Black Cohosh: A Comprehensive Guide and Health Benefits
Study on Black Cohosh vs. Placebo
Black cohosh is an upright perennial with large, compound, tooth-edged leaves. It grows up to 2 metres (80 inches) high, producing numerous small white flowers on a wand-like raceme.
Black cohosh is native to the temperate climates of the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, where it is found from Maine to Ontario in the north and from Georgia to Missouri in the south.
Even though black cohosh has been cultivated in Europe and is especially popular in Germany for its medicinal properties, all commercial stocks come from the United States and Canada.
It is the native Algonquin word for “rough,” referring to its gnarled root. which is black in colour when harvested and has an acrid taste and strong odour.
Participants were asked to take either black cohosh (dose not provided) or placebo twice daily with meals for 60 days. The plant grows from a thick, fibrous root stock, which is the part used medicinally.
Findings:
- Women in both groups (black cohosh and placebo) reported benefits in terms of reduced number and intensity of hot flashes.
- No significant differences in the seven outcome measures reported between the two groups except for sweating, with more improvement reported in the black cohosh group.
- No differences in FSH or LH were identified between the two groups.
- Authors concluded that was not significantly more efficacious than placebo against most menopausal symptoms, including number and intensity of hot flashes.
Limitations:
- The dose of black cohosh was not provided, making it difficult to compare these findings with earlier studies.
Traditional Use
It has been used for its medicinal properties, especially, in ancient times. The Cherokee and the Iroquois used a tea made from the root to alleviate rheumatic pains, promote lactation, and promote menses.
Its use was commonly accepted into the eclectic medical movement in the early to mid-19th century, where it was prized as an anti-spasmodic, analgesic, and gynecological agent. It has been called “squawroot” and the “menopause herb.”
The botanical name for black cohosh, Cimicifuga racemosa, comes from the Latin “cimex” meaning “bug” and “fuga” meaning “to repel,” referring to the fact that it appears to act as an effective insect repellent. Black cohosh is also known as bugbane and bugwort.
Current Medicinal Use
As with its traditional uses, black cohosh products are primarily used in women’s health care. Research has shown that substances found in herb have ‘hormone-like’ properties that influence the endocrine system. A growing amount of research, including clinical trials, shows that some products may be of help in alleviating the symptoms of menopause (hot flashes, anxiety, mild depression), premenstrual syndrome, dysmenorrhea, and uterine issues.
Review Article by Beuscher on Combination Product
Multi-Center Trial:
- Conducted over 12 weeks with women (n=812) suffering from psycho-vegetative symptoms of menopause (including irritability, poor concentration, fear, insomnia, depression).
- 90% of patients noted an improvement.
Additional Notes:
- Standardized extracts of St. John’s Wort have been shown to be effective in the management of mild-moderate depression when given as a single agent.
Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial on Phytoestrogen Combination
A study showing of a group of 49 participants took place in a examination procedure. So, they took phytoestrogen combination containing 60 mg soy isoflavones, 100 mg dong quai, and 50 mg black cohosh.
Results:
- Significantly decreased the frequency of menstrual migraine attacks.
- Significantly decreased the frequency of all migraines, headache severity, doses of triptans, and doses of analgesics compared to the placebo group when ingested for 24 weeks.
Limitation:
- The clinical contributions of black cohosh in this product cannot be determined from this study.
Regulatory Perspective
Commission E (Germany):
- Considers Black Cohosh useful in the management of PMS, dysmenorrhoea, and nervous conditions associated with menopause.
- The administration of the resinous material, acteina. it has been shown to exert a hypotensive action in various animal models and cause peripheral vasodilation and increased blood flow.
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