'The use of alternative therapies is more and more frequent and is quickly reaching hormonal therapy ", explain the authors of the study published in the 'North American Menopause Association Magazine ' .

In the last years and specially after the publication of results of the 'Women ' s Health Initiative' study , the use of the hormone substitution therapy is being questioned due to the indirect effects that it can trigger.

Scientists at the University of Stanford , California , have analyzed the data collected in a survey given to 781 women between the ages of 40 and 60. 9 out of 10 had experienced at least one symptom associated to menopause.

In order to palliate these symptoms, 37% used synthetic hormones, whereas 31% took herbal products such as ginkgo bilova or ginseng. In addition, 13% completed the treatment with soybean supplements. More than half of the women followed this therapy because they considered it safer than the hormonal one; and 45% because they wanted to use a natural product.

The menopause phytotherapy is based on vegetable ingestion and supplements rich in natural hormone precursory substances. Two thirds of the women who followed this phytotherapy thought that it is effective.

The review of the scientific literature and some studies confer certain effectiveness to the phytotherapy for treating the hot flashes, according to the conclusions of the I Consensus in Gynecological Phytotherapy of the Spanish Society of Phytotherapeutic Gynecology (SEGIF).

Lack of information

74% of the women who leave the hormone therapy do not follow any other treatment. In opinion of the authors, ' the specialists must inquire about the new therapeutic routes, so as to be able to advise their patients in a suitable form'.

Nevertheless, the greater part of the women that decide on the natural route do not consult this with their doctor and are skeptic as far as the specialist's capacity to inform her about the alternative therapies.