Menopause usually occurs when a women is in her early 50s and signifies the end of menstruation and fertility. In the lead-up to menopause, the ovaries slow down production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. As a result, some women experience symptoms including hot flashes, weight gain, mood swings and night sweats. Some women find these effects distressing and seek medical treatment, such as hormone replacement therapy. Black cohosh is an herb sometimes used to alleviate menopausal symptoms, although evidence to prove it works is mixed. Ask your doctor for advice before using it.
Properties and Required Dose
Black cohosh, also known as Cimicifuga racemosa, is a member of the buttercup family and is used to treat a variety of conditions including dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome. It contains a number of biologically active compounds like triterpene glycosides and tannins and may have estrogen-like effects, although the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center notes that these effects are unproven. The University of Maryland Medical Center suggests taking 20mg twice daily, but check with your doctor that this dose is suitable for you.
Efficacy
Evidence to show black cohosh can effectively relieve menopausal symptoms is mixed. The results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial led by K.M. Newton and published in the December 2006 issue of the "Annals of Internal Medicine" show that taking 160 mg of black cohosh daily does little to relieve vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes. In contrast, an analysis of data from nine randomized placebo-controlled trials, published in the January 2010 issue of "Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine" found that black cohosh reduced menopausal symptoms by 26 percent. However, the article's authors, T. Shams and others, add that more data are needed to confirm its effectiveness and safety.
Side Effects
RxList notes that black cohosh is safe for most people, but it may cause side effects including stomach upset, headache, rash and vaginal spotting. It has been linked with several cases of liver damage, but it remains unclear whether black cohosh was responsible for these effects. Check with your doctor that you are using a safe dose of this herb.
Contraindications
Use of black cohosh is contraindicated for a number of conditions including hormone-sensitive cancers like breast and ovarian cancer, liver disease and endometriosis. This herb also interacts with a number of drugs including cisplatin, medications that are changed by the liver and atorvastatin. If you are taking any of these medications, talk to your doctor before using black cohosh.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Menopause
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Black Cohosh
- PubMed: Treatment of Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause with Black Cohosh, Multibotanicals, Soy, Hormone Therapy, or Placebo: A Randomized Trial
- PubMed: Efficacy of Black Cohosh-Containing Preparations on Menopausal Symptoms: A Meta-Analysis
- RxList: Black Cohosh
