Black Cohosh a Flash in the Pan for Menopause Symptoms

[Guest guest]

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Menopause/tb1/4727

 

" SEATTLE, Dec. 18--Black cohosh is a washout as a remedy for hot flashes and

other symptoms of menopause, found investigators here.

 

In a study comparing black cohosh alone or with other botanical therapies

with hormone therapy or placebo, there were no significant differences in

vasomotor symptom frequency or intensity between women who received black

cohosh or placebo, revealed the Herbal Alternatives for Menopause (HALT)

trial. "

 

More at the link posted above.

 

- Tim Sharpe

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

As usual, with this type of study, it appears that they were underdosed. 160

mgs daily sounds too low to be therapeutic.

 

Cara

 

 

 

Tim Sharpe <listserve

 

Mon, 18 Dec 2006 23:51:39 -0500

 

Black Cohosh a Flash in the Pan for Menopause Symptoms

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Menopause/tb1/4727

 

" SEATTLE, Dec. 18--Black cohosh is a washout as a remedy for hot flashes and

other symptoms of menopause, found investigators here.

 

In a study comparing black cohosh alone or with other botanical therapies

with hormone therapy or placebo, there were no significant differences in

vasomotor symptom frequency or intensity between women who received black

cohosh or placebo, revealed the Herbal Alternatives for Menopause (HALT)

trial. "

 

More at the link posted above.

 

- Tim Sharpe

 

 

[Guest guest]

As much as I don't like " one size fits all " remedies for everything,

the design of these studies, followed by the sensationalism ('flash

in the pan'), why should it work for hot flashes in the first place

for any woman? Black cohosh, as a member of the cimicifuga family,

probably has similar qualities to sheng ma/cimicifuga dahurica or

foetida. In other words, in some women, its ability to raise the

clear yang may be the mechanism of cure, in others not. Also, some

companies are using substitutions for cimicifuga, such as baneberry,

which may not have the same effects. Also, dosage ranges may be

insufficient. Or, the quality of the product may be poor.

 

In other words, the amateurish delivery systems of herbs to American

patients by health food store product lines or uninformed

practitioners continues to do damage to herbal medicine's reputation.

 

Ironic this was released in the same week that the front page news

about lowering breast cancer rates connected with the loss of

popularity of HRT therapy came out, also at one point widely used for

hot flashes.

 

 

On Dec 18, 2006, at 8:51 PM, Tim Sharpe wrote:

 

> http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Menopause/tb1/4727

>

> " SEATTLE, Dec. 18--Black cohosh is a washout as a remedy for hot

> flashes and

> other symptoms of menopause, found investigators here.

>

> In a study comparing black cohosh alone or with other botanical

> therapies

> with hormone therapy or placebo, there were no significant

> differences in

> vasomotor symptom frequency or intensity between women who received

> black

> cohosh or placebo, revealed the Herbal Alternatives for Menopause

> (HALT)

> trial. "

>

> More at the link posted above.

>

> - Tim Sharpe

>

>

[Guest guest]

Several months ago the NY times reported that after testing several samples

of black cohosh, some did not contain any active constituents ( sorry don¹t

know what it is). Does anyone remember that? So who even knows if they had

the correct genus. There are huge variations on quality obviously.

 

 

 

Cara O. Frank, R.Ac, Dipl Ac & Ch.H.

President China Herb Company of the Chinese Herb Program

Tai Sophia Institute of the Healing Arts

215-438-2977

Fax 215-849-3338

 

 

 

 

<zrosenbe

 

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 14:43:23 -0800

 

Re: Black Cohosh a Flash in the Pan for Menopause Symptoms

 

 

 

 

 

As much as I don't like " one size fits all " remedies for everything,

the design of these studies, followed by the sensationalism ('flash

in the pan'), why should it work for hot flashes in the first place

for any woman? Black cohosh, as a member of the cimicifuga family,

probably has similar qualities to sheng ma/cimicifuga dahurica or

foetida. In other words, in some women, its ability to raise the

clear yang may be the mechanism of cure, in others not. Also, some

companies are using substitutions for cimicifuga, such as baneberry,

which may not have the same effects. Also, dosage ranges may be

insufficient. Or, the quality of the product may be poor.

 

In other words, the amateurish delivery systems of herbs to American

patients by health food store product lines or uninformed

practitioners continues to do damage to herbal medicine's reputation.

 

Ironic this was released in the same week that the front page news

about lowering breast cancer rates connected with the loss of

popularity of HRT therapy came out, also at one point widely used for

hot flashes.

 

 

On Dec 18, 2006, at 8:51 PM, Tim Sharpe wrote:

 

> http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Menopause/tb1/4727

>

> " SEATTLE, Dec. 18--Black cohosh is a washout as a remedy for hot

> flashes and

> other symptoms of menopause, found investigators here.

>

> In a study comparing black cohosh alone or with other botanical

> therapies

> with hormone therapy or placebo, there were no significant

> differences in

> vasomotor symptom frequency or intensity between women who received

> black

> cohosh or placebo, revealed the Herbal Alternatives for Menopause

> (HALT)

> trial. "

>

> More at the link posted above.

>

> - Tim Sharpe

>

>

[Guest guest]

There have been quite a few successful black cohosh studies where only 40 mg

of extract was used. I didn't read the full text article for this study, so

I don't know if it is well designed or not. However, sometimes studies just

come out negative. That's why it is important to look at the totality of

studies and avoid making conclusions based on just one study. As in this

case, that's exactly what the lazy sensationalist media always does.

 

- Bill

 

.............................................

Bill Schoenbart, L.Ac.

P.O. Box 8099

Santa Cruz, CA 95061

 

office phone: 831-335-3165

email: plantmed

.............................................

 

 

>>>>As usual, with this type of study, it appears that they were underdosed.

160

mgs daily sounds too low to be therapeutic.>>>>