Black Cohosh Valuable For Menopause
Austin
TX, 20 September 2002
Timely
Information Helps Women and Healthcare Professionals Assess Natural
Treatment Options for Menopause Symptoms
The
American Botanical Council, an independent nonprofit organization,
is making available to the public a monograph or scientific review
of the health benefits of a leading herb used by many women to treat
symptoms of menopause.
The
herb, black cohosh, known by its Latin names Actaea racemosa
and Cimicifuga racemosa, is a native American herb with a
long history of use. Black cohosh was used by Native American Indians
for "female problems," and was a major ingredient in Lydia Pinkham's
famous women's tonic, sold for more than 50 years in the 19th century.
A
special formulation of black cohosh was developed in the early 1940s
in Germany as a natural agent for treating menstrual and menopausal
symptoms. This herbal preparation has been used in the majority
of the clinical trials that have been conducted. These studies support
its safety and efficacy for treating the physical and emotional
symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, night sweats, mood
swings, irritability and occasional sleeplessness associated with
menopause.
The
product studied in most of the trials has been used in Germany since
the mid 1950s and is currently marketed in the US under the name
RemiFemin® Menopause. The German government's Commission E,
a special committee of physicians, pharmacists and other scientific
experts to evaluate and approve herbs, has approved black cohosh
as a nonprescription medicine for treatment of various symptoms
associated with menopause.
"As
researchers, healthcare providers and menopausal women consider
the implications of the recent reports by the National Institutes
of Health and the National Cancer Institute that question the safety
and long-term health benefits of hormone replacement therapy, the
ABC monograph provides important information on the clinical data
supporting black cohosh as a natural treatment option for menopause
symptoms," said Mark Blumenthal, founder and executive director
of ABC.
"Now,
more than ever, it is critically important for menopausal women
to discuss treatment options -- including reliable alternatives
-- with their healthcare providers," said Mary Hardy, MD, director
of the Integrative Medicine Medical Group at Cedars-Sinai Medical
Center in Los Angeles. "The ABC monograph provides an excellent
overview for clinicians as well as patients who want to better understand
the science behind black cohosh," she added.
Consumers
and health professionals can find more information about the clinically
documented benefits of black cohosh by logging onto ABC's website
at http://www.herbalgram.org/. Included is an extensively referenced
profile of black cohosh for health professionals containing a discussion
of clinical data with a table summarizing clinical trials. For consumers,
the site has a one-page Patient Information Sheet that is based
on information condensed from the larger scientific monograph. Both
the scientific information and the patient information sheet are
part of a new reference book, The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs,
being published by ABC early next year. The book is accredited for
continuing education for physicians, pharmacists, nurses, dietitians,
and other healthcare professionals.
Dr.
Hardy added that she does not recommend that women on HRT discontinue
their hormone pills without consulting with their physicians. She
also discussed the importance of choosing herbs based on individual
symptoms and needs. "There is an increasing amount of evidence supporting
the use of black cohosh as well as soy, red clover and some other
dietary supplements in treating menopausal symptoms. Women should
discuss with their doctors or other healthcare professionals who
are knowledgeable about herbals which options may be appropriate
for them," she noted.
Dr.
Hardy added that part of the problem is that many physicians have
not been exposed to the scientific research on clinically researched
alternatives. "We as health professionals have a responsibility
to evaluate the science on herbal dietary supplements in order to
guide our patients appropriately. Reliable resources like the ABC
Clinical Guide are an excellent way to review the existing research
on various herbs, " she said.
The
American Botanical Council is the nation's leading nonprofit organization
addressing research and educational issues regarding herbs and medicinal
plants. The 13-year-old organization occupies a 2.5-acre site in
Austin, Texas where it publishes HerbalGram, a peer-reviewed
journal on herbal medicine, and will publish a forthcoming book
and continuing education course for healthcare professionals, The
ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs, containing an extensive monograph
on the safety and efficacy of black cohosh. For further information,
contact ABC.
Source
American
Botanical Council (ABC).
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