But a large, NIH-sponsored, carefully controlled study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine Monday reports that, unlike HRT, the supplement doesn't work to help hot flashes or other menopausal symptoms.

NPR: Menopause Study: Herbal Remedies Don't Help

The stumbling block to this middle ground is that patients often don't know what are good (and bad) reasons to go on HRT.

CNN: 5 good reasons for going on hormones