Benefits of Black Cohosh – HealthyWomen

What is black cohosh?

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The black cohosh plant is native to North America and, fun fact, belongs to the Apiaceae family. (Isn’t it lovely?)

The plant’s roots and rhizomes (underground stems) are used in herbal supplements, usually sold as liquid extracts or dried extracts in pill form.

Medicinal black cohosh has been around for centuries and has deep roots in traditional Native American medicine. Black cohosh is known to treat a variety of conditions and women’s health conditions, including VMS.

For a long time, black cohosh was thought to be a phytoestrogen, a plant-based substance that has estrogen-like effects on the body. However, a growing body of research shows that while black cohosh may not be a phytoestrogen, it still has the ability to act like an estrogen in certain parts of the body, including the brain, vagina, and bones.

Read more: Should You Take Menopausal Supplements? >>

Can taking black cohosh improve menopause symptoms?

Thanks to its potential estrogen-like effects, black cohosh is marketed as an herbal remedy for menopausal symptoms.

Potential benefits of taking the supplement include alleviating hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness.

There are several studies that support VMS claims. A 2023 analysis of 22 studies involving more than 2,300 women found that taking black cohosh significantly improved overall menopausal symptoms, hot flashes, and genitourinary syndrome (GSM) compared to women who did not take black cohosh.

In addition to alleviating VMS, black cohosh may help relieve menstrual cramps and PMS and induce labor in pregnant women. However, it is important to note that research on black cohosh and health conditions other than VMS is very limited.

What are the possible black cohosh side effects?

The risk of side effects from black cohosh is low and most people can tolerate the supplement without any problems. However, side effects that may occur from taking black cohosh include:

• stomach problems
• headache
• musculoskeletal pain
• uterine bleeding
• rash
• breast pain
• increased liver enzymes
• liver failure

In rare cases, serious liver damage has been reported in some people who took black cohosh. As of 2023, 83 cases of liver damage have been reported worldwide.

Who should not take black cohosh?

Black cohosh may affect the liver, so people with liver disease should avoid taking the supplement. Additionally, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid black cohosh. This is because there is limited research on the safety of supplements during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and as previously mentioned, black cohosh can cause labor pain.

Because black cohosh may have estrogen-like effects, it is especially important for people with hormone-positive conditions, such as some breast cancers, noncancerous breast lumps, fibrocystic breast changes, fibroids, and endometriosis, to consult with their health care provider (HCP) before taking black cohosh.

Supplements may also interact with certain medications, including some cancer treatments, so check with your healthcare provider for a complete list of all medications and supplements you are taking before deciding to take black cohosh.

Is black cohosh safe?

Black cohosh is relatively safe for most people. However, it is important to keep in mind that, like all dietary supplements, black cohosh products are not approved or regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before being sold to the public. This means that the product you are buying may contain incorrect herbs or unknown ingredients that may be harmful to your health.

A recent study of 320 black cohosh brands found that nearly half were sold adulterated or mislabeled. A supplement verified by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Convention on Dietary Supplement Verification Program or ConsumerLab.com means the supplement is high quality and contains no added ingredients.