Black Cohosh Not Helpful For Menopause

Black cohosh is a popular herbal remedy used by menopausal women to relieve hot flashes and night sweats.

However, a yearlong study conducted at Group Health, a Seattle-based (WA) health plan showed little difference between the amount of relief felt by women taking black cohosh versus women taking a placebo.

The study showed women taking black cohosh had one-half less hot flash per day compared with those taking a placebo.

Women taking hormone therapy had four less hot flashes a day than the women taking the placebo.

These results were published less than a week after a report showing a drastic drop in US breast cancer cases. This decline is being associated with the corresponding drop in hormone therapy used to treat symptoms of menopause.

This latest study on black cohosh comes as a blow to many women looking for alternative therapies to hormone replacement. For now, they may need to stick to simpler, self-help methods.

1. Dress in layers.
2. Add or remove garments as needed.
3. Dress in breathable fabrics like cotton or linen.
4. Sleep in a cool room.
5. Avoid hot liquids, spicy foods, and alcohol.

A couple of holistic therapies that may help some women are meditation and self-hypnosis. Calming the mind and body can help release the excess hormones causing the hot flashes and night sweats, bringing the body back into balance.

And that is what holistic therapy is all about: balancing the mind, body, soul, and spirit.

For more on this topic, read the article here.

For more on meditation, go to the Holistic Intent Meditation Page and for more on self-hypnosis, go to the Self-Hypnosis Page.

Have a Happy and Healthy Day,

Liz