We’ve all heard the praises of black cohosh relative to relieving menopause symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats.  I personally used a natural balancing cream that contained black cohosh for that very issue and was very happy.  But, like a lot of products, there are also some side effects to be aware of.

1. If you have a liver condition, discontinue the use of black cohosh  and consult your doctor.  There are reports of hepatitis, as well as liver failure, in women with liver conditions who were taking black cohosh.  Although these cases are very rare, they are still out there.
2. Black Cohosh can cause headaches and stomach discomfort.
3. It is not clear if black cohosh is safe for women who have had breast cancer or for pregnant women.

One issue to be aware of is, if you are taking a black cohosh supplement, you must make sure you are taking a supplement with standardized herbal extract of pure black cohosh.  Many black cohosh products on the market do not use standardized extract because the non-standardized formula is cheaper to produce.

Also, make sure that the black cohosh product is manufactured at a facility that follows strict GMP compliance – the same standards that pharmaceutical drugs have to follow.

Currently, herbal products are considered dietary supplements, so manufacturers do not have to guarantee the content or effectiveness of their product.  As a result, many of these products contain very little or none of the ingredients they claim to and still others contain harmful contaminants that could cause serious damage to your body!

The Good News:  When you have a quality black cohosh product, it’s effective in 75%-80% of women for the relief of hot flashes and night sweats.

To read more about menopause symptoms, check out our library of articles.