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Review
. 2017 Mar;16(1):8-11.
doi: 10.5114/pm.2017.67365. Epub 2017 Apr 26.

The safety and tolerance of phytotherapies in menopausal medicine - a review of the literature

Piotr Czuczwar  1 , Tomasz Paszkowski  1 , Marek Lisiecki  1 , Sławomir Woźniak  1 , Anna Stępniak  1
Affiliations
Review

The safety and tolerance of phytotherapies in menopausal medicine - a review of the literature

Piotr Czuczwar et al. Prz Menopauzalny. 2017 Mar.

Abstract

Phytoestrogens are polyphenol, non-steroidal substances of plant origin, resembling 17β-estradiol in structure. These substances can act as either agonists or antagonists of oestrogen receptors α and β. Phytoestrogens are widely used to alleviate menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes and night sweats. Most of the currently available products of plant origin registered to soften climacteric symptoms consist of extracts obtained from soy, red clover, or black cohosh. Non-hormonal phytotherapy is a new alternative for patients suffering from menopausal symptoms. Active ingredients such as PI 82-GC FEM extract do not show any direct hormonal mechanisms of action typical for oestrogens and phytoestrogens. There are concerns about the safety and tolerability of phytoestrogens. In this review we summarise the current literature regarding the clinical aspect of safety and tolerance of different phytotherapies used to relieve menopausal symptoms.

Keywords: menopause; phytoestrogens; phytotherapy.

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