Herbal Remedy Articles
Black Cohosh – Nature's natural treatment for menopausal symptoms Millions of women have found the herb black cohosh to be a great way to naturally manage premenstrual discomfort and menopausal disorders. The concentrated form known for its medicinal benefits is derived from the root of the cohosh plant and mimics the effects of the female hormone estrogen. In past centuries black cohosh was used by Native Americans, and subsequently by American colonists, for the relief of menstrual cramps, fatigue, sore throat, joint pain, and even rattlesnake bites. Earliest accounts seem to support the belief that Native Americans boiled the root and drank the mixture to capture the benefits. Fast forward to today where black cohosh has gained great popularity among women, especially those interested in a more natural approach to wellness, for treating gynecological concerns and aiding in recovery after childbirth. Their seems to be good reason for this with several compounds in black cohosh closely resembling the beneficial effects of estrogen; acetin, formonetin, and triterpenes. Currently, naturopaths and herbalists are suggesting black cohosh for a number of menopausal related concerns. This list includes hot flashes, vaginal dryness, menstrual pain, soothing frayed nerves, relaxing tense muscles, and even helping with depression. As you may have noticed treating snake bite with black cohosh is no longer considered to be a good idea with the ER being a much better solution. While black cohosh has many supporters research has yet to pinpoint exactly how this medicinal herb works to reduce menopausal symptoms. A few studies seem to support the likelihood that black cohosh is able to reduce lutenizing hormone (LH) which in turn helps reduce menopausal symptoms. An increase in lutenizing hormone is believed to be one of the reasons that menopausal symptoms occur in the first place. For those of you who may still be on the fence as to whether or not to consider black cohosh as a natural solution for menopausal symptoms why don’t we look at several additional facts. The first, and possibly the most important, is that the commission in Germany responsible for evaluating herbal medicines (Commission E), which is similar to the Americas Food and Drug Administration, has placed its stamp of approval on black cohosh as a treatment for PMS. According to natural health author Michael Castleman this coveted stamp of approval is supported by over four decades of experiments and clinical trials. Commission E, writes best selling nutrition author Dr. Shari Lieberman, is the world’s most respected and accepted scientific authority on herbs with their clinical trials repeatedly showing the herb’s effectiveness. One study evaluating the efficacy of black cohosh consisting of 131 doctors and 629 female patients concluded that when standardized extract of black cohosh was taken regularly menopausal symptoms were dramatically reduced within 6 to 8 weeks in 80 percent of the women studied. In Castleman’s book the “The New Healing Herbs” Castleman writes that from 1982 to 1991 German researchers tested nearly 1200 women to determine the possible benefits of black cohosh. All the trials arrived at the same conclusion: briefer hot flashes, less vaginal dryness, improved mood, and relief from fatigue. Black cohosh is generally considered to be safe when taken as directed with the biggest problem being a mild upset stomach initially disappearing after a day or two. Additionally, research studies have shown that women with breast cancer can safely use the herb. That said, always check with your doctor about dosage, possible drug interactions, or any other concerns you may have when considering black cohosh or any other alternative natural medicine. |
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