Siberian rhubarb (Rheum rhaponticum) is a plant that has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Some key points about Siberian rhubarb and menopause:
- Siberian rhubarb contains compounds like rhaponticin, desoxyrhaponticin, rhapontigenin, and resveratrol, which have shown estrogen-like effects in preliminary research. This means they may help relieve some menopausal symptoms like hot flashes. More research is still needed.
- Small studies have found Siberian rhubarb may help reduce:
- Larger, more robust clinical trials are still needed to confirm effectiveness and safety for menopausal symptoms. So far research is very limited.
- Siberian rhubarb seems to have a fairly good safety profile when used short-term. Side effects may include stomach upset, diarrhea, nausea.
- Long-term safety is unknown. There are concerns Siberian rhubarb may impact liver function or hormone levels if used daily for more than 6 months.
- Dosages used in studies typically range from 350-500 mg per day of standardized Siberian rhubarb extract. Extracts are preferred over crude rhubarb root powder.
- Siberian rhubarb should not replace standard estrogen therapy. It may be an option for women looking for non-hormonal complementary approaches to manage mild to moderate menopause symptoms. Discuss with your doctor.
At
Optimal Hormone Wellness Center, our physicians specialize in natural and bioidentical hormone therapies to help patients through
perimenopause, menopause, and
postmenopause stages.
