The Rhubarb Root Outperforms Most Menopause Herbs
Issue 5: Estrovera and Perimenopause — What the Research Says About ERr 731
Not Your Average Herbal Remedy. This is a non-hormonal treatment, backed by outstanding research, for symptoms related to perimenopause. Hot flashes, mood shifts, disrupted sleep, and declining quality of life have a way of arriving all at once. Let’s talk about Estrovera by Metagenics.
Estrovera is built around ERr 731, a concentrated extract from the roots of Rheum rhaponticum, a specific species of rhubarb with a long history of traditional use. What sets it apart from most herbal options is how it interacts with the body. Rather than flooding the system with plant-based estrogen mimics, ERr 731 works more selectively, engaging estrogen receptors in a targeted way. In my experience, it’s one of the more sophisticated plant-based options available for perimenopausal women.
This is not a generic rhubarb supplement. The research showing meaningful results was conducted on ERr 731 specifically. This distinction matters.
What the Research Actually Shows
A 2006 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in Menopause followed 109 perimenopausal women over 12 weeks. Researchers measured outcomes using the Menopause Rating Scale II, a validated tool that captures real symptoms: hot flashes, mood, sleep, and overall quality of life.
By week 12, every symptom category on the scale improved significantly in the ERr 731 group compared to placebo. Hot flash frequency and severity dropped significantly by week four. Overall, menopause-specific quality of life was meaningfully better in women taking ERr 731. Investigators and participants both rated treatment outcomes higher in the ERr 731 group.
Importantly, the safety profile was clean. There were no differences between groups in gynecological findings, endometrial biopsies, bleeding, weight, blood pressure, or lab values. No adverse events were linked to the supplement. For women who are cautious about anything that might affect hormonal tissue, that matters.
Of all the herbal options I’ve looked at for perimenopausal support, ERr 731 has some of the most compelling evidence behind it.
What to Know Before Starting
Estrovera is designed for perimenopausal women, meaning those who are still menstruating or in the transition phase. Give it at least four weeks before evaluating, though many women in the studies saw meaningful changes by that point. As always, women with thyroid conditions or a history of hormone-sensitive cancer should check with their provider before starting anything new.
For women looking for non-hormonal support with real research behind it, Estrovera is one of the strongest options I’ve come across. If you want to read the clinical trial yourself, it’s available through PubMed here.
Available at Fullscript.
