November 24, 2003 – Recent research shows black cohosh supplements may be dangerous for women with cancer1, but for those who are healthy, they would represent a viable and safe alternative to hormone therapy.
A study2 carried out in 2002 involved 152 perimenopausal or postmenopausal women with moderate or severe symptoms. Some received a daily dose of 39 mg of black cohosh and others a dose of 127.3 mg. The study, which lasted 24 weeks, did not include a control group.
All of the women reported significant relief from their symptoms. The two doses had a similar effect, and no harmful side effects were reported.
The researchers were particularly interested in the levels of hormones in the body of the participants and the proliferation of their vaginal cells. Black cohosh had no impact on either. In the case of vaginal cells, this would indicate that black cohosh has no estrogenic effect on the reproductive organs, which does not exclude that it may have one on other tissues.
Scientists come to the conclusion that black cohosh is a safe alternative for women who are not on hormone therapy.
The researchers were funded by Schaper & Brummer GmbH & Co, the manufacturer of Remifemin, the black cohosh supplement used in this study.
Jean-Benoit Legault – PasseportSanté.net
From HerbalGram 60.
1. Black cohosh modifies the effect of chemo (April 15, 2003) and Cohosh: a danger for women suffering from cancer? (July 31, 2003)
2. Liske E, Hanggi W, Henneicke-von Zepelin HH, Boblitz N, Wustenberg P, Rahlfs VW. Physiological investigation of a unique extract of black cohosh (Cimicifugae racemosae rhizoma): a 6-month clinical study demonstrates no systemic estrogenic effect.J Womens Health Gend Based Med 2002 Mar; 11 (2): 163-74.
