Name

Uses

Side effects

Interactions

Soy and isoflavones

May be helpful for hot flashes and night sweats, acting like selective estrogen receptor modulators, but seem more effective on cholesterol and bones.

High levels have been linked to increased risk of breast cancer.

This has not been rigorously studied.

Black cohosh

May be useful in the short-term treatment of hot flashes and night sweats.

Seems safe but studies have been small, brief and conflicting.  Don’t use if pregnant or have breast cancer.

This has not been rigorously studied.

Evening Primrose

Taken for breast pain, bladder symptoms and menopausal symptoms, but little or no evidence it works.  The one high quality study of effects on hot flashes found it was no better than placebo.

People at risk of seizures should avoid using.  Lowers blood pressure in animals.  Headache, stomach pain, nausea and loose stool may occur.

May cause seizures when taken with drugs such as Thorazine, Mellaril, Stelazine, Prolixin, or anesthesia.  May add to blood pressure-lowering effects of other drugs.

Dong quai

Taken for hot flashes, although found no better than placebo.

Contains compounds that can thin the blood, causing excessive bleeding.  Can make the skin more sensitive to sun and increase risk of skin cancer.

Not studied

St. John’s Wart

May be helpful for short-term treatment of mild to moderate depression.  Widely prescribed in Europe for depression where studies show it was more effective than placebo with fewer side effects than standard antidepressants.  (NIH study found it no more effective than placebo.)  Varies greatly in chemical composition and quality.

Can cause skin sensitivity to the sun, dry mouth, dizziness, gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue.

Interferes with prescription antidepressants.  Interacts with drugs used to treat HIV, cancer, and drugs to prevent the body from rejecting transplanted organs. Also interacts with Digoxin, Theophyllin, oral contraceptives, blood thinning medication, blood pressure medications, and alcohol.  May prolong the effects of anesthesia.

Ginseng

Taken for hot flashes, not supported by study.  It did improve women’s sense of well being.  Taken to improve sexual function. Some products contain large amounts of caffeine or were tainted with pesticides or lead.

May increase bleeding, especially if already taking anticlotting medication.  May increase heart rate or blood pressure.  May cause bleeding in women after menopause or breast tenderness.  May cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, throat irritation or loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, nervousness, headache, fever, dizziness, blurred vision and drowsiness.

Interacts with blood thinners and antiplatelet drugs.  May interfere with the way the liver breaks down certain drugs.  May lower blood sugar levels, requiring dose adjustments of oral drugs for diabetics.  May increase the effects of Digoxin

Chasteberry

Taken for symptoms of PMS.  Used for female reproductive complaints since ancient Greece.  Few studies in menopausal women.

Skin rash, increased acne, headaches, increased menstrual flow.

May counteract the effectiveness of birth control pills

Valerian root

Traditionally used as sleep aid, but no support for its use.

Headache, hangover, restlessness and cardiac disturbances.  Heart problems and delirium have been linked to suddenly stopping it.

May increase the effects of certain antiseizure medications or prolong the effects of certain anesthetic agents.

Wild and Mexican yam

Taken for menstrual cramps, hot flashes and headaches associated with menopause.  These studies have been small, with flaws in their design.

Stomach discomfort or rash.

May decrease the anti-inflammatory effects of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.  May lower blood sugar levels.  May alter effects of birth control pills or HRT.  May interact with cholesterol lowering drugs.