Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi S, Shahnazi M, Nahaee J, Bayatipayan S. Efficacy of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa L.) in treating early symptoms of menopause: a randomized clinical trial. Chinese Medicine. 2013;8:20. PMID: 24499633.
Vani I, Muralidhar G, Rao BS. A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on efficacy and safety of Ashwagandha root extract (Withania somnifera) for managing menopausal symptoms in women. Front Reprod Health. 2026 Jan 5;7:1647721. doi: 10.3389/frph.2025.1647721. PMID: 41561822; PMCID: PMC12812913.
Ashwaganda link:
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/reproductive-health/articles/10.3389/frph.2025.1647721/full?
Gopal S, Ajgaonkar A, Kanchi P, et al. Effect of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root extract on climacteric symptoms in women during perimenopause: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research. 2021;47(12):4414–4425. PMID: 34553463.
Chang A, Kwak BY, Yi K, Kim JS. The effect of herbal extract (EstroG-100) on pre-, peri- and post-menopausal women: a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Phytother Res. 2012 Apr;26(4):510-6. doi: 10.1002/ptr.3597. Epub 2011 Sep 2. PMID: 21887807.
Phyto-Female Complex including Dong Quai, black cohosh for the relief of hot flushes, night sweats and quality of sleep: randomized, controlled, double-blind pilot study
Carmela Rotem 1, Boris Kaplan PMID: 17454163 DOI: 10.1080/09513590701200900
Maca reduces blood pressure and depression, in a pilot study in postmenopausal women L Stojanovska 1, C Law, B Lai, T Chung, K Nelson, S Day, V Apostolopoulos, C Haines Affiliations Expand PMID: 24931003 DOI: 10.3109/13697137.2014.929649
Black Cohosh
- Osmers R, et al. (2005). Obstetrics & Gynecology. Randomized controlled trial (RCT) in 304 menopausal women. An isopropanolic black cohosh extract beat placebo on the Menopause Rating Scale, mostly for hot flashes. (Hot flashes)
- Wuttke W, Seidlova-Wuttke D, Gorkow C (2003). Maturitas. The BNO 1055 extract reduced menopause symptoms about as well as conjugated estrogens, and also had a positive effect on bone markers. (Hot flashes, bone)
- Frei-Kleiner S, et al. (2005). Maturitas. Double-blind trial. Black cohosh reduced climacteric symptoms (Kupperman Index) in women with moderate-to-severe symptoms. (Hot flashes, sweating)
- Nappi RE, et al. (2005). Gynecological Endocrinology. Black cohosh relieved hot flashes and anxiety about as well as low-dose transdermal estradiol. (Hot flashes, anxiety)
- Bai W, et al. (2007). Maturitas. Double-blind RCT in 244 Chinese women. Black cohosh was as effective as tibolone for menopause symptoms and better tolerated. (Hot flashes, overall symptoms)
- Oktem M, et al. (2007). Advances in Therapy. Black cohosh reduced hot flashes more than fluoxetine, while fluoxetine did better on mood. (Hot flashes)
- Uebelhack R, et al. (2006). Obstetrics & Gynecology. RCT. Black cohosh plus St. John’s Wort clearly improved climacteric complaints, including the psychological ones (depression, mood). (Mood swings, depression)
- Briese V, et al. (2007). Maturitas. Large observational study in more than 6,000 women. Black cohosh, alone or with St. John’s Wort, improved both physical and psychological menopause symptoms. (Mood, hot flashes)
- Jiang K, et al. (2015). Climacteric. RCT. Black cohosh improved sleep efficiency measured by polysomnography and reduced time awake after falling asleep in postmenopausal women. (Sleep disturbance)
- Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi S, et al. (2013). Chinese Medicine. RCT in women in early menopause. Black cohosh lowered menopause symptom scores compared with placebo. (Hot flashes, overall symptoms)
- Vermes G, et al. (2005). Advances in Therapy. Remifemin (black cohosh) improved menopause symptoms as well as hormone therapy did, according to both patients and physicians. (Overall symptoms)
- Liske E, et al. (2002). Journal of Women’s Health & Gender-Based Medicine. Six-month study. Both doses reduced symptoms with no systemic estrogenic effect. (Hot flashes, safety)
- Shams T, et al. (2010). Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. Meta-analysis. Black cohosh preparations improved vasomotor symptoms by about 26% compared with placebo. (Hot flashes)
- Beer AM, Neff A (2013). Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Review by extract type. Isopropanolic black cohosh extracts showed consistent benefit for climacteric complaints. (Overall symptoms)
- Castelo-Branco C, et al. (2021). Climacteric. Updated meta-analysis. Isopropanolic black cohosh significantly reduced vasomotor and overall menopause symptoms. (Hot flashes, night sweats)
- Sarri G, et al. (2017). BJOG. Network meta-analysis behind the UK NICE guidelines. Black cohosh reduced vasomotor symptoms more than placebo. (Hot flashes)
- Rotem C, Kaplan B (2007). Gynecological Endocrinology. RCT of “Phyto-Female Complex”, which includes black cohosh and dong quai. It reduced hot flashes and night sweats and improved sleep quality. (Hot flashes, sleep)
- Mehrpooya M, et al. (2018). Journal of Education and Health Promotion. Black cohosh reduced the frequency of hot flashes more than evening primrose oil. (Hot flashes)
- Borrelli F, Ernst E (2008). Pharmacological Research. Critical review. Evidence for black cohosh is encouraging but mixed. (Review)
- Leach MJ, Moore V (2012). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. There was not enough evidence to support black cohosh for vasomotor symptoms. [Negative]
- Newton KM, et al. (2006). Annals of Internal Medicine. HALT study: black cohosh alone was no better than placebo for hot flashes. [Negative]
- Geller SE, et al. (2009). Menopause. Black cohosh and red clover were no better than placebo for vasomotor symptoms. [Negative]
- Pockaj BA, et al. (2006). Journal of Clinical Oncology. Crossover trial: no benefit over placebo for hot flashes. [Negative]
- Jacobson JS, et al. (2001). Journal of Clinical Oncology. Breast cancer survivors: no significant reduction in hot flashes. [Negative]
- Amsterdam JD, et al. (2009). Phytomedicine. No benefit over placebo for anxiety in women with menopause-related anxiety. [Negative]
Ashwagandha Root
- Gopal S, et al. (2021). Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research. RCT in perimenopausal women. Ashwagandha lowered Menopause Rating Scale scores and hot flash scores, raised estradiol, and lowered FSH and LH. (Hot flashes, mood, hormone balance)
- Chandrasekhar K, et al. (2012). Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine. RCT. Stress scores and serum cortisol (about 28% lower) both fell. (Stress, mood) [General pop.]
- Lopresti AL, et al. (2019). Medicine (Baltimore). RCT. Ashwagandha reduced anxiety and morning cortisol. (Stress, anxiety) [General pop.]
- Salve J, et al. (2019). Cureus. Dose-ranging RCT. Stress fell and sleep quality improved. (Stress, sleep) [General pop.]
- Langade D, et al. (2019). Cureus. RCT. Sleep onset, sleep quality and anxiety all improved in people with insomnia. (Sleep, anxiety)
- Langade D, et al. (2021). Journal of Ethnopharmacology. RCT. Sleep quality improved in both healthy adults and people with insomnia. (Sleep)
- Deshpande A, et al. (2020). Sleep Medicine. RCT. Total sleep time and sleep efficiency improved. (Sleep)
- Cheah KL, et al. (2021). PLoS One. Meta-analysis. Ashwagandha had a small but significant benefit on overall sleep. (Sleep)
- Akhgarjand C, et al. (2022). Phytotherapy Research. Meta-analysis of 12 RCTs. Anxiety and stress both fell. (Mood, stress)
- Pratte MA, et al. (2014). Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Systematic review. Ashwagandha consistently reduced anxiety and stress scores. (Anxiety)
- Choudhary D, et al. (2017). Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine. RCT in adults under chronic stress. Food cravings, body weight, BMI and cortisol all fell. (Weight management)
- Dongre S, et al. (2015). BioMed Research International. RCT in women. Arousal, lubrication, orgasm and satisfaction scores improved. (Libido)
Maca Root
- Meissner HO, et al. (2005). International Journal of Biomedical Science. Gelatinized maca lowered Kupperman Index scores (hot flashes and night sweats) in early postmenopausal women. (Hot flashes, night sweats)
- Meissner HO, et al. (2006). International Journal of Biomedical Science 2(2). Pilot study in perimenopausal women. Maca reduced symptoms, and the authors proposed it as a non-hormonal alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT). (Overall symptoms)
- Meissner HO, et al. (2006). International Journal of Biomedical Science 2(3), “Hormone-Balancing Effect (II)”. Multi-centre RCT. Maca improved FSH/E2 balance and reduced symptoms in early postmenopausal women. (Hormone balance)
- Meissner HO, et al. (2006). International Journal of Biomedical Science 2(4), “Hormone-Balancing Effect (III)”. Crossover RCT. Hot flashes, night sweats and sleep problems all decreased. (Hot flashes, sleep)
- Brooks NA, et al. (2008). Menopause. Maca reduced anxiety, depression and sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women, with no change in estrogen or androgen levels. (Mood, libido)
- Stojanovska L, et al. (2015). Climacteric. Maca lowered blood pressure and depression scores in postmenopausal Chinese women. (Mood, depression)
- Lee MS, et al. (2011). Maturitas. Systematic review. There was some evidence that maca helps menopausal symptoms, though the evidence was limited. (Review)
- Dording CM, et al. (2015). Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. RCT. Maca improved antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction in women, with the strongest effect after menopause. (Libido)
- Shin BC, et al. (2010). BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Systematic review. There were some positive signals for maca on sexual desire. (Libido)
- Gonzales GF (2012). Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Review covering maca’s effects on energy, mood, fertility and menopause. (Energy, mood)
Dong Quai
Note: your label says Angelica gigas (Korean), but most research uses Angelica sinensis (Chinese).
- Chang A, et al. (2012). Phytotherapy Research. RCT of EstroG-100, which contains Angelica gigas. Korean women had large reductions in Kupperman scores, hot flashes, vaginal dryness and nervousness. (Hot flashes, mood)
- Kupfersztain C, et al. (2003). Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology. Angelica sinensis with chamomile reduced hot flushes by about 90–96%. (Hot flashes)
- Rotem C, Kaplan B (2007). See #17 above. This was a dong quai–containing formula. (Hot flashes, sleep)
- Circosta C, et al. (2006). Phytotherapy Research. A standardized A. sinensis extract showed estrogenic activity in ovariectomized rats. (Hormone balance) [Animal/Lab]
- Hook IL (2014). Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Review of dong quai’s traditional and modern use for women’s health and menopause. (Review)
- Kelley KW, Carroll DG (2010). Journal of the American Pharmacists Association. Review of over-the-counter alternatives for hot flashes, including dong quai. (Hot flashes, review)
- Hirata JD, et al. (1997). Fertility and Sterility. Dong quai alone was no better than placebo for hot flashes. [Negative]
- Haines CJ, et al. (2008). Climacteric. The Dang Gui Buxue Tang formula was no better than placebo. [Negative]
Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium)
- Zhang G, Qin L, Shi Y (2007). Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. 24-month RCT. Epimedium flavonoids prevented bone loss in postmenopausal women without stimulating the uterine lining. (Bone health)
- Zhong LL, et al. (2013). Menopause. RCT of Er-Xian Decoction, which contains Epimedium. Hot flash frequency and severity fell in perimenopausal women. (Hot flashes)
- Yong EL, et al. (2021). Phytomedicine. RCT. Epimedium prenylflavonoids had favorable effects on bone markers in postmenopausal women. (Bone)
- Indran IR, et al. (2016). Pharmacology & Therapeutics. Review of Epimedium compounds for postmenopausal bone health. (Bone, review)
- Pan Y, et al. (2007). Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior. Icariin, Epimedium’s main active compound, had antidepressant-like effects. (Mood) [Animal/Lab]
- Zhu X, et al. (2016). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Review of Chinese herbal medicine (including formulas with Epimedium) for vasomotor symptoms. The evidence was inconclusive. (Review)
Damiana Leaf
- Ito TY, et al. (2006). Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy. ArginMax, which contains damiana, improved sexual desire and satisfaction in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. (Libido)
- Ito TY, Trant AS, Polan ML (2001). Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy. An earlier ArginMax RCT that improved sexual function in women. (Libido)
- Zhao J, et al. (2008). Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Damiana compounds inhibited aromatase. This supports the aromatase claim on your page. (Hormone balance) [Animal/Lab]
- Andersen T, Fogh J (2001). Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. YGD (yerba mate, guarana, damiana) slowed stomach emptying and caused significant weight loss in overweight patients. (Weight loss)
- Kumar S, Sharma A (2005). Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Damiana (Turnera aphrodisiaca) showed anti-anxiety activity. (Anxiety) [Animal/Lab]
- Szewczyk K, Zidorn C (2014). Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Review of Turnera’s mood, aphrodisiac and hormonal activity. (Review)
Tribulus Terrestris
- Postigo S, et al. (2016). Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. RCT. Sexual function (desire, arousal, satisfaction) improved in postmenopausal women. (Libido)
- Fatima L, Sultana A (2017). Advances in Integrative Medicine. RCT. Tribulus fruits reduced symptoms of the menopausal transition. (Overall symptoms)
- Akhtari E, et al. (2014). DARU Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. RCT. Desire, arousal and satisfaction improved in women with low desire. (Libido)
- de Souza KZ, et al. (2016). Menopause. RCT. Sexual desire improved in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). (Libido)
- Vale FBC, et al. (2018). Gynecological Endocrinology. Free and bioavailable testosterone rose and HSDD symptoms improved. (Libido, hormones)
- Gama CR, et al. (2014). Clinical Medicine Insights: Women’s Health. Clinical evaluation. Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) scores improved across domains. (Libido)
- Ştefănescu R, et al. (2020). Biomolecules. Comprehensive review of Tribulus pharmacology, including energy and hormonal effects. (Review)
Catuaba Bark (75–77): animal studies only
- Campos MM, et al. (2005). Psychopharmacology. Catuaba (Trichilia catigua) extract had antidepressant-like effects through dopamine pathways. (Mood) [Animal/Lab]
- Chassot JM, et al. (2011). Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Catuaba extracts showed antidepressant-like and central nervous system effects. (Mood) [Animal/Lab]
- Bonassoli VT, et al. (2012). Journal of Ethnopharmacology. A catuaba fraction promoted antidepressant effects and growth of new brain cells in the hippocampus. (Mood) [Animal/Lab]
Muira Puama
- Waynberg J, Brewer S (2000). Advances in Therapy. Herbal vX (muira puama plus ginkgo) improved libido and sexual activity in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. (Libido)
- Piato AL, et al. (2008). Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Muira puama showed antidepressant properties in a chronic stress model. (Mood) [Animal/Lab]
- da Silva AL, et al. (2004). Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Memory retrieval improved in aging mice. (Brain fog) [Animal/Lab]
Smilax China (81): very limited
- Shu XS, et al. (2006). Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Smilax china extract had anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects. (Joint pain) [Animal/Lab]
Mucuna Pruriens
- Shukla KK, et al. (2010). Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Mucuna reduced psychological stress and cortisol. (Stress) [General pop., men]
- Rana DG, Galani VJ (2014). AYU. Mucuna seeds had dopamine-mediated antidepressant effects. (Mood) [Animal/Lab]
- Katzenschlager R, et al. (2004). Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. Mucuna works as a natural L-dopa source, which raises dopamine and supports the mood mechanism. (Mood mechanism)
- Lampariello LR, et al. (2012). Journal of Young Pharmacists. Review of Mucuna’s mood, nervous system and aphrodisiac properties. (Review)
BioPerine / Piperine
- Shoba G, et al. (1998). Planta Medica. Piperine increased curcumin bioavailability by 2,000%. (Absorption)
- Badmaev V, Majeed M, Norkus EP (1999). Nutrition Research. BioPerine increased blood levels of beta-carotene. (Absorption)
- Badmaev V, Majeed M, Prakash L (2000). Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. BioPerine increased CoQ10 bioavailability. (Absorption)
- Johnson JJ, et al. (2011). Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology. Piperine greatly increased resveratrol bioavailability. (Absorption) [Animal/Lab]
- Li S, et al. (2007). Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry. Piperine had antidepressant-like effects under chronic stress. (Mood) [Animal/Lab]
- Park UH, et al. (2012). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Piperine blocked fat-cell formation by acting on PPARγ. (Weight) [Animal/Lab]
Ginger Root
- Saenghong N, et al. (2012). Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. RCT. Ginger improved attention and cognitive function in middle-aged women. (Brain fog, cognition)
- Maharlouei N, et al. (2019). Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. Meta-analysis. Ginger significantly reduced body weight, waist-to-hip ratio and fasting glucose. (Weight loss)
- Ebrahimzadeh Attari V, et al. (2018). Phytotherapy Research. Systematic review of ginger’s anti-obesity and weight-lowering effects. (Weight loss)
- Mansour MS, et al. (2012). Metabolism. Ginger increased the thermic effect of food and made people feel full. (Weight, appetite)
- Altman RD, Marcussen KC (2001). Arthritis & Rheumatism. RCT. Ginger extract reduced knee osteoarthritis pain. (Joint pain)
- Bartels EM, et al. (2015). Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. Meta-analysis. Ginger reduced osteoarthritis pain and disability. (Joint pain)
- Black CD, et al. (2010). Journal of Pain. Daily ginger reduced exercise-induced muscle pain. (Aches)
- Morvaridzadeh M, et al. (2020). Cytokine. Meta-analysis. Ginger reduced inflammatory markers (CRP, TNF-α, IL-6). (Inflammation, joints)
- Daily JW, et al. (2015). Pain Medicine. Meta-analysis. Ginger relieved menstrual pain, which is relevant for perimenopausal cycles. (Menstrual pain)