Hot flash? Black cohosh!

It's the middle of the night, and you're dripping wet. You were sound asleep when you suddenly awoke and found the sheets and pillows were soaked. Menopause has officially arrived!

Is it just me or is it hot in here?
It wasn't until I'd experienced a burn-the-house-down hot flash that I started a serious search for relief. I tried every menopause-related herb, vitamin, oil and supplement on the market. Since I was allergic to soy - and many of today's alternative therapies include it, I was limited in my selection.

Some products didn't work at all, others worked for mild hot flashes but not for the full-throttle burns I was regularly experiencing! A couple supplements made me burp, while a few had no effect at all.

Black cohosh worked right from the start!
I tried mostly herbal combinations made especially for menopause relief. After unsatisfactory results, I started experimenting with individual herbs. When I tried black cohosh, it worked right away. Most of the other products took a month of use before I would notice any difference at all. Not black cohosh.

I've been taking black cohosh exclusively for about five years and have never looked back. A couple times, I've run out of the supplement. It's not a pretty picture! The hot flashes start after I've missed ONE dose. I now take one pill with each meal and don't have hot flashes as long as I stick with that regimen.

100+ years of successful use
Black cohosh is a North American perennial (Actaea racemosa) that's been used for over 100 years for female-related problems. Since it has no known drug interactions and side effects are extremely uncommon, it has become a mainstay for menopause treatment.

Unlike many other menopause herbs, black cohosh extract does not bind to your estrogen receptors and has not been shown to "up-regulate estrogen-dependent genes or stimulate the growth of estrogen-dependent tumors in animal models." That's important if you have estrogen-dependent health issues, such as breast cancer.

Don't take my word for it. Read what researchers & doctors say
I've done quite a bit of research to give you the full scoop on this herb. Each quote below is followed by the research that contains the information or study.

Protects against osteoporosis: "Two recent studies showed excellent efficacy against classic menopausal complaints and osteoprotective properties." [Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Jul;16(5):214-21]

Helps during those "crazy" times: Black cohosh "extracts might help control psychic problems typically found during menopausal transition." [Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Jul;16(5):214-21]

Relieves hot flashes, insomnia & anxiety: Black cohosh "may be useful for the treatment of menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, profuse sweating, insomnia, and anxiety." [Treat Endocrinol. 2005;4(3):177-84]

It's safe: In a review of eight human studies, black cohosh extract was found to be "a safe, effective alternative to estrogen replacement therapy." [J Womens Health. 1998 Jun;7(5):525-9]

The brand & dosage that worked for me
I found the Vitamin Shoppe, Nature's Way and NOW brands are very potent and highly effective. They're all 550mg, which seems like a lot, but it's not a standardized extract; the supplement I take uses the whole root of the plant. Most clinical trials state that 40mg-80mg a day of a standardized extract is adequate. If you want to take a standardized extract, Nature's Way, NOW and Vitamin Shoppe brands also make standardized versions.

Additional sources:
Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2004 Nov;3(6):615-23
Am Fam Physician. 2003 Jul 1;68(1):114-6
Nutr Rev. 2003 May;61(5 Pt 1):183-6
Treat Endocrinol. 2005;4(3):177-84

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I am not a doctor and have no medical training.
The information in this blog is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Statements made on this blog
have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Consult a healthcare professional before using any products,
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