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QUESTION: In women with menopausal symptoms, are complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments effective and safe?
Data sources
Studies were identified by searching Medline (1966 to March 2002), the Alternative and Complementary Database (AMED) (1985 to 2000), and personal files.
Study selection
Studies in any language were selected if they were randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of CAM treatments in menopausal women. Studies of single symptoms or conditions that were not associated with menopause were excluded.
Data extraction
Data were extracted on study year, country, design, patient characteristics, dose and duration of treatment, outcome measures, and results. Study quality was not assessed.
Main results
29 RCTs were included. The table summarises the RCT findings. 3 of 4 short term RCTs on black cohosh reported no difference in symptoms …
Footnotes
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Sources of funding: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
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For correspondence: Dr A Fugh-Berman, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA. fk{at}columbia.edu
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Abstract and commentary also appear in ACP Journal Club