Herbal prescription for managing menopausal disorders: A practice survey in Korean medicine doctors

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical practice of Korean medicine doctors (KMDs) for managing menopausal disorders.

Methods: We conducted a web-based questionnaire for KMDs to respond to recommendations across the three main KM domains: major symptoms of menopausal disorders, herbal prescriptions, and pattern identification.

Results: We received responses from 227 doctors who have treated menopausal disorders. The major pattern identifications recommended by the doctors for the pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal phases, respectively, were depression of liver energy (59.5%), kidney yin deficiency (49.8%), and kidney yin deficiency (50.7%). The most frequent herbal remedies prescribed for the pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal phases were Jiawei shaoyao-san (58.1%), Jiawei shaoyao-san (48.5%), and Jiawei guipi-decoction (37.9%), respectively.

Conclusion: The results of our clinical practice survey provide information on KMDs' clinical experiences of using herbal medicines and their use of pattern identification to manage menopausal disorders.

Keywords: Herbal medicines; Menopausal symptoms; Pattern identification; Web-based survey.