Today, black cohosh is most commonly used for
menopausal symptoms
, including hot flashes (also called hot flushes) and night sweats (together known as vasomotor symptoms), vaginal dryness, heart palpitations, tinnitus, vertigo, sleep disturbances, nervousness, and irritability [5,6].
Can black cohosh cause bloating?
For Postmenopausal Symptoms: “I had horrible side effect symptoms from black cohosh ! Bloating, farting , feeling like I needed to poop all the time, I even accidentally sharted my pants!
Does black cohosh make you gain weight?
When taken by mouth: Black cohosh is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken appropriately by adults for up to one year. It can cause some mild side effects such as stomach upset, cramping, headache, rash, a feeling of heaviness, vaginal spotting or bleeding, and
weight gain
.
Does black cohosh make you retain water?
However, there are some recent reports on serious adverse events, probably associated with this complementary and alternative herbal medicine. We report a case of coagulation activation,
fluid
retention and transient autoimmune hepatitis most likely triggered by the use of black cohosh.
Does black cohosh increase estrogen?
In some parts of the body,
black cohosh might increase the effects of estrogen
. In other parts of the body, black cohosh might decrease the effects of estrogen. Black cohosh should not be thought of as an “herbal estrogen” or a substitute for estrogen.
Who should not take black cohosh?
Do not take black cohosh if you: Have a hormone-sensitive condition, such as
breast cancer
, prostate cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids. Have a history of blood clots, stroke, seizures, or liver disease. Take medications for high blood pressure.
How long does it take black cohosh to work?
Everyone is different so the benefits of black cohosh helping with menopause symptoms such as hot flushes is variable. Although one study reported improvement in hot flushes after just four weeks
12
, the majority of the studies showed that improvements are generally seen after
three months
11
.
Can you lose weight with black cohosh?
Theoretically, because black cohosh may exhibit estrogenic effects, it may have a small beneficial effect on weight management in menopausal women ( 16 ).
What are the signs of coming to the end of menopause?
- Hot flashes. These cause you to feel a sudden rush of warmth in your face and upper body. …
- Night sweats. Hot flashes during sleep can result in night sweats. …
- Cold flashes. …
- Vaginal changes. …
- Emotional changes. …
- Trouble sleeping.
How much black cohosh is too much?
The recommended dose of black cohosh ranges from
20 to 80 mg per day
. The tablets should be standardized to contain 1 mg of 27-deoxyactein. For black cohosh tincture, that equals 2 to 4 ml, 1 to 3 times per day in water or tea. Two capsules or tablets typically provide the recommended daily dose.
Is black cohosh bad for you?
In clinical trials, people have taken black cohosh for as
long as 12 months with no serious harmful effects
. Black cohosh can cause some mild side effects, such as stomach upset, cramping, headache, rash, a feeling of heaviness, vaginal spotting or bleeding, and weight gain.
What does black cohosh do to estrogen?
Black cohosh seems to
help decrease menopausal symptoms
because it contains phytoestrogens, substances that act a lot like estrogen. When you go through menopause, your estrogen levels drop significantly. This is why many women experience hot flashes.
What are the symptoms of low estrogen?
- painful sex due to a lack of vaginal lubrication.
- an increase in urinary tract infection (UTIs) due to a thinning of the urethra.
- irregular or absent periods.
- shifts in mood.
- hot flashes.
- breast tenderness.
- headaches or accentuation of pre-existing migraines.
- depression.
Does black cohosh help you sleep?
Conclusions: In early postmenopausal women with a major sleep complaint,
black cohosh effectively improved sleep
and might be a safe measure in managing menopausal sleep disturbance.
What happens to your body during a hot flash?
A hot flash is the sudden feeling of warmth in the upper body, which is usually most intense over the face, neck and chest. Your skin might redden, as if you’re blushing. A hot flash can also
cause sweating
. If you lose too much body heat, you might feel chilled afterward.
How much black cohosh should I take for menopause?
When taken by mouth: Black cohosh is
POSSIBLY SAFE when
taken appropriately by adults for up to one year. It can cause some mild side effects such as stomach upset, cramping, headache, rash, a feeling of heaviness, vaginal spotting or bleeding, and weight gain.
