantly reduced hot flashes and sleep symptoms. Yoga significantly reduced hot flashes and improved cognitive symptoms. Exercise trials yielded mixed results, with half significantly reducing hot flashes and one cognitive symptoms.

Conclusion: Few investigators report treatment effects in ways that allow clinicians to consider symptom clusters when prescribing therapies, despite promising therapies