Treatment of menopausal symptoms by qualified herbal practitioners: a prospective, randomized controlled trial

Green, J., Denham, A., Ingram, J., Hawkey, S. and Greenwood, R. 2007. Treatment of menopausal symptoms by qualified herbal practitioners: a prospective, randomized controlled trial. Family Practice. 24 (5), pp. 468-474. https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmm048

TitleTreatment of menopausal symptoms by qualified herbal practitioners: a prospective, randomized controlled trial
TypeJournal article
AuthorsGreen, J., Denham, A., Ingram, J., Hawkey, S. and Greenwood, R.
Abstract

Objectives. To assess the effectiveness of professional herbal practice in the treatment of menopausal symptoms. To generate pilot data for future sample size calculations.

Methods. A pilot prospective, randomized, waiting list controlled trial was conducted in primary care at one urban UK GP practice. Participants were 45 women aged 46–59, experiencing self-defined menopausal symptoms and no menstrual bleeding for 3 months. Exclusion criteria included use of hormone replacement therapy. Participants were block randomized into a treatment group (n = 15) who received a course of individualized treatment from one of three herbal practitioners, and control group (n = 30) offered treatment after waiting 4 months. Treatment was six consultations over 5 months including discussion of nutrition, lifestyle and individualized herbal prescription. Change in menopausal symptoms was measured in both groups using the validated Greene Climacteric Scale. Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile recorded changes in self-defined most troublesome symptoms.

Results. Forty-four participants completed the study. The treatment group demonstrated a statistically and clinically significant reduction in menopausal symptoms compared to the control group. Total scores for menopausal symptoms reduced for both groups. Reduction for the treated group was 9.05 points greater than that for the control group, CI 5.08–13.03, as were changes in vasomotor scores (mean 1.81, CI 1.00–2.62). Libido increased (mean 0.69, CI 0.38–0.99) in the group receiving herbal treatment.

Conclusion. The treatment package from herbal practitioners improved menopausal symptoms, particularly hot flushes and low libido. This offers evidence to support herbal medicine as a treatment choice during the menopause.

JournalFamily Practice
Journal citation24 (5), pp. 468-474
ISSN0263-2136
Year2007
PublisherOxford University Press
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmm048
Publication dates
PublishedOct 2007

Related outputs

Experience of Western Herbal Medicine practitioners in supporting brain health in mid-life and older patients: a qualitative research study
Hundal, S. and Green, Julia 2022. Experience of Western Herbal Medicine practitioners in supporting brain health in mid-life and older patients: a qualitative research study. Journal of Herbal Medicine. 32 100547. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2022.100547

Corrigendum to “A tale of two cinnamons: A comparative review of the clinical evidence of Cinnamomum verum and C. cassia as diabetes interventions” [J. Herbal Med. 21 (2020) 100342]
Shinjyo, Noriko, Waddell, Guy and Green, Julia 2021. Corrigendum to “A tale of two cinnamons: A comparative review of the clinical evidence of Cinnamomum verum and C. cassia as diabetes interventions” [J. Herbal Med. 21 (2020) 100342]. Journal of Herbal Medicine. 28 100383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2020.100383

Valerian Root in Treating Sleep Problems and Associated Disorders—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Shinjyo, N., Waddell, G. and Julia Green 2020. Valerian Root in Treating Sleep Problems and Associated Disorders—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine. 25. https://doi.org/10.1177/2515690x20967323

A tale of two cinnamons: A comparative review of the clinical evidence of Cinnamomum verum and C. cassia as diabetes interventions
Shinjyo, N., Waddell, G. and Green, J. 2020. A tale of two cinnamons: A comparative review of the clinical evidence of Cinnamomum verum and C. cassia as diabetes interventions. Journal of Herbal Medicine. 21 100342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2020.100342

Reproduced, reinterpreted, lost: Trajectories of scientific knowledge across contexts
Gimenez, J., Baldwin, M., Breen, P., Green, J., Roque Gutierrez, E., Paterson, R., Pearson, J., Percy, M., Specht, D. and Waddell, G. 2020. Reproduced, reinterpreted, lost: Trajectories of scientific knowledge across contexts. Text & Talk. 40 (3), pp. 293-324. https://doi.org/10.1515/text-2020-2059

Does the traditional medicinal use of Leonurus cardiaca L. as specified by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) monographs reflect documented historical use and current research? A content analysis.
Green, J. and Waterworth, J. 2019. Does the traditional medicinal use of Leonurus cardiaca L. as specified by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) monographs reflect documented historical use and current research? A content analysis. A Celebration of Herbal Medicine History: Researching Botanical Knowledge and Discovery . Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, 16-18 Queen Square, Bath, UK, BA1 2HN 30 Oct 2019 Herbal History Research Network.

Plants with antimalarial properties: A systematic review of the current clinical evidence
Aracil, A. and Green, J. 2019. Plants with antimalarial properties: A systematic review of the current clinical evidence. European Journal of Integrative Medicine. 28, pp. 76-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2019.04.005

Experience of Western Herbal Medicine practitioners in supporting brain health in mid-life and older patients: a qualitative research study
Hundal, S. and Green, J. 2018. Experience of Western Herbal Medicine practitioners in supporting brain health in mid-life and older patients: a qualitative research study. UCL Spices and Medicine Symposium. UCL School of Pharmacy, Brunswick Square, London 10 Oct 2018

Practice Based Evidence
Green, J. 2017. Practice Based Evidence. National Institute of Medical Herbalists 153rd Annual Conference. Stratford-upon-Avon 13 - 14 Oct 2017

Changing with Herbs: a pilot randomised controlled trial of Western herbal practice for the menopause
Green, J. 2017. Changing with Herbs: a pilot randomised controlled trial of Western herbal practice for the menopause. Treating Women's Health With Herbal Medicine. Chelsea Physic Garden, London 22 May 2017

Are sage, rosemary and lemon balm effective interventions in dementia? A narrative review of the clinical evidence
Shinjyo, N. and Green, J. 2017. Are sage, rosemary and lemon balm effective interventions in dementia? A narrative review of the clinical evidence. European Journal of Integrative Medicine. 15, pp. 83-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2017.08.013

An investigation into the approaches used by western medical herbalists for the therapeutic management of osteoarthritis
Westlake, R. and Green, J. 2016. An investigation into the approaches used by western medical herbalists for the therapeutic management of osteoarthritis. National Institute of Medical Herbalists 152nd Annual Conference. Crewe 14 - 15 Oct 2016

Does historical documentation support the proposed traditional use of Chelidonium majus L. by the European Medicines Agency?
Martyna, A., Lawrence, N. and Green, J. 2015. Does historical documentation support the proposed traditional use of Chelidonium majus L. by the European Medicines Agency? Herbal History Research Network Conference: Trade, Discovery and Influences in the History of Herbal Medicine. . Wellcome Trust, London, UK 14 Oct 2015

The development of Eucalyptus as a medicine
Walker, K. and Green, J. 2014. The development of Eucalyptus as a medicine. National Institute of Medical Herbalists 150th Annual Conference. Nottingham 09 - 13 Oct 2014

‘I just went with hope, because I thought I’m doing something’: Women’s Experiences of Western Herbal Practice for Distress
Yates, A., Whitehouse, J., Ridge, Damien T. and Green, J. 2014. ‘I just went with hope, because I thought I’m doing something’: Women’s Experiences of Western Herbal Practice for Distress. College of Medicine Multi-Disciplinary Student Summer School. King's College School of Nursing and Midwifery 05 Sep 2014

How women experience distress, and western herbal practice for the treatment of distress: implications for health care and self-management approaches
Yates, A., Whitehouse, J., Ridge, Damien T. and Green, J. 2014. How women experience distress, and western herbal practice for the treatment of distress: implications for health care and self-management approaches. University of Westminster Post-Graduate Fair. Univeristy of Westminster 29 Apr 2014

“It felt like someone holding you up and lifting the pain away”: Women's experiences of western herbal practice for the treatment of distress
Yates, A.J., Green, J., Whitehouse, J. and Ridge, Damien T. 2014. “It felt like someone holding you up and lifting the pain away”: Women's experiences of western herbal practice for the treatment of distress. European Journal of Integrative Medicine. 6 (5), p. 612. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2014.07.007

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum)
Green, J. and Kalisch, A. 2013. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum). Concerted Action for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Assessment in the Cancer Field (CAM-Cancer).

How women use and experience western herbal practice for distress: Implications for health care and self-management approaches
Yates, A., Green, J., Whitehouse, J. and Ridge, Damien T. 2013. How women use and experience western herbal practice for distress: Implications for health care and self-management approaches. European Journal of Integrative Medicine. 5 (6), pp. 579-580. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2013.08.019

Exploring therapeutic approaches of Western Medical Herbalists to Acne vulgaris using qualitative interviews
Aracil-Pujalte, A. and Green, J. 2013. Exploring therapeutic approaches of Western Medical Herbalists to Acne vulgaris using qualitative interviews. National Institute of Medical Herbalists 149th Annual Conference. Crewe 01 - 02 Nov 2013

Exploring the therapeutic approaches for the treatment of atopic eczema by western medical herbalists: a qualitative study
Maraki, Z. and Green, J. 2013. Exploring the therapeutic approaches for the treatment of atopic eczema by western medical herbalists: a qualitative study. National Institute of Medical Herbalists 149th Annual Conference. Crewe, UK 01 - 02 Nov 2013

How women use and experience western herbal practice for distress: implications for health care and self-management approaches.
Yates, A., Green, J., Whitehouse, J. and Ridge, Damien T. 2013. How women use and experience western herbal practice for distress: implications for health care and self-management approaches. CAMSTRAND 2013. University of Westminster 02 Jul 2013 Elsevier. https://doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.eujim.2013.08.019

What’s in the bottle? Prescriptions formulated by medical herbalists in a clinical trial of treatment during the menopause
Denham, A., Green, Julia and Hawkey, S. 2011. What’s in the bottle? Prescriptions formulated by medical herbalists in a clinical trial of treatment during the menopause. Journal of Herbal Medicine. 1 (3-4), pp. 95-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2011.07.002

The use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in pregnancy: Data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)
Bishop, J.L., Northstone, K., Green, J. and Thompson, E.A. 2011. The use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in pregnancy: Data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 19 (6), pp. 303-310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2011.08.005

Herbal treatment of the menopause: refelecting on tools strategies and outcomes
Green, J., Denham, A., Hawkey, S., Ingram, J. and Greenwood, R. 2010. Herbal treatment of the menopause: refelecting on tools strategies and outcomes. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 18 (6), pp. 273-274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2010.05.026

Herbal treatment in the menopause: reflecting on tools, strategies and outcomes
Green, J., Denham, A., Greenwood, R. and Hawkey, S. 2010. Herbal treatment in the menopause: reflecting on tools, strategies and outcomes. Complementary and Alternative Strategies and New Developments (CAMSTRAND) Annual Conference 2010. University of Bristol 21 - 22 April 2010

Trials and tribulations: is herbal practice effective in treating menopausal symptoms?
Green, J. 2009. Trials and tribulations: is herbal practice effective in treating menopausal symptoms? College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy Conference. London 2009

Changing with herbs: treatment of menopausal symptoms by qualified herbal practitioners: a prospective, randomized controlled trial
Green, J. 2008. Changing with herbs: treatment of menopausal symptoms by qualified herbal practitioners: a prospective, randomized controlled trial. 144th Conference of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists. Chester 2008

Changing with herbs: findings from a randomised, waiting-list controlled pilot study of care of women in the menopause by herbal practitioners
Denham, A., Green, J., Hawkey, S., Ingram, J. and Greenwood, R. 2007. Changing with herbs: findings from a randomised, waiting-list controlled pilot study of care of women in the menopause by herbal practitioners. Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies. 12 (s1), p. 19. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-7166.2007.tb05870.x

Not on my own: women's experience of herbal practice as participants in a randomised controlled trial
Green, J., Hawkey, S., Ingram, J. and Denham, A. 2007. Not on my own: women's experience of herbal practice as participants in a randomised controlled trial. Power and Autonomy in Alternative and Complementary Medicine: The Alternative and Complementary Health Research Network (ACHRN) 4th international academic & experiential conference for researchers & practitioners. Nottingham University 04 - 06 Jul 2007

"Not on my own": women's experience of herbal practice as participants in a randomised controlled trial
Green, J., Hawkey, S., Ingram, J. and Denham, A. 2007. "Not on my own": women's experience of herbal practice as participants in a randomised controlled trial. International Congress on Complementary Medicine Research. Munich 11 - 13 May 2007

"Not on my own": women's experience of herbal practice as particiapnts in a randomised controlled trial
Green, J., Hawkey, S., Ingram, J. and Denham, A. 2007. "Not on my own": women's experience of herbal practice as particiapnts in a randomised controlled trial. Celebrating Primary Care Research Conference. Avon Primary Care Research Collaborative, Bristol 15 Mar 2007

Changing with herbs: treatment of menopausal symptoms by qualified herbal practitioners
Green, J., Denham, A., Ingram, J., Hawkey, S. and Greenwood, R. 2007. Changing with herbs: treatment of menopausal symptoms by qualified herbal practitioners. International Congress on Complementary Medicine Research. Munich 11 - 13 May 2007

Investigating complex systems in herbal medicine: reflections on the black box (Abstract from the Developing Research Strategies Conference 28 April 2005)
Green, J. 2005. Investigating complex systems in herbal medicine: reflections on the black box (Abstract from the Developing Research Strategies Conference 28 April 2005). Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 13 (3), pp. 217-225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2005.06.006

Choice of an outcome measure for a pilot randomised controlled trial into the treatment by herbal practitioners of symptoms associated with the menopause
Denham, A., Green, J., Hawkey, S. and Ingram, J. 2003. Choice of an outcome measure for a pilot randomised controlled trial into the treatment by herbal practitioners of symptoms associated with the menopause. Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies. 8 (4), p. 493. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-7166.2003.tb03997.x

Kaurenoids and Gibberellins, including the newly characterized Gibberellin A88, in developing apple seeds
Hedden, P., Hoad, G.V., Gaskin, P., Lewis, M.J., Green, J., Furber, M. and Mander, L.N. 1993. Kaurenoids and Gibberellins, including the newly characterized Gibberellin A88, in developing apple seeds. Phytochemistry. 32 (2), pp. 231-237. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)94973-2

The control of biennial bearing in cider apples
Green, J. 1988. The control of biennial bearing in cider apples. PhD thesis University of Bristol Department of Agricultural Sciences, Long Ashton Research Station

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/919qy/treatment-of-menopausal-symptoms-by-qualified-herbal-practitioners-a-prospective-randomized-controlled-trial


Share this

Usage statistics

108 total views
0 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.