Black cohosh will not be able to reduce hot flashes caused by menopause even if it is used in combination with other herbal therapies, according to a new study appearing in the December 19 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
The finding was a result of a year-long study titled Herbal Alternatives for Menopause Trial (HALT). The study was conducted on 351 menopausal women who were in an age range of 45 to 55 years. They were divided into two groups, one receiving black cohosh or other herbal treatments while the other group was given inactive placebo capsules.
After 12 months the researchers found that frequency and severity of symptoms experienced during menopause came down by nearly 30 percent, regardless of whether the patient had taken black cohosh or placebo. The only good news from the study was that women who experience hot flashes and night sweats would find the symptoms reducing with time.
Black cohosh is being used widely in the United States after a 2002 research found that undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increases the risk of contracting breast cancer. But the findings of this particular study are disappointing to say the least.
Says Dr. Katherine M. Newton, from Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle and the lead author of the study, "We were disappointed by the findings because many women want an alternative to hormone therapy and many have assumed that black cohosh is a safe, effective choice. But we found that black cohosh was no better than placebo in treating hot flashes."
