The Black Cohosh Goose Chase

 

There’s a whole industry out there claiming that taking an herb called black cohosh relieves menopausal symptoms, alleging this member of the buttercup family has estrogenic-like effects.

 

Also going under a slew of other names, such as black snakeroot, bugbane, bugwort, rattleroot, rattletop, rattleweed, and macrotys – one thing is certain: It’s useless for alleviating menopausal symptoms.

 

Fanciful but False

 

Bluntly put, the plant-derived “phyto-sterols” (a type of steroid found in plants) these pundits say is the active ingredient simply can’t mimic human hormones.

 

Good try guys, but no cigar.

 

Here’s the Scientific Lowdown

 

A study released in December of 2006 reported that out of 351 women who took black cohosh versus a placebo for menopausal symptoms (primarily hot flashes and night sweats) there was no difference between the placebo group and those taking the cohosh.  

 

Lest you think this study was funded by some big pharmaceutical company trying to discredit the natural cure industry  - it wasn’t. This study was sponsored in part by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

 

Money Trumps Common Sense

 

Sales of black cohosh supplements from 2002 to 2003 were $15.7 million, according to the Natural Foods Merchandiser, a trade magazine.

 

However, Mark Blumenthal, head of the research group American Botanical Council, says black cohosh sales are probably actually several times higher. The sales data excluded supplements purchased at Wal-Mart, Costco or Sam's Club, from doctors, through the mail or online.

 

Which of course is a pretty big chunk of the total sales.

 

The Bottom Line

 

Don’t waste your money on black cohosh supplements – they simply don’t work.