Are there any dietary or natural alternatives to HRT?
A. Estrogenic activity can be found in naturally occurring products called phytoestrogens and are mostly found in cereals, soy, legumes and some grasses such as red clover. They can be taken in dietary or supplementary form. Research on the effect of these products is scarce but does suggest some beneficial effect on menopausal symptom control. Further information is required to clarify the effects, particularly on bone, breast and uterine lining. Herbal remedies such as Don Quai, Ginseng, St.John’s Wort and Black Cohosh have also been used for menopausal symptom control, but again information about their specific effects is lacking.
