Black Cohosh and Menopause, Pt I – The Pros A perennial herb of the buttercup family and native to North America, black cohosh is a natural remedy that is often used to treat symptoms of perimenopause, the first stage of the process we call menopause. The herbal supplements designed for treating menopause are created from the roots and rhizomes of the black cohosh plant. Many of the symptoms women experience during perimenopause are cause by the reduction of the hormones estrogen and progesterone in their bodies. Some researches believe black cohosh contains isoflavones – constituents that mimic estrogen – others suggest it somehow binds to estrogen receptors in the brain, but inhibits rather than mimics estrogen. The truth is, scientists and researches still aren’t quite sure exactly how black cohosh works to reduce menopausal symptoms. This is mostly because no conclusive, controlled studies have been conducted. However, reports by women using herbal supplements for menopausal symptoms suggest that there are many advantages to black cohosh: |
• Black cohosh has very few side effects, and in most women, none. This compares favorably with many prescribed medications like HRT that might have severe, even life-threatening side effects. • Many supplements and medications on the market today aim at reducing or eliminating only one symptom of menopause. Black cohosh, on the other hand, has been reported to favorably affect a wide variety of symptoms including hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and even changes in the tissues and muscles of the genital area. • While no long-term studies have been conducted, it seems logical that the use of black cohosh might also help prevent some of the long-term, dangerous side-effects of estrogen loss, such as the increased possibility of heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Regardless of whether you are considering black cohosh or any other treatment, be sure to see your primary care provider and gynecologist regularly before and during menopause. Your general health can always have a huge effect on how well you respond to treatment. |
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