Dr Kerryn Phelps, Health Editor, 'Today', Nine Network with Steve Liebmann
LIEBMANN: Want to take a look at health matters, now. And in recent times, there's been growing interest in what are called, 'natural preparations', but now researchers in the United States have published their findings about the effectiveness of the berries and teas and herbs and oils that are thought to ease the symptoms of menopause and, the scientists have found that most of them to be ineffective, at least in clinical trials. Well, joining us now is our Health Editor, Dr Kerryn Phelps. Good morning.
PHELPS: Good morning, Steve.
LIEBMANN: I can imagine natural therapists probably slashing their wrists this morning, on the basis of this report, but, I mean, should they?
PHELPS: No. I think it's actually very good news, because what we're now seeing is so much interest in alternative treatments for menopause, given some of the reports that have been surrounding Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) in recent times, that we're seeing a lot more scientific effort put into looking at some of the alternative treatments and, whether or not they work. Now, what this means is that there's more evidence now for women who are making a decision about what they do about their menopausal symptoms. And, some women's lives are made absolutely miserable by symptoms of menopause. So, I think now, more evidence about what will work and what probably won't work.
LIEBMANN: Alright, so do you want to start with the 'what might's' or the 'what wills'?
PHELPS: Well, whether we talk about what is likely to have an affect, particularly on hot flushes, which is one of the symptoms that is most distressing for women with menopausal symptoms. And, the herbs that have been shown to be quite effective - well, there's one called black cohosh.
LIEBMANN: Yeah, now, what is that?
PHELPS: Well, that's a traditional herb that's been grown by North American Indians for many centuries and been used for so called 'women's problems', like menstrual difficulties, painful periods, and menopausal symptoms. And, in these studies, three out of the four studies, it looked quite promising that black cohosh would be effective in helping hot flushes. The other things that can help women are large doses of phyto-estrogens which we see in things like soya and certain vegetables, and what doesn't work are things like wild yam and evening primrose oil. Now, a lot of women think that if they use this wild yam preparation or they use evening primrose oil that it will actually help them. In fact, the evidence is now showing that they don't. So, I think what it tells people is to be very discerning about their choice of so called 'natural treatments', and just 'cause it's natural doesn't mean it will work.
LIEBMANN: Do they make the choice on their own?
PHELPS: Well, I think they need to have the advice of their doctor, somebody who has been able to look at the evidence, can talk it through with them.
LIEBMANN: Are more and more doctors inclined towards natural therapy, natural treatments, now?
PHELPS: Oh, there's no question that there's a greater interest and I think this has been a consumer led evolution that patients have been coming in and saying, 'Listen, I've been hearing about this herb, I've been hearing about this preparation. Will it work for me'? And then, the doctor is in a position where, if they don't already know, they have to make those inquiries to see whether in fact the evidence is there to be able to advise their patients. But, we also, where these so called 'natural therapies' don't work for women - they won't always work - then we also need to look at …… lifestyle issues, things like prevention against osteoporosis, prevention against heart disease, and all of the other issues of ageing for women, and also, to be able to advise a woman on whether Hormone Replacement Therapy, oestrogen/progesterone, or whether alternatives like livial will be more beneficial for a woman.
LIEBMANN: Now, what is livial?
PHELPS: Well, livial is a synthetic hormone, which isn't a natural hormone. It's one that's been synthesised in fairly recent years - more recently than oestrogen and progesterone, which are naturally based hormones. And, livial is a hormone called tibalone and it mimics oestrogen, progesterone, and the androgens. And, what it does is it will help prevent osteoporosis and hot flushes and the night sweats and the problems with concentration, but it won't have, it would appear at this stage, the problems with the breasts or the endometrium - the uterine lining - that you might get with some of the other hormone preparations. It's not completely clear of side effects, as no medication is. But, it does help a lot of women who can't tolerate oestrogen.
LIEBMANN: But, the bottom line is, don't rush into your local health food store and dose up?
PHELPS: I think it's important for women not to just try and treat themselves without having a lot of information and getting some advice from their doctor and from other sources.
LIEBMANN: Okay. See you next week.
PHELPS: Thanks, Steve.
LIEBMANN: Thanks, Kerryn.
Ends