Alternatives to HRT: an evidence-based review

In the search for alternatives to HRT--a search motivated by the yearning for "natural" treatments and, more recently, by bad news from HRT trials--herbs and botanicals, and some foods, have received much attention and wide acceptance. This acceptance is, however, based on little more than advertising and consumers' desire to believe it. The available research is mainly not of high quality, and there remains a host of products to be tested. The chief problems have been lack of standards for admission to study, unknown dosages of active principles, and unclear or lax criteria for effectiveness. So far, though, black cohosh and soy (in many forms) can be said to offer some benefits.