Black cohosh, is it any good?

Question

I'm haveing problems sleeping at night,I'm suffering realy bad hot and cold flushes, due to the menopause,I feel utterly exhausted! I have just bought black cohosh to see if this will help. Is it any good and has anyone suffered any bad side effects.

I took HRT for 9 years and decided to take myself off of them (COLD TURKEY!) I must have been mad! That was 3 months ago.I really don't want to go back on HRT again.

Answer 1

i am an alternative medicinal therapist and i give this to all my patients and I ,myself have been on it for 4 years with no problems. You must remember that with herbal medicines you must have a break from them, with Black Cohosh you take it for about 6 weeks and have a rest for one week or the liver will suffer. You can also take Dong Qui or Agnus Castus. You should also replace the vitamins and minerals so go and get yourself MENOPACE from the health shop. Sage is also good for hot flushes. Just remember that herbal medicines take a little longer to work, they have to get into your system. i also took myself off of HRT and i have never felt better, I still have night sweats but not so much and I don't suffer mood swings now. My patients have had no problems with this either

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Answer 2

How black cohosh works is not known. The possibility that black cohosh exhibits estrogenic activity has been studied but the evidence is contradictory.
Key points
Black cohosh is an herb sold as a dietary supplement in the United States.
Black cohosh is used for hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms.
Although preliminary evidence is encouraging, the currently available data are not sufficient to support a recommendation on the use of black cohosh for menopausal symptoms. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at the National Institutes of Health is funding a rigorous scientific study to determine whether treatment with black cohosh reduces the frequency and intensity of hot flashes, and other menopausal symptoms.
In 2001, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists stated, primarily on the basis of consensus and expert opinion, that black cohosh may be helpful in the short term (6 months or less) for women with vasomotor symptoms of menopause [1].
Although few adverse events have been reported, long-term safety data are not available.


However more recent evidence below means you should take care!

"Liver warning over menopause herb

Black cohosh has become popular in recent years
A herb popular for relieving hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause may cause liver damage, experts warn.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said all products containing black cohosh should in future carry a warning.

Two expert committees examined safety data and concluded that liver injury was rare - but could be serious.

Patients are advised to stop using black cohosh products if they develop signs suggestive of liver injury.

These can include pain on the right side of the stomach just below the ribs, unexplained nausea, flu-like symptoms, dark urine and yellowing of eyes or skin.

Professor Kent Wood, MHRA chief executive, said: "The MHRA is working with the herbal sector to ensure that labels of black cohosh products carry updated safety warnings.

"The labels will point out the possible symptoms so that appropriate action can be taken without delay."

Black cohosh has been used for many years in Europe and North America.

It gained in popularity after research linked hormone replacement therapy with a raised risk of heart attack, stroke and breast cancer. "
BBC health

Answer 3

Poor you! my mum had the same problems but she has improved alot since using black cohosh. she also uses agnus castus too which is also herbal. both of these will help balance your hormones. mum swears by them and touch wood, she has been using them a year with no side effets. give them a try, they can only be damaging if you take more than the recommended dose. Good luck!