Phytotherapy for menopausal symptoms: Recommendations of the italian menopause society (SIM) and the Italian society of gynaecology for the third age (SIGiTE)

Evidence on the efficacy of phythotherapic remedies for the treatment of menopausal symptoms were reviewed. Evidence of the literature were graded and level of reccomandation defined. A strenght A recommendation was given for isaproponol extract of Cimicifuga recemosa (systematic review and metanalysis). Strength B recommendation, due to some inconsistent findings or lower quality studies, was given to the use of soy isoflavones, genistein above 30 mg/day, equol containing product and pollen extract. Strength C reccomendation for very weak evidence of efficacy was given to resveratrol, hops, dioscorea, enotera. No evidence of efficacy on vasomotor symptoms was found for Hyperycum perforatum, matcha, ginseng, that find no place in the treatment of vasomotor symptoms.