Night sweats are episodes of excessive sweating that can soak nightclothes and bedding even when the temperature is not high. The occasional episode of night sweats should not be cause for alarm, as it is quite common. However, night sweats can occur for different reasons from medical conditions to medications. Women commonly experience night sweats when going through menopause. Herbalists have used black cohosh to treat night sweats for centuries. You should consult your physician before using black cohosh or any other herbal remedy.
Night Sweats
Common reasons for night sweats include infection, cancer and problems with the endocrine system. The most common cause of night sweats in women occurs during menopause when estrogen levels decrease. Medications such as antidepressants, diabetes medications and hormone therapies may also increase the risk of night sweats. Medical conditions that cause night sweats include damage to the autonomic nerves, cancerous tumors, hyperthyroidism, leukemia, osteomyelitis, stroke, tuberculosis, infection in the heart, and HIV or AIDS.
Black Cohosh
Actaea racemosa, or black cohosh, is a tall plant and a member of the buttercup family. You can most commonly find it in the shady woods throughout North America. Native Americans have used black cohosh to relieve menstrual cramps, symptoms of menopause, hot flashes, irritability, sleep disturbances and mood swings. For more than 40 years, Europe has used black cohosh medicinally and, in Germany, it is approved for the treatment of premenstrual discomfort, painful menstruation and menopausal symptoms.
Why It May Work
While black cohosh will most likely not improve night sweats that occur due to medications, disease or infections, it may help improve night sweats often associated with menopause. Black cohosh contains phytoestrogens, which work like estrogen in the body. Patients often experience menopausal symptoms such as night sweats and hot flashes because of decreased estrogen levels.
The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that in one clinical trial of 120 women with menopausal symptoms, black cohosh relieved hot flashes and night sweats more effectively than the antidepressant fluoxetine. However, researchers have found mixed results with some study participants showing improvement of symptoms and others showing none. Scientists will have to conduct further clinical trials before giving a definitive conclusion.
Warnings
There have been reported cases of liver toxicity in those taking black cohosh but a direct connection has not been made. High doses of black cohosh may cause nausea, headaches, joint pains, slow heart rate, tremors, vomiting, weight loss and visual dimness. Black cohosh may exacerbate hormone-sensitive conditions such as endometriosis, breast cancer, uterine cancer and ovarian cancer as well as fibroid tumors. Some researchers are studying to examine whether black cohosh stimulates the growth of breast cancer cells or inhibits them, but studies thus far have showed mixed results. Always talk to your physician before taking black cohosh for night sweats.
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