This phyoestrogen containing herb has been used by women in Europe since 1993 to relieve perimenopausal and menopausal complaints.
More recently its safety and benefits have been confirmed by researchers publishing in prestigious medical journals such as the journal Menopause.
In summary the study showed that Siberian rhubarb root extract had the following benefits:
- Significantly decreased the number and severity of hot flashes
- Women reported improvements in all 11 of the menopausal complaints on the Menopause Rating Scale
- None of the women receiving Siberian rhubarb root extract experienced negative side effects
In the September/October 2006 edition of the journal Menopause the following research study was published:
"Efficacy and safety of a special extract of Rheum rhaponticum (ERr 731) in perimenopausal women with climacteric complaints: a 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial."
The study evaluated the benefit of Siberian rhubarb root extract (ERr 731) in relieving the menopause related complaints of 54 women. 54 women were given a small herbal tablet of Siberian rhubarb root extract once daily, while 55 women were given a sugar pill. None of the women knew whether they were getting the real herb or not. That way any psychological influence on the results was eliminated.
The researchers studious conclusion was...
"ERr 731 [Siberian rhubarb root extract] is a highly effective, well-tolerated, and safe herbal medicinal product in the treatment of climacteric complaints in perimenopause."
"Significant improvements with ERr 731 were also found for each of the 11 symptoms measured by the MRS II, ie, hot flushes and sweating, heart complaints, sleep disturbances, depressive mood, irritability, anxiety, physical and mental exhaustion, sexual problems, urinary tract complaints, vaginal dryness, and joint and muscle complaints."
Siberian rhubarb root extract safely relieved the women's menopausal symptoms in all area's of complaint. (ERr 731 = Siberian rhubarb root extract).
- "According to the investigators assessments, 49 (90.7%) women taking ERr 731 [Siberian rhubarb root extract] experienced major improvement."
- "The self-assessments of the women taking ERr 731 [Siberian rhubarb root extract] were very similar, with 47 (87.0%) women reporting major improvement in treatment outcome."
- "after 4 weeks, ERr 731 [Siberian rhubarb root extract] proved to be effective at protecting against moderate and severe hot flushes"
- "by 12 weeks [Siberian rhubarb root extract] had significantly improved the women's menopause-specific quality of life by reducing vasomotor, psychosocial, and physical and sexual complaints of the climacteric"
- "Altogether, the overall treatment outcome when receiving ERr 731 [Siberian rhubarb root extract] was rated as major improvement by the majority of women and investigators when compared to placebo, where almost all women experienced no change."
Second study confirms safety and benefits of Siberian rhubarb root extract.
The Journal of Alternative Therapies In Health and Medicine in 2008 published another study which demonstrated the benefits and safety of Siberian rhubarb root extract.
In this study the effect of ERr 731 was evaluated in 363 perimenopausal and menopausal women suffering menopause related complaints. The women were followed through 70 gynecological practices in Germany for six months while taking Siberian rhubarb root extract.
This study concludes:
"The most pronounced improvements were observed for the symptoms “hot flushes/sweating,” “irritability,” “sleep problems,” “depressive mood,” and “physical and mental exhaustion”".
"More than half of the gynecologists as well as participating women assessed the treatment outcome as positive with a pronounced decrease of symptoms."
"Most of the women (90%) indicated that they want to continue to take ERr 731 [Siberian rhubarb root extract]."
In a third study with Siberian rhubarb root extract women's the daily number of hot flushes dropped from 12 to 2.
The January/February 2009 edition of the journal Alternative Therapies In Health and Medicine published another study which revealed the benefits of Siberian rhubarb root extract.
112 women in the study received either Siberian rhubarb root extract (ERr 731) or a placebo sugar pill. The Siberian rhubarb root extract was in the form of a small 4 gram tablet.
The researchers conclusion was that:
"ERr 731 [Siberian rhubarb root extract] was confi rmed to be effective for the treatment of menopausal symptoms in perimenopause."
