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Rethinking Black Cohosh for Menopause
If you're thinking about trying the
herb black cohosh to get you through
menopause, you may want to think
again. In a recent one-year study of
more than 350 women, black cohosh
helped ease hot flashes and night
sweats about as much as taking
nothing at all.
The women, ages 45 to 55, averaged
four to five hot flashes a day
and one or two night sweats. The
study compared several therapies,
including black cohosh alone and
in combination with other herbs;
hormone replacement therapy (HRT);
and a placebo.
The result: Only HRT caused a
significant drop in the number of
hot flashes and night sweats. Black
cohosh was as ineffective as the
placebo. But HRT carries
other health risks. So,
you should consider it
only after a thorough
discussion with your
doctor.
Annals of Internal Medicine, Vol. 145, No. 13
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