Drugs and Therapeutics Bulletin, which is published by the British Medical Journal, has published their review of the evidence.

Black cohosh

• 3 studies suggest beneficial effect.
• 4 others do not.
• The herb has been linked to liver toxicity.
  • However, 2 other recently published reviews disagree.

Red clover

• A meta-analysis found no benefit.
  • Dr. Matthew Anderson from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York agrees and says that 15 years of studies reveal “little evidence of benefit for these products [isoflavones] on menopausal symptoms.

Dong quai

• No better than placebo in 1 study.
• Better than placebo in another, where it was combined with chamomile.
• Contraindicated in patients taking warfarin (Coumadin), as it may increase the risk for bleeding.
  • A review on The University of Maryland website agrees.

Evening primrose

• Not superior to placebo in one study.
  • Reviewers at the Royal Worcestershire Hospital in the UK agree.
• Evidence suggests it may increase the risk for seizures when used with other drugs that can cause seizures.

The bottom line?

I added the links because the abstract of this article lists no authors and no information on the strategy used to select the research reviewed.

Since posting this summary, A 2010 review tells us nothing has changed. “Herbal formulations such as dong quai, ginseng, kava, and dietary soy, among others, do not appear to benefit patients more than placebo.”

1/15/09 19:41 JR; updated 10/4/10 20:38 JR