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[B712]Black Cohosh And Menopause

by Ian Finlayson, Ian

Interest in Black Cohosh and other dietary supplements from women seeking alternative treatments for symptoms associated with the menopausal transition, including hot flashes and night sweats, anxiety and depression, and vaginal dryness has increased recently in the wake of findings from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), which pointed to a shift in current thinking on the risk/benefit balance of hormone therapy due to cardiovascular events, stroke, breast cancer, blood clots, and other conditions.

Black Cohosh Root is nowadays, in fact, used for a variety of complaints, but has become well known in the Western World for its beneficial effect on hormone functioning due to its phyto-estrogenic properties. Black Cohosh is also used by herbalists to prevent miscarriage. Many women miscarry very early in pregnancy and may not even realize that they have been pregnant.

Preparations of Black Cohosh consist of the fresh or dried rhizome with attached roots of Cimicifuga racemosa in effective dosage. It has as its main constituents triterpene glycosides, cinnamic acid derivatives, chromone, isoflavones, tannins and salicylic acid.

Recent clinical studies carried out in Germany have confirmed that Cimicifuga is strongly estrogenic and that it is effective in relieving menopausal symptoms. The daily dosage (as recommended by Germany's Commission E Monographs) is, in extracts with alcohol 40 - 60 percent (v/v) corresponding, 40 mg of the drug.

Some authorities have suggested that medicinal quantities of Black Cohosh may increase the effects of synthetic hormones in susceptible women, e.g. women taking HRT or the contraceptive pill. Because of its oestrogen-like effects, it is thought that it may promote metastasis of breast cancer tissue, however, in an experiment done on mice, Black Cohosh increased metastasis of cancer to the lungs, but did not cause an increased incidence of breast cancer.

There are no known contraindications and few direct side effects to Black Cohosh Root extracts, except for occasional gastric discomfort, and rare hepatic (liver) dysfunction.

There are no known interactions with other drugs but it is considered prudent that preparations using Black Cohosh should not be used during pregnancy or lactation.

Black Cohosh (cimicifugae racemosae rhizoma) should not be confused with Blue Cohosh (caulophyllum thalictroides), which has different properties, treatment uses, and side effects than Black Cohosh. Black Cohosh is sometimes used with Blue Cohosh to stimulate labor, but this therapy has caused adverse effects in newborns, which appear to be due to Blue Cohosh.

While Black Cohosh shows great promise in the safe relief of menopausal symptoms, further research is being undertaken by The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, it is important to inform your health care providers about any herb or dietary supplement you are using, including Black Cohosh to ensure safe and coordinated care.

Also known as the natural option for those who do not want to undergo Hormonal Replacement Therapy or HRT, the herb known as Black Cohosh is making itself one of the best possible options for women entering their transitional years. The problems associated with menopause are quite numerous and quite irritating, to say the least. The uncomfortable hot flashes, mood swings, headaches, bouts with depression and all the other problems associated with menopause have always been treated with therapy that gets women to take in doses of medication that has estrogen to help replace the hormones that are fast disappearing from their systems due to age. While this may be very effective for some, there are women who want a more natural way of boosting their hormone levels to a degree that can help them comfortably cope with the changes they are going through, both physically and emotionally. With the use of Black Cohosh as a natural supplement to help with menopause, women are beginning to find comfort in a more natural way of fighting the problems that menopause brings.

What exactly is Black Cohosh? This herb, which also goes by a few other names like black snakeroot, bugwort, bugbane, rattleweed and rattletop, is known to be found in North America and is part of the plant family of the buttercup. The active ingredients from this plant is taken from the roots and rhizomes. These parts of the plant are then prepared by extracting the juices of the Black Cohosh for use in certain tablets and capsules.

The herb has been used by Native American Indians for a number of medicinal purposes like for the treatment of malaria, malaise, rheumatism and a whole lot of other diseases and ailments. It was used as a herbal remedy during the 19th century for menstrual problems. These medicinal properties of the herb has indeed been widely known in the past and its usage as a treatment for such menopausal problems like hot flashes is just another addition to the long list of ailments that it can treat and help with.

While there are numerous manufacturers that swear to the effectiveness of the herb known as Black Cohosh due to some of the preliminary findings on the herb in relation with menopausal treatments, there is still no substantial evidence or accredited findings that will help prove that it is indeed the solution to a woman's menopausal woes. A lot of women trust the testimonies of those that have used Black Cohosh to treat the symptoms of menstruation. This kind of a reception from the numerous women who are going through the problems of menopause has also given rise to a lot more companies using the herb known as Black Cohosh in their menopausal treatments and despite there being no substantial proof to back their claims up, women will keep on patronizing these Black Cohosh products rather than undergo HRT.

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Both Ian Finlayson & Patricia Mcdougall are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Ian Finlayson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Woman Menopause, Anti Oxidant and Fitness. . Ian Finlayson's top article generates over 1900 views. to your Favourites.

Patricia Mcdougall has sinced written about articles on various topics from Woman Menopause, Fitness and Diabetes Treatment. Patricia McDougall B.Sc. is a Chartered Herbalist and graduate of the Dominion Herbal College, British Columbia, Canada. Originally from Peru, Patricia is the Director of Research and Development for Amazon Botanicals LLC of Newark Delaware.. Patricia Mcdougall's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.