Menopause (1)

Most women will experience some symptoms around the menopause. The duration and severity of these symptoms varies from woman to woman.

Common symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, difficulty sleeping, a reduced sex drive (libido), problems with memory and concentration, headaches, mood changes, such as low mood or anxiety, etc.

Since the 1950s, individual studies have noted the potential benefits of black cohosh for people with menopause symptoms.

In one study in 80 menopausal women who were experiencing hot flashes, those who supplemented with 20 mg of black cohosh daily for 8 weeks reported significantly fewer and less severe hot flashes than before they started the supplement.

Black cohosh may help improve sleep and reduce symptoms that are causing sleep disturbances in menopausal women.

One study in 42 menopausal women found that supplementing with black cohosh seemed to improve sleep duration and quality.

Generally, black cohosh is safe for most people who are not pregnant or nursing. However, there’s no need for the supplement to be given to children. Because it may affect hormone levels, it should only be given to adolescents at the direction of a qualified healthcare provider.

People with kidney disease should be cautious when using black cohosh. Additionally, you should avoid black cohosh supplements if you have liver disease.

References:

Jiang, K., Jin, Y., Huang, L., Feng, S., Hou, X., Du, B., ... & Li, L. (2015). Black cohosh improves objective sleep in postmenopausal women with sleep disturbance. Climacteric, 18(4), 559-567.

Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi, S., Shahnazi, M., Nahaee, J., & Bayatipayan, S. (2013). Efficacy of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa L.) in treating early symptoms of menopause: a randomized clinical trial. Chinese medicine, 8(1), 1-7.