Black cohosh for menopause: Uses and side effects

Date: May-20-2017 Black cohosh is an herb sometimes used to treat perimenopause and menopause symptoms. In particular, these symptoms include hot flashes, moodiness, vaginal dryness, and excessive sweating.

Commonly called menopausal symptoms, these happen before and after menopause. Perimenopause is the period of around 4 years or longer where women have these symptoms.

Menopause starts when a woman's periods have stopped for 12 months. Although the symptoms continue after menopause, they do begin to lessen.

People should exercise caution when considering or using black cohosh supplements. Studies of the risks of using it are limited, and numerous side effects have been associated with it.

Furthermore, the therapeutic value of black cohosh remains unclear, and it can interact with certain medications. Products containing black cohosh are not regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as it is an herb.

Contents of this article:

Black cohosh as a treatment for symptoms of menopause

Effective doses

Side effects

Black cohosh as a treatment for symptoms of menopause

Black cohosh is a perennial herb of the buttercup family, also known as bugbane, rattleweed, and black snakeroot. It is native to Eastern North America. Records show that Native Americans began using it centuries ago for the treatment of menstrual irregularities, menopause symptoms, and to ease childbirth.

Although black cohosh has been used as a natural remedy for centuries, there are no conclusive studies on its effectiveness.

Since the 1950s, individual studies have noted the potential benefits of black cohosh for people with menopause symptoms. Currently, however, there is no conclusive scientific evidence of its effectiveness.

Little is known about how black cohosh impacts the body or menopause symptoms. Most studies showing positive benefits did not exceed 6 months to 1 year of use. Consequently, long-term use is never recommended.

Based on current research, black cohosh is most likely to relieve symptoms related to reductions or imbalances in the hormone estrogen.

A 2010 review concluded menopausal women experienced a 26 percent reduction in night sweats and hot flashes when using black cohosh supplements.

A 2013 review of available studies found that menopausal symptoms reduced more, on average, in women taking black cohosh than in women taking a placebo.

Researchers continue to explore the benefits of the herb. A 2017 study found that black cohosh might help regulate body temperature in female rats without ovaries.

The menopausal symptoms black cohosh could be used to reduce include:

  hot flashes

  excessive sweating or night sweats

  loss of elasticity and moisture in the vulva and vaginal tissues

  pain during intercourse

  sleep disturbances

  mood changes, such as nervousness and irritability

  decreased sex drive or motivation

  heart palpitations

  ringing in the ears

  vertigo

  bone density loss in postmenopausal women

  heart disease in postmenopausal women

  reduced mental performance in postmenopausal women

Effective doses

The FDA do not regulate black cohosh, so the purity, quality, and strength of different supplements and brands vary. Recommended doses depend on the specific product, and there is no recognized standard dose. People should be sure to buy any products from a reputable source.

Higher doses are recommended for black cohosh consumed as tea because it is less easily absorbed by the body.

Black cohosh preparations are usually made from the root and underground stems of the herb. These are most commonly consumed as a ground powder, liquid mixture, or as extract in a pill.

General dosing information for black cohosh root is drawn mostly from traditional or theoretical data.

Authoritative and recent resources vary. The British Herbal Compendium recommends taking 40-200 milligrams (mg) of the herb in dried form, spread throughout the day into individual doses. Traditionally, much higher doses spread out evenly in three doses were recommended.

In liquid or tincture form, doses of 0.4-2 milliliters of a 60 percent ethanol mixture may be enough. For less easily absorbed forms of the herb, such as teas or powders, 1-2 gram (g) doses are recommended three times daily.

Other studies have shown benefits from taking 6.5 to 160 mg of black cohosh orally for up to a year. In liquid or tincture form, some studies showed menopause symptom relief with 40 drops of the herb mixture taken orally one or twice daily for up to 24 weeks.

Limited studies have shown that certain doses of black cohosh may be more effective than others at treating individual menopause symptoms.

Additional potential dosing recommendations include:

  Postmenopausal breast cancer: One to four 2.5 mg tablets daily for 6 months alongside tamoxifen, or 20 mg daily taken orally for one year.

  Postmenopausal heart disease: 40 mg daily for 3 months, stopped, then taken for another 3 months.

  Mental performance in postmenopausal women: 128 mg daily for 1 year.

  Bone density in postmenopausal women: 40 mg daily for as many as 3 months.

Side effects

There is little to no long-term data on the risks associated with black cohosh use.

As black cohosh preparations are not regulated by the FDA, there is also a chance that products may contain other botanical or chemical ingredients that could cause harm.

Because of these uncertainties, the North American Menopause Society do not recommend the use of the herb for the treatment of menopause symptoms. Most health authorities and studies suggest that if black cohosh is used, it should only be taken for a maximum of one year.

Though rare, liver injury is the most studied, and potentially the most dangerous, complication associated with black cohosh use. Those with signs of jaundice or liver failure should immediately see a doctor. If the signs are severe, they should seek emergency care.

Common signs of jaundice include:

  yellowing of the skin and eyes

  severe upper stomach pain or cramps

  nausea and vomiting

  extreme tiredness not related to exercise or lack of sleep

  dark urine

Many additional health complications of varying severity have been connected with the use of the black cohosh.

As the herb acts as a blood thinner, bleeding and blood pressure disturbances may occur with use. A doctor should assess symptoms that involve bleeding or become severe.

People with pre-existing conditions may have a higher risk of experiencing adverse side effects.

The full list of currently known side effects of black cohosh use includes:

  abnormal or increased vaginal discharge

  vaginal bleeding or stimulation of menstrual flow

  abnormal heartbeat or altered blood pressure, typically lowered

  blood clots, especially in the legs

  breast cancer recurrence

  fluid buildup

  headache

  irritability, moodiness, depression

  breast pain or tenderness

  chest discomfort

  constipation

  liver damage or failure

  hepatitis infection

  muscle weakness

  minor skin irritations or lesions

  eye inflammation

  nausea and vomiting

  dizziness or vertigo

  overgrowth of the uterine lining

  seizures

  excessive sweating

  general swelling

  fatigue

  mild visual impairments

  weight gain

Certain people may be at a higher risk of complications if using black cohosh. Those on estrogen or hormone therapies may not be able to take it safely.

Factors that increase the likelihood of adverse reactions to black cohosh include:

  hormone-sensitive conditions, such as breast and uterine cancers, and endometriosis

  seizure disorders

  liver disease

  history of stroke

  conditions involving blood clots

  medication that lowers blood pressure

  estrogen medications and hormone replacement therapies

  blood-thinning and antiplatelet medications

  nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications

  alcohol use

In many classes of medications, there are ones that increase the risk of complications and interaction when used alongside black cohosh. These classes include:

  liver medications

  osteoporosis and arthritis medications

  depression and mood medications

  anti-seizure medications

  antihistamines

  cancer medications

  cholesterol medications

Some people are allergic to black cohosh and its components. The herb may also contain small levels of salicylic acid, the active component in aspirin. People with aspirin intolerance or allergies should avoid it.

Black cohosh may also interact negatively with other herbs or traditional remedies. Supplements used to treat conditions, such as those considered risk factors for black cohosh use, might also raise the chance of side effects when used alongside this herb.

Natural supplements to avoid while using black cohosh include:

  chaste-tree berries

  evening primrose oil

  blue cohosh

  pennyroyal

  ginkgo biloba

  garlic

  saw palmetto

  willow bark

  St. John's wart

Written by Jennifer Huizen

Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.