If you’re debating whether or not hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is right for you, there is encouraging research that indicates you have options.  A recent study published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology conducted with 304 women in Germany found that the herb black cohosh might work as well as HRT in relieving menopausal symptoms.

Women in this study who took 40 milligrams of Remifemin (a commercial black cohosh extract) daily for 12 weeks experienced significantly greater improvement in symptoms than those who took a placebo pill.  The black cohosh was particularly beneficial for reducing hot flashes in women who are in the early stages of menopause with no significant side effects.

Black cohosh usually has not been used for long periods, and published studies (including this most recent study) have followed women for only 6 months or less. To provide more definitive evidence on the effects of black cohosh on menopausal symptoms, NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) is funding a 12-month, randomized, placebo-controlled study to determine whether treatment with black cohosh is effective in reducing the frequency and intensity of menopausal hot flashes. The study will also assess whether black cohosh reduces the frequency of other menopausal symptoms and improves quality of life.

Because black cohosh mimics estrogen and its effects on breast tissue are not yet fully understood, women who are at risk for breast cancer or who have had breast cancer should use caution in taking this herb.

Sources:  Today’s Health & Wellness, September/October 2005; Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health