Complementary Therapy in Overcoming Complaints During Menopause: A Literature Study

Authors

  • Rama Agustina Department of Midwifery, STIK Bina Husada Palembang, Palembang City, South Sumatra, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53770/amhj.v4i4.461

Keywords:

Complementary, Menopause

Abstract

Hormonal changes during menopause—particularly the decline in estrogen levels—often trigger a range of physical and psychological symptoms, including hot flashes, sleep disturbances, joint pain, mood swings, anxiety, and depression. This study aims to analyze complementary therapies that have been scientifically proven to alleviate menopausal symptoms. The research method employed is a literature review. Data were collected from peer-reviewed scientific articles published between 2018 and 2024, accessed through electronic databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, ProQuest, and Google Scholar. Selected articles met the criteria of full-text availability and focused on complementary therapies for menopausal women. The findings indicate that therapies such as acupuncture, yoga, reflexology, aromatherapy, music therapy, and the use of herbal remedies (phytoestrogens) have demonstrated effectiveness in improving the quality of life for menopausal women. The conclusion is that complementary therapies offer significant potential in managing the physical and psychological symptoms associated with menopause. Their integration into holistic care approaches can enhance well-being and life quality in menopausal women. Future longitudinal studies are recommended to explore the sustained effects of complementary therapies on hormonal regulation, psychological health, and the risk of chronic diseases in menopausal populations. Additionally, clinical guidelines should be developed to standardize the use of these therapies in menopausal care.

References

Aiello, E. J., Yasui, Y., Tworoger, S. S., Ulrich, C. M., Irwin, M. L., Bowen, D., ... & McTiernan, A. (2004). Effect of a yearlong, moderate-intensity exercise intervention on the occurrence and severity of menopause symptoms in postmenopausal women. Menopause, 11(4), 382-388. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.GME.0000113932.56832.27

Borenstein, M., Hedges, L. V., Higgins, J. P., & Rothstein, H. R. (2021). Introduction to meta-analysis. John wiley & sons.

Chattha, R., Raghuram, N., Venkatram, P., & Hongasandra, N. R. (2008). Treating the climacteric symptoms in Indian women with an integrated approach to yoga therapy: a randomized control study. Menopause, 15(5), 862-870. https://doi.org/10.1097/gme.0b013e318167b902

Chen, M. N., Lin, C. C., & Liu, C. F. (2015). Efficacy of phytoestrogens for menopausal symptoms: a meta-analysis and systematic review. Climacteric, 18(2), 260-269. https://doi.org/10.3109/13697137.2014.966241

Chiu, H. Y., Pan, C. H., Shyu, Y. K., Han, B. C., & Tsai, P. S. (2015). Effects of acupuncture on menopause-related symptoms and quality of life in women in natural menopause: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Menopause, 22(2), 234-244. https://doi..org/10.1097/GME.0000000000000260

Cramer, H., Peng, W., & Lauche, R. (2018). Yoga for menopausal symptoms—A systematic review and meta-analysis. Maturitas, 109, 13-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2017.12.005

Danhauer, S. C., Mihalko, S. L., Russell, G. B., Campbell, C. R., Felder, L., Daley, K., & Levine, E. A. (2009). Restorative yoga for women with breast cancer: findings from a randomized pilot study. Psycho-oncology, 18(4), 360–368. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.1503

Daley, A., Stokes‐Lampard, H., Thomas, A., & MacArthur, C. (2014). Exercise for vasomotor menopausal symptoms. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 11, CD006108. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD006108.pub4

Dossey, B. M., Keegan, L., & Guzzetta, C. E. (2005). Pocket guide for holistic nursing. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Ee, C., Xue, C., Chondros, P., Myers, S. P., French, S. D., Teede, H., & Pirotta, M. (2016). Acupuncture for menopausal hot flashes: a randomized trial. Annals of internal medicine, 164(3), 146-154. https://doi.org/10.7326/M15-1380

Elavsky, S., & McAuley, E. (2007). Physical activity and mental health outcomes during menopause: a randomized controlled trial. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 33(2), 132-142. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02879894

Guna, I. W. A. W., Andayani, N. L. N., Ayu, I. G., & Putra, I. P. Y. P. (2024). The Relationship between Physical Activity Levels and Quality of Life in Menopausal Women. FISIO MU: Physiotherapy Evidences, 5(2), 162-168. https://doi.org/10.23917/fisiomu.v5i2.4862

Hanafi, M., & Utamayasa, I. G. D. (2021). Efek Senam Yoga terhadap Tingkat Kecemasan Wanita Pramenopause di Sanggar Dolphin Lovina Singaraja. Jurnal Pendidikan Kesehatan Rekreasi, 7(2), 354-360. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4922371

Harira, H., Irmawati, Y., & Muriana, E. A. (2023). Efektivitas senam Aerobik Low Impact terhadap penurunan kecemasan pada wanita menopause di Puskesmas Soropia Kota Kendari. Journal of Nursing Practice and Education, 3(2), 205-212. https://doi.org/10.34305/jnpe.v3i2.749

Hur, M. H., Yang, Y. S., & Lee, M. S. (2008). Aromatherapy massage affects menopausal symptoms in korean climacteric women: a pilot-controlled clinical trial. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 5(3), 325–328. https://doi.org/10.1093/ecam/nem027

Johnson, A., Roberts, L., & Elkins, G. (2019). Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Menopause. Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine, 24, 2515690X19829380. https://doi.org/10.1177/2515690X19829380

Kaban, V., Kurniarti, V., & Sutrisno, S. (2021). Efektivitas Pijat Refleksi Relaksasi untuk Mengatasi Masalah Insomnia (Shi Mian) pada Wanita Postmenopause. Dhammavicaya: Jurnal Pengkajian Dhamma, 5(1), 12-20. https://doi.org/10.47861/dv.v5i1.41

Kim, D. I., Jeong, J. C., Kim, K. H., Rho, J. J., Choi, M. S., Yoon, S. H., ... & Lee, M. S. (2011). Acupuncture for hot flushes in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women: a randomised, sham-controlled trial. Acupuncture in Medicine, 29(4), 249-256. https://doi.org/10.1136/aim.2011.004085

Lakhan, S. E., Sheafer, H., & Tepper, D. (2016). The effectiveness of aromatherapy in reducing pain: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Pain research and treatment, 2016(1), 8158693. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/8158693

Lee, H. W., Ang, L., Choi, J., & Lee, M. S. (2021). Aromatherapy for managing menopausal symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 27(10), 813-823. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2020.0315

Lethaby, A., Marjoribanks, J., Kronenberg, F., Roberts, H., Eden, J., & Brown, J. (2013). Phytoestrogens for menopausal vasomotor symptoms. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 12, CD001395. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001395.pub4

Manson, J. E., Chlebowski, R. T., Stefanick, M. L., Aragaki, A. K., Rossouw, J. E., Prentice, R. L., ... & Wallace, R. B. (2013). Menopausal hormone therapy and health outcomes during the intervention and extended poststopping phases of the Women’s Health Initiative randomized trials. Jama, 310(13), 1353-1368. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.278040

Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. (2022). National Health Survey Report: Use of Herbal Therapy in Indonesia. Jakarta: Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia.

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2021). Complementary, Alternative, or Integrative Health: What's In a Name. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Retrieved from: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/complementary-alternative-or-integrative-health-whats-in-a-name

Neugarten, B. L. (1976). Adaptation and the life cycle. The counseling psychologist, 6(1), 16-20. https://doi.org/10.1177/001100007600600104

Rosenthal, R. (1979). The file drawer problem and tolerance for null results. Psychological bulletin, 86(3), 638-641. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.86.3.638

Rowe, I. J., & Baber, R. J. (2021). The effects of phytoestrogens on postmenopausal health. Climacteric, 24(1), 57-63. https://doi.org/10.1080/13697137.2020.1863356

Sternfeld, B., Wang, H., Quesenberry, C. P., Jr, Abrams, B., Everson-Rose, S. A., Greendale, G. A., Matthews, K. A., Torrens, J. I., & Sowers, M. (2004). Physical activity and changes in weight and waist circumference in midlife women: findings from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. American journal of epidemiology, 160(9), 912–922. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwh299

Tarigan, I., & Sembiring, M. B. (2020). The Effectiveness Of Yoga In Decreasing Menopausal Syndrome Complaints To Improve Quality Life For Menopausal Women At Medan Johor Public Health Center 2020. In Mitra Husada Health Internasional Conference (MIHHICo), 1, 107-112. Retrieved from: https://prosidingmhm.mitrahusada.ac.id/index.php/mihhico/article/view/53

World Health Organization. (2024). Menopause. World Health Organization. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/menopause

Downloads

Published

2025-03-31

How to Cite

Agustina, R. (2025). Complementary Therapy in Overcoming Complaints During Menopause: A Literature Study . Ahmar Metastasis Health Journal, 4(4), 254–262. https://doi.org/10.53770/amhj.v4i4.461