Does Black Cohosh For Hot Flashes Really Work?

Black cohosh is a perennial member of the buttercup family which grows wild throughout the central and northeastern regions of the United States. It has been used by Native Americans to treat women’s complaints for centuries. Recently studies have shown that black cohosh for hot flashes and night sweats and other menopausal symptoms may be one of the best alternatives to drug treatments and hormone replacement therapies. Science aside, millions of women will attest to the value of using this traditional cure as long as you follow directions and do your research first.

If, after talking with your doctor, your girlfriends, your mother, and perhaps even your compassionate, yet desperate husband, you decide that black cohosh for hot flashes is worth a try, you have a number of choices as to you how you may want to ingest it. As with any type of medicinal remedy, it’s important to take only as much as necessary to gain relief, and only for as long as the treatment remains effective. That said, you should know that the exact amount needed to chill out your particular “personal summer” will depend on a number of factors, such as body type and weight, diet, severity of symptoms, and the type of preparation you decide to use. From pills and capsules, to tinctures and teas, black cohosh has become quite readily available in numerous forms.

There are many sources available that tell you how to make your own tinctures and infusions from the pieces parts of the black cohosh plant. However, before you go rooting through the woods for the raw ingredients, consider the efforts of dedicated lab technicians whose job is to ensure consistent levels of strength in uniform dosages. Many health shops carry tinctures, teas, and roots from which you can make a decoction. Directions for use should be on the label, or consult with your health care provider to determine how you will use them. Most experts agree that it could take up to three weeks before you feel completely relieved of your symptoms, so don’t give up after your first couple of hot toddys.

Black cohosh is also available as a standardized extract and can be purchased in pill and capsule form, but be aware that although side effects are usually mild, they can be more pronounced when using the extract as opposed to taking the cure as a tea. Check the label for directions or ask the pharmacist about how much to take, and don’t overdo it. You may also find quantities of black cohosh among the listed ingredients of other over-the-counter treatments for symptoms of menopause. Again, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions for the proper dose.

Black cohosh is classified as dietary supplement, so it is not regulated or approved by the FDA, although some doctors will tell you that may change soon, as physicians begin to prescribe black cohosh for hot flashes, night sweats, and other symptoms of menopause. It may seem like something new, but in fact it’s been around for a long time, and for one for one simple reason: it has worked.