Pueraria mirifica
Summary
Pueraria mirifica is a Thai root with estrogen-like effects. Small trials of 20–50 mg a day eased vaginal dryness after menopause (grade D), but a systematic review called the evidence inconclusive and low quality. Supplements often contain far more than was studied, so we do not link to products.
Key facts
- A Thai root used as a traditional rejuvenating tonic; its active ingredients are not standardized across products[4]
- In postmenopausal women, 20–50 mg a day increased vaginal cell maturation, showing estrogen-like activity on vaginal tissue[1]
- A systematic review of 8 studies (309 women) found design flaws, high risk of bias and no standardization; CRP doubled[4]
- Trials used 20–50 mg of powdered root a day; extracts sold as supplements can supply many times more[1][3]
- 3 graded human outcomes on this page
- October 11, 2026
How it works
ProposedPueraria mirifica contains phytoestrogens that act on estrogen-responsive tissue, shown by changes in vaginal cytology in a 24-week trial.[1]
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form column shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
At a glance: strongest evidence per outcome
| Outcome | Grade | Effect | Strongest evidence | Rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthy aging | Grade D | Improved | RCT · n = 71 · 2007 | 2 rows |
| Bones & joints | Grade D | Mixed | RCT · n = 71 · 2008 | 1 row |
Every graded row
| Outcome | Effect | Grade | Best evidence | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaginal dryness and vaginal cell maturation | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 71 · 2007 Healthy postmenopausal women aged 45–60 Form: Pueraria mirifica capsules · Dose: 20, 30 or 50 mg/day · Duration: 24 weeks Vaginal dryness fell after 12 weeks and the vaginal maturation index shifted toward mature cells; adverse effects did not differ from placebo. | 17415017 (opens PubMed)Source [1] |
| Bone turnover, lipids and endometrial safety | Mixed | Grade D | RCT · n = 71 · 2008 Healthy postmenopausal women aged 45–60 Form: Pueraria mirifica capsules · Dose: 20, 30 or 50 mg/day · Duration: 24 weeks Bone-specific alkaline phosphatase fell; triglycerides rose 15% in both groups; endometrial thickness and breast ultrasound were unchanged. | 18202589 (opens PubMed)Source [2] |
| Menopausal symptom scores (25 vs 50 mg) | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 52 · 2011 Women after hysterectomy with menopausal symptoms Form: Pueraria mirifica tablets · Dose: 25 or 50 mg/day · Duration: 6 months Symptom scores fell similarly with both doses; there was no placebo group. | 20872225 (opens PubMed)Source [3] |
Forms
| Form | Elemental % | Absorption (human data) | GI tolerance | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pueraria mirifica root powder or extract | Varies[4] | No head-to-head human absorption data between products in our sources.[4] | Adverse effects (breast tenderness, spotting, dizziness) were similar to placebo or estrogen in short trials.[4] | Vaginal health and menopause symptoms (20–50 mg/day of root) |
Studied doses
Doses studied in human trials ranged from 20 to 50 mg of Pueraria mirifica a day for 24 weeks to 6 months.[1][3]
Interactions
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
None found in our sources.
Who should be careful
- People with hormone-sensitive conditions or on hormone therapy
- It has estrogen-like effects on tissue; combining it with hormones or using it with an estrogen-sensitive condition has not been studied.[1][4]
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- No safety data were found in the trials we cite.[1]
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.
Frequently asked questions
Why is there no buying link for Pueraria mirifica?
It has estrogen-like effects, the evidence is low quality, and products we checked supply far more than the 20–50 mg a day studied, so we judged the risk to outweigh the evidence.[1][4]
Does Pueraria mirifica help menopause symptoms?
Small Thai trials reported less vaginal dryness and lower symptom scores, but a systematic review called the evidence inconclusive.[1][4]
Is it safe for the uterus and breasts?
A 24-week trial at 20–50 mg a day found no change in endometrial thickness or breast ultrasound; longer and higher-dose use has not been studied.[2]
Sources
- [1]Effect of Pueraria mirifica on vaginal health.. Menopause, 2007. RCT
- [2]Effects and safety of Pueraria mirifica on lipid profiles and biochemical markers of bone turnover rates in healthy postmenopausal women.. Menopause, 2008. RCT
- [3]Comparison of Pueraria mirifica 25 and 50 mg for menopausal symptoms.. Arch Gynecol Obstet, 2011. RCT
- [4]Efficacy and safety of Pueraria candollei var. mirifica (Airy Shaw & Suvat.) Niyomdham for menopausal women: A systematic review of clinical trials and the way forward.. J Ethnopharmacol, 2018. systematic-review
What changed
- First draft. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities (title, year and journal taken from the PubMed record) and abstracts read for each cited row. Product details in Where to buy read from the brand page on the date shown. Self-reviewed in a second strict pass (no independent reviewer yet).