Black Cohosh is a herb native to North America that has traditionally been used for cognitive and inflammatory conditions but has grown in popularity due to its ability to treat vasomotor symptoms of menopause; primarily hot flashes and night sweats.
It is one of the most popular and highest sold supplements in the Western world (10th place in 2008), according to some surveys. Black Cohosh is non-estrogenic (despite being thought to influence estrogen in the past) and may act centrally (in the brain) via serotonin, dopamine or opioids.
It might be good to be taken with a meal, as upset stomachs have been reported at a low rate but consistently in blinded studies. Some studies suggest the benefits may be delayed and take a few weeks to kick in.
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What Do We Need to Know About Black Cohosh
Black Cohosh is non-estrogenic (despite being thought to influence estrogen in the past) and may act centrally (in the brain) via serotonin, dopamine or opioids.
It might be good to be taken with a meal, as upset stomachs have been reported at a low rate but consistently in blinded studies
Effects on Menopause
Overall, there appears to be a slight trend towards beneficial effects on hot flashes and night sweats associated with Black Cohosh.
There is a large number of studies showing this benefit, but many are unblinded (on a topic where the placebo effect can confer tons of benefit) and the double-blind studies are many times confounded with other supplements (making it hard to attribute the benefit to Black Cohosh).
Side Effects and Contraindications
No significant adverse effects related to menopause or estrogen have been reported with Black Cohosh supplementation, although an increase of breast tenderness and swelling has been noted in some studies.
Might be good to take with a meal, as upset stomachs have been reported at a low rate but consistently in blinded studies
Necessary Doses and Way of Intake
Root extract capsules - 80 mg 3 times daily.
Stacking Black Cohosh with St. John's Wort
Both compounds seem to be complementary towards the same goals but have not yet been shown to work together or be synergistic.
