How Do I Use Black Cohosh for Hot Flashes?

The common cohosh is also called black cohosh. The black cohosh extract is a rhizome extract of Cimicifuga Romose L., which is a brown-black powder. Black cohosh is a perennial wildflower native to northeastern America. Black cohosh can produce estrogen-like effects and regulate endocrine balance, which can help alleviate discomfort such as menopause insomnia, hot flashes, back pain, and uncontrolled mood. Black cohosh extract has antibacterial, antihypertensive, myocardial inhibition, heart rate slowing, and sedative effects; black cohosh extract has curative effects on arthritis and osteoporosis.

Racemic Cimicifuga Extract

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The common cohosh is also called black cohosh. The black cohosh extract is a rhizome extract of Cimicifuga Romose L., which is a brown-black powder. Black cohosh is a perennial wildflower native to northeastern America. Black cohosh can produce estrogen-like effects and regulate endocrine balance, which can help alleviate discomfort such as menopause insomnia, hot flashes, back pain, and uncontrolled mood. Black cohosh extract has antibacterial, antihypertensive, myocardial inhibition, heart rate slowing, and sedative effects; black cohosh extract has curative effects on arthritis and osteoporosis.

Racemic Cimicifuga Extract (blackcohoshP.E.)
[Chinese alias] Grape-like Cimicifuga extract; CIMICIFUGARACEMOSA root extract

Racemic Cimicifuga Extract (Black Cimicifuga Extract)

Black cohosh is a perennial wildflower native to northeastern America. More than two centuries ago, Native Americans found that the roots of black cohosh helped reduce menstrual pain and menopausal symptoms including red hot water, anxiety, emotional instability, and sleep disorders. Today, black cohosh roots are still used for these purposes. In fact, the herb has been widely used in Europe for more than 40 years, and in Germany it has been approved for premenstrual discomfort, dysmenorrhea and menopausal syndrome. Black cohosh is also called racemic cohosh. Its main active ingredient is terpene glycoside. Black cohosh can produce estrogen-like effects and regulate endocrine balance, which can help alleviate discomfort such as menopause insomnia, hot flashes, back pain, and uncontrolled mood. At least eight special trial reports have shown that using "black cohosh" to improve the accompanying symptoms of menopausal women is both safe and effective. Therefore, many doctors in clinical practice recommend high concentration extracts of black cohosh to menopausal women.

During the 1980s and 1990s, twelve or more studies were conducted that proved that the long-term use of black cohosh to treat menopausal syndrome was scientifically valid. For example, in a study including 629 women, black cohosh improved physical and menopausal symptoms in more than 80% of participants within 4 weeks. In the second study, 60 menopausal women were given black cohosh extract, combined with estrogen or diazepam (a major class of anxiolytic drugs) for three months. Women taking black cohosh reported significantly less frustration and anxiety than those taking conjugated estrogen or diazepam. In another study, 80 menopausal women were treated with black cohosh extract, combined with estrogen or placebo for 12 weeks. Black cohosh extract improves mood anxiety, menopause and vaginal symptoms. In addition, compared with the reduction of the number of times of red hot fever in the estrogen group from 5 times to 3.5 times, the group taking black cohosh reduced from 5 times to less than 1 time. Based on these examples and the results of other studies, some experts have concluded that black cohosh may be a safe and effective alternative to estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) for menopausal women who cannot or do not wish to receive ERT.

Black cohosh extract

Many patients with breast cancer use black cohosh to relieve red hot flashes, a common side effect of drugs used to treat breast cancer such as tamoxifen. In addition, despite some controversy, black cohosh may still contain phytoestrogens. So some people worry that if it contains phytoestrogens, it may stimulate breast tumor growth. This idea has not been scientifically proven; in fact, some studies have suggested that black cohosh may inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells in test tubes. More research is needed on the appropriateness of using black cohosh for women with a history of breast cancer or at risk for breast cancer (if there is a family history of breast cancer).

Preliminary studies have also shown that black cohosh may help reduce inflammation caused by osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In a review of scientific research, the researchers concluded that a mixture of black cohosh, willow bark, pokeweed, guaiac and poplar bark may help alleviate osteoporosis symptoms.

Black cohosh has an estrogen-like effect, and pregnant or nursing women should avoid using this herb. Using this herb in high doses can cause abnormal pain, nausea, headaches and dizziness. Women taking estrogen should consult a physician before using black cohosh. High-dose black cohosh can cause symptoms of poisoning, more obvious nausea and dizziness, and may cause miscarriage. Black cohosh can not be used in patients with severe rubella or dyspnea.