Table 2.

Studies of Other Botanicals

Reference	Description of groups, drug name, and dosage	Study Design	# of Participants	Duration	Results
Kupfersztain et al, 2003 [58]	Climex: dong quai and chamomile Placebo	RCT	55 postmenopausal women	12 weeks	Climex group significantly decreased hot flashes compared to placebo. Alleviation of sleep disturbances.
Hirata et al, 1997 [59]	Dong quai root: 4.5 g. daily Placebo	RCT	71 postmenopausal women	24 weeks	Hot flash incidence decreased in dong quai group, compared to placebo, effect not significant.
Lucks, 2003 [60]	Vitex agnus castus oil: 2.5 ml transdermally	Open survey	52 peri- and postmenopausal women	3 months	33% reported major improvement in troublesome symptoms, most often emotional problems and hot flashes.
Komesaroff et al, 2001 [61]	Wild yam cream Placebo	CO	23 postmenopausal women	3 months	No changes in FSH, estradiol, progesterone, or hot flashes.
Chenoy et al, 1994 [62]	Evening primrose oil: 500 mg daily Liquid paraffin	RCT	56 women with 3 or more hot flashes a day	6 months	No differences in hot flash frequency between the two groups.
Elsabaugh et al, 2005 [63]	Ginkgo Biloba: 120 mg Placebo	RCT	87 postmenopausal women	6 weeks	Subjects divided into early (mean age 55) and late (mean age 61) stage of menopause. Only subjects in late stage menopause showed improvement in cognitive function after treatment with gingko.
Hartley et al, 2003 [64]	Ginkgo Biloba: 120 mg Placebo	RCT	31 postmenopausal women	1 week	Group treated with gingko did significantly better in a memory task after one week compared to placebo.
Hartley et al, 2004 [65]	Gincosan: Ginkgo biloba (120 mg) and ginseng (200 mg) Placebo	RCT	60 postmenopausal women	12 weeks	No significant effects of Gincosan on mood, anxiety, menopausal symptoms, sleepiness, or cognition.
Tode et al, 1999 [66]	Korean red ginseng: 6 g daily	Open trial	12 women with climacteric symptoms	30 days	Red ginseng improved fatigue, insomnia and depression. Cortisol/DHEA-S ratio was significantly decreased.
Wiklund et al, 1999 [67]	Ginseng: 100 mg daily Placebo	Multicenter RCT	284 postmenopausal women	14 weeks	No benefit of ginseng over placebo in reduction of hot flashes.
Warnecke 1991 [68]	Kava extract: 100 mg, 3 X daily Placebo	RCT	40 women with climacteric symptoms	8 weeks	Significant improvement in Kupperman index and HAMA anxiety score.
Grube et al, 1999 [69]	St. John’s wort: 900 mg daily	Open trial	111 women with climacteric symptoms	12 weeks	Significant improvement in psychological and psychosomatic symptoms of menopause. Improvement in sexual well-being

RCT=Randomized-controlled trial (double-blind, placebo controlled); CO=Double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study