. Maryam Mehrpooya; . Soghra Rabiee; . Amir Larki‑Harchegani; . Amir‑Mohammad Fallahian; . Abbas Moradi; . Sara Ataei; . Masoumeh Taravati Javad
Volume 8, Issue 3 , March 2018, , Pages 1-5
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Hot flashes are considered to be a common experience for menopausal womenand they can compromise the quality of life. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy ...
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INTRODUCTION: Hot flashes are considered to be a common experience for menopausal womenand they can compromise the quality of life. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy ofCimicifuga racemosa in comparison with evening primrose oil (EPO) in postmenopausal womenwith menopause‑related symptoms.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was performed on 80 postmenopausal women with hotflashes. The participants were randomly divided into two groups by blocked randomization. Theparticipants of one group received black cohosh and the other group received EPO for 8 weeks.The severity and number of hot flashes and quality of life were measured by four‑point scale, and theMenopause‑Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaire at pre‑intervention, 1st, 4th, and 8th weeksafter treatment. Data were analyzed in SPSS Version 16 using independent t‑test, Chi‑square, andFisher’s exact test.RESULTS: Average severity of hot flashes in both groups and number of hot flashes in black cohoshgroup in 8th week were significantly lower than 1st week (P < 0.001), but number of hot flashes inprimrose oil group in 8th week showed no significant differences (P = 0.32). The number of hot flashesand quality of life score in black cohosh arm compared to EPO showed a significant decrease inthe 8th week (P < 0.05). All MENQOL scores were significantly improved in two groups (P < 0.05),but the percentage of improvement in black cohosh arm was significantly superior to EPO group.CONCLUSION: Both herbs were effective in reduction of severity of hot flashes and improvement ofthe quality of life, but it seems that black cohosh is more effective than primrose oil because it wasable to reduce the number of hot flashes too.