As hormone replacement therapy is becoming increasingly discredited, a new survey has revealed healthcare providers have been largely supportive of the use of the black cohosh extract as an alternative.

Black cohosh is a perennial woodland plant native to the eastern U.S. and Canada whose root has long been used to prepare herbal supplements and remedies.

According to Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, clinical professor of gynecology at the Yale School of Medicine, who designed the survey, 63 percent of respondents said they had discussed the use of the extract with their doctors, and nearly 54 percent claimed their physicians were ’supportive’ or ‘very supportive’ of the therapy.

“We hypothesize that the reason for the high level of support among healthcare providers was because the black cohosh extract is the most widely researched non-pharmaceutical therapy for reducing menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and occasional irritability,” says Minkin.

Results of the web-based survey of 692 women were presented this week at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists annual meeting in Chicago.

Health practitioners have also recommended proper diet, exercise as well as massages and reflexology treatments as effective ways to minimize unpleasant symptoms associated with menopause.