Women have a lot to think about when handling the annoying, embarrassing and uncomfortable symptoms of menopause. Many choose herbal relief. And now it appears that doctors are coming around to their way of thinking.

Conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is considered by some to be a very effective treatment for the most bothersome menopausal symptom of hot flashes. However, HRT has become highly associated with serious health risks including breast cancer, blood clots, stroke and other cardiovascular problems that far outweigh any benefits for most women.

In the past several years, increasing numbers of women have been seeking their own relief. Now, as many as 75 percent of postmenopausal women choose herbal remedies to battle hot flashes. Soy, red clover and black cohosh top the list of the most investigated herbal options for menopause help.

A review published in The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist appears to concur, advising that herbal and complimentary medicines could be recommended as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy for treating postmenopausal symptoms.

According to Iris Tong with the Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Rhode Island, who wrote the review: “Up to 75 percent of women use herbal and complimentary medicines to treat their postmenopausal symptoms. Therefore, it is vitally important for healthcare providers to be aware of and informed about the non-pharmacological therapies available for women who are experiencing postmenopausal symptoms and who are looking for an alternative to HRT.”