Remifemin is a supplement made from the herb black cohosh, a member of the buttercup family and native to eastern North America. Black cohosh is said to relieve hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. Remifemin is standardized to contain 1 mg per unit dose of the active compound 27-deoxyacetein. Consult your doctor about using Remifemin for menopausal symptoms.
Safety
Remifemin was found to be safe and effective at managing menopause symptoms compared to the synthetic hormone replacement drug tibolone, in a study published in the August 2009 issue of the "Chinese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology." In the double-blind study, postmenopausal women took 20 mg of Remifemin twice per day for 12 weeks. Results showed the Remifemin group had significantly fewer adverse side effects, such as bleeding and breast swelling. Endometrial thickness was maintained more effectively by tibolone than Remifemin in this study.
Various Effects
Black cohosh may be helpful for managing pain, cognitive function and emotional fluctuations associated with menopause in some women, according to a study conducted by the Columbia University School of Nursing. In the study, 12 weeks of black cohosh supplementation, using 40 mg of Remifemin per day, resulted in significant increases in natural opiate levels in the brain. Results of the study imply a pharmacological effect of Remifemin in the brains of postmenopausal women. The study appeared in the September 2008 issue of the journal "Menopause."
Combination Therapy
A combination of black cohosh with St. John's wort may help relieve mood swings in some menopausal women, according to a German study published in the August 2007 issue of the journal "Maturitas." The long-term study of over 6,000 women taking doses recommended by their physicians resulted in improvements in menopause-related mood disorders using black cohosh alone. Combination therapy, however, using both herbs, proved superior to black cohosh alone in women with more pronounced mood disorders.
Conventional Hormone Replacement
Remifemin fares well in comparison to three conventional forms of hormone replacement therapy, according to Heather Boon, Ph.D., athor of "The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to the 50 Most Common Medicinal Herbs." Doses of 40 drops of Remifemin twice per day decreases vaginal thinning and dryness. Remifemin also improves emotional symptoms in a fashion similar to Valium. Remifemin may be safe for use in some women who cannot take conventional hormone replacement therapy. Black cohosh has also been shown to decrease sweating, though it may not decrease frequency or other symptoms associated with hot flashes to a greater degree than a placebo.
References
- "Chinese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology"; Efficacy and Safety of Remifemin Compared to Tibolone for Controlling of Perimenopausal Symptoms; W. Bai et al.; August 2009
- "Menopause"; Black Cohosh Has Central Opioid Activity in Postmenopausal Women: Evidence from Naloxone Blockade and Positron Emission Tomography Neuroimaging; N. Reame et al.; September 2008
- "Maturitas"; Black Cohosh With or Without St. John's Wort for Symptom-Specific Climacteric Treatment — Results of a Large-Scale, Controlled, Observational Study; V. Briese et al.; August 2007
- "The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to the 50 Most Common Medicinal Herbs"; Heather Boon, Michael Smith; 2004
