The fennel that has been used for cooking and for health benefits in digestion and premenstrual symptoms can also help in postmenopause symptoms. This is the confirmation of a new study that focused on treating the pains of menopause.
In the study published in Menopause titled "Ovid Insights: Effect of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (fennel) on menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women: a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial" shows that fennel could be used as an effective food in managing menopause symptoms like hot flashes, sleeplessness, vaginal dryness, and anxiety. The good thing with this plant is the absence of serious side effects.
Fennel, a herb that has essential oils, contain phytoestrogen properties. The phytoestrogen is estrogen-like chemicals found in plants that could be used as the effective way in treat a wide array of menopause symptoms, according to the study.
In an article published in Medical News Today, the small trial had 79 Iranian women, aged 45 to 60 years, soft capsules containing 100 mg of fennel and was administered to them twice daily for eight weeks. The average age of women who is experiencing menopause is at 48.2 years old, a lower age compared to the average age of Americans when they have menopause (51 years old).
Most of the women tested in the trial have the most common adverse effects of menopause like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, sleep problems, anxiety, depression, joint and muscular discomfort, and irritability. After the trial, researchers observed that the fennel to be safe and effective as a treatment for reducing menopause symptoms without any serious side effects.
"This small pilot study found that, on the basis of a menopause rating scale, twice-daily consumption of fennel as a phytoestrogen improved menopause symptoms compared with an unusual minimal effect of placebo," Dr. JoAnn Pinkerton, the lead author of the study, said. She also serves as the executive director of the North American Menopause Society.
