Alternative Menopausal Therapies Don't Cool Things Down

The search for effective, acceptable treatments for women with menopausal vasomotor symptoms (VMS) has taken many paths. Now, to explore the efficacy and tolerability of three alternative therapies for VMS (aerobic exercise, yoga, and ω-3 fish oil supplements), researchers have conducted a 12-week, 3-by-2 factorial, randomized, controlled trial involving 249 previously sedentary women in late perimenopause or postmenopause (age range, 40–62) who met criteria for frequency and severity of hot flashes and night sweats. Participants were randomized to one of three groups: weekly 90-minute yoga classes plus daily practice at home, thrice weekly individualized cardiovascular conditioning training sessions, or usual physical activity. Women in ea…