Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jun 24, 2026 1 hour, 42 minutes ago
Medical News: Menopause is a natural stage of life, but for millions of women it can bring a wide range of difficult symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, poor sleep, mood changes, fatigue, and a reduced quality of life. As concerns about hormone replacement therapy continue for some women, many are turning to herbal supplements in search of safer, non-hormonal alternatives.
Large review finds several herbal supplements may help reduce hot flashes, improve sleep, and enhance quality of life during menopause
A new systematic review conducted by researchers from the School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Ireland, and the School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, Discipline of Dietetics, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Ireland, has examined whether non-soy oral herbal supplements can genuinely help ease menopausal symptoms.
Review Examined 30 Clinical Trials
The researchers analyzed 30 randomized controlled trials involving 2,541 women. The studies, published between 1997 and 2024, investigated 19 different herbal supplements and assessed their effects on menopausal symptoms, sleep quality, mood, cognition, and overall quality of life.
Among the herbs studied were black cohosh, evening primrose oil, hops, red clover, sage, valerian, fennel, pomegranate, milk thistle, rhubarb, yam, liquorice, St. John’s wort, jujube seed, basil, and several others.
Remarkably, 28 of the 30 trials reported some degree of improvement in menopausal symptoms, especially in reducing the frequency and severity of hot flashes and night sweats.
Hot Flashes and Night Sweats Showed the Greatest Improvement
The strongest and most consistent benefits were seen in vasomotor symptoms, the medical term for hot flashes and night sweats.
Hop extracts repeatedly demonstrated reductions in hot flash frequency and severity. Red clover also showed encouraging results, with several studies reporting noticeable improvements in menopausal discomfort. Sage extracts produced significant reductions in symptom scores and even improved sleep quality.
Valerian supplementation was associated with fewer and less severe hot flashes, while rhubarb, liquorice, milk thistle, pomegranate, and basil extracts also produced meaningful symptom relief in individual studies.
Interestingly, evening primrose oil delivered mixed results. Some studies found improvements in night sweats and psychological symptoms, while others reported only modest benefits.
Benefits Extended Beyond Physical Symptoms
The review found that some herbal supplements may influence more than just hot flashes.
Several studies reported improvements in sleep quality. Sage and jujube seed supplements appeared particularly effective in helping women sleep better. Better sleep is important because insomnia and disrupted sleep are among the most common complaints during menopause.
Some evidence also suggested possible neurological benefits. St. John’s wort was linked t
o significant reductions in depressive symptoms, while one red clover study showed improvement in certain cognitive functions. French maritime pine bark extract was associated with better self-reported memory.
This
Medical News report notes that although these findings are encouraging, evidence for cognitive and mood benefits remains limited and requires further investigation.
Not All Herbs Performed Equally
Despite the generally positive findings, not every herbal supplement delivered clear benefits.
Two studies examining dong quai found no measurable improvement in menopausal symptoms. Results involving black cohosh were also inconsistent.
While some studies showed benefits, others found no significant effects compared to placebo.
The researchers emphasized that differences in dosages, herbal preparations, study duration, and measurement methods made direct comparisons difficult.
Safety Profile Appears Reassuring
One of the most encouraging findings was the overall safety profile of the supplements.
Most studies reported either no adverse effects or only mild, temporary side effects. Serious safety concerns were uncommon. However, researchers cautioned that longer-term studies are still needed to fully understand potential risks and establish optimal dosages.
Conclusions
The review suggests that several herbal supplements may offer meaningful relief from common menopausal symptoms, particularly hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, and certain quality-of-life measures. However, the evidence remains far from definitive. The studies varied considerably in design, dosage, duration, and quality, making it difficult to recommend any single herbal supplement as a proven treatment. Researchers stress that larger, better-designed clinical trials involving more diverse populations and longer follow-up periods are urgently needed before healthcare professionals can confidently recommend specific herbal therapies for menopause management.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Nutrients.
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/13/2037
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Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/menopause
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/herbs-and-phytochemicals
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