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Research studies have been looked at to see if women given phytoestrogens could have a resolution of their symptoms when given these products instead of traditional hormone therapy.

The studies all lasted longer than twelve weeks and included giving women soy extracts, soy products, red clover extracts, and other sources of phytoestrogens. There was no significant difference between giving red clover extract and a placebo in controlling hot flashes in two trials.

A few studies found a slight lessening of the severity and frequency of night sweats and hot flashes, but many got better by taking the placebo drug. There was no significant evidence showing that phytoestrogens could treat the symptoms of menopause in the same way that women with regular oestrogen did.

Studies also looked at the usage of flaxseed, which is another type of phytoestrogen, for the treatment of hot flashes. A study out of the Mayo Clinic looked at thirty female participants and gave them crushed flaxseed every day for six weeks to see if their hot flashes diminished. The average decrease in hot flashes was about 50 percent with a severity improvement of about 57 percent.

It should be noted that many plants with phytoestrogens in them contain very little of the phytoestrogen and they didn’t affect the body at all. Herbs, on the other hand, contain bigger amounts of phytoestrogens that can have an effect on the human body.

Phytoestrogens work by stimulating human oestrogen and by mimicking oestrogen. They may be of use in treating women who have deficiencies in oestrogen because of menopause.