New trial to test “secret herb” for hot flushes

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New trial to test " secret herb " for hot flushes

 

By Stephen Daniells

 

 

 

28/04/2006 - Researchers from the University of Manchester are to

test a " secret herb " to stop the hot flushes associated with

hormonal therapy for breast cancer sufferers.

 

One way of treating breast cancer is to use drugs that suppress the

effects of hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone that could

potentially promote the growth of the tumour. Over half of the women

who undergo hormone therapy experience hot flushes, with some

experiencing up to 30 hot flushes per day.

 

Since Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is not an option to control

the hot flushes, the Manchester researchers, led by Professor Alex

Molassiotis, will investigate the effect of a daily herbal

supplement, donated by industry, to see if it can alleviate the

symptoms or stop the occurrence of the hot flushes.

 

" It is hoped that the herbal remedy will be simpler and cheaper to

take, as well as more effective, thus improving the lives of the

women who need all their energy to fight the disease, " said

Molassiotis.

 

Professor Molassiotis refused to name the herb in question,

explaining that the researchers did not want the women in the trial

knowing the identity which may tempt some of them to supplement

themselves outside of the trial.

 

However, Molassiotis did reveal that the herb was a member of the

mint family, found in most kitchens and traditionally used by

Mediterranean women undergoing the menopause.

 

According to Professor Molassiotis' vague description, a logical

option is the herb, sage. Other possibilities include motherwort and

Vitex agnus castus.

Black cohosh is also extensively used in some countries to alleviate

the symptoms of the menopause.

 

The researchers are in the process of recruiting 170 volunteers from

the Greater Manchester and Cheshire area for the randomised, double-

blind trial, and Molassiotis said that the results will be available

in about two years.

 

This is not the first time, Molassiotis says, that this herb has

been used in a clinical trial, with one report about 20 years ago

reporting " fantastic results. "

 

A search of PubMed revealed that a small clinical trial, published

in the Italian-language Minerva ginecologica (1998, Vol. 50, pp. 207-

211), investigated the effects of sage and alfalfa on hot flushes

and night sweats of 30 menopausal women. Twenty women reported a

complete halt in the occurrence of the flushes and sweats, with a

futher four reporting a " good improvement " and the other six

reporting a reduction in the symptoms.

 

It should be stressed however that this was not a placebo-

controlled, double-blind study.

 

Exclusion criteria include women taking non-pharmacological

products, like dietary supplements, but refusing to discontinue

during the trial. Women who also have high intake of phytoestrogens

from, for example, soy products, will also be excluded.

 

Over one million women worldwide are diagnosed with breast cancer

every year, with about 400,000 new cases in Europe.

 

China has the lowest incidence and mortality rate of the disease.