Women who experience perimenopausal symptoms may decide to try a variety of other (complementary) therapies to manage symptoms or create more comfort for themselves.

About Other Therapies

People may choose therapies such as acupuncture, homeopathy, naturopathy, manual therapies, traditional Chinese medicine and herbal medicine among other options to to assist in managing their health.

These therapies can be described as either 'complementary' or 'alternative'. Complementary therapy suggests that any of the disciplines of healthcare, including Western medicine, can be used together for the management of health issues.  This term has become more popular than 'alternative medicine' which suggests that natural therapies are an alternative to mainstream Western medicine.

Natural therapies are often referred to as complementary medicines, that is, they work in conjunction with, or alongside, other treatments.

A preference for non-pharmaceutical therapy is sometimes based on the idea that natural therapies are safe and that side effects do not occur. This is not always the case. It is important to understand that with any therapy, natural or pharmaceutical, careful review of potential side effects should be undertaken together with your health practitioner before use.

Content updated December 11, 2007