Home → Day-to-Day Matters → Managing Menopausal Symptoms → Ask-the-Expert Conferences: Managing Menopausal Symptoms → March 2002: Managing Menopausal Symptoms → Latest on effectiveness of black cohosh?

Latest on effectiveness of black cohosh?

Page last modified on: September 5, 2008

Question from Sheri: What's the latest on the effectiveness of black cohosh? It's being touted a lot, but I thought there was a recent study that didn't find it to be very effective.: Answers —Charles Loprinzi, M.D.: There have been a number of pilot studies suggesting that black cohosh may decrease hot flashes. These have to be taken carefully because we know in our placebo controlled trials that overall in women receiving placebos, there's about a 25-30 percent reduction in hot flashes. And amongst women taking placebos, up to 10-20 percent of can have a major reduction in hot flashes of 75 percent compared to what they had before taking the placebo. A recent placebo controlled trial looking at black cohosh was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. In this trial, there was no substantial difference in hot flashes between the women in the placebo and black cohosh groups. However, there was a strong suggestion that women taking the black cohosh had less trouble with sweating than women taking a placebo. We are aware of ongoing studies that are still trying to address the efficacy and toxicity of black cohosh.; Debra Barton, Ph.D: In my opinion, the jury is still out on black cohosh. One placebo-controlled study in this country doesn't answer the question. Black cohosh is approved for menopause in Germany. There have been studies in Germany looking at general menopausal symptoms, not specifically hot flashes, so it's definitely worth looking at further.

On Wednesday, March 20, 2002, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Managing Menopausal Symptoms. Charles Loprinzi, M.D., Debra Barton, Ph.D., and Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. answered your questions about hot flashes, vaginal dryness, loss of libido, and other symptoms associated with menopause.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

A production of LiveWorld, Inc.
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.

Email Updates

Stay informed about current research, online events, and more.

Visit our Gift Shop!

Shop Now »

Meet the Experts

Debra Barton, Ph.D. is a nurse coordinator at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where she directs clinical trials in cancer control and chemoprevention.

Charles Loprinzi, M.D. is an emeritus chairman of the division of medical oncology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Along with hot flash management, his research focuses on ways to reduce pain as well as appetite changes caused by breast cancer treatment.

Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. is a medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of breast cancer, with a a special interest in cancer survivorship, patient-physician communication, and quality of care for women with breast cancer.