14-03-2010, 12:11 PM
ALL ABOUT BLACK COHOSH
March 9 2006 at 8:19 AM Mrs.Taylor (no login)
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~BLACK COHOSH~Herbal researcher Dr. James Duke has this to say about Black Cohosh; "Black cohosh really should be better known in this country, especially with our aging population and the millions of women who are now facing menopause. Recognized for its mild sedative and anti-inflammatory activity, black cohosh can help with hot flashes and other symptoms associated with that dramatic change of life called menopause. It's also reported to have some estrogenic activity. Herbalist Steven Foster refers to a study that compared the effects of conventional estrogen replacement therapy with black cohosh. That study looked at 60 women, younger than 40 years old, who had had complete hysterectomies and were experiencing abrupt menopause. In all groups, treatment with black cohosh compared favorably with conventional treatment." "Native Americans used the roots and rhizomes of this member of the buttercup family to treat kidney ailments, malaria, rheumatism, and sore throats. Early American settlers turned to it for bronchitis, dropsy, fever, hysteria and nervous disorders, lumbago, rattlesnake bites, and yellow fever. It's also reportedly well known for easing PMS and menstrual irregularities." This estrogenic activity, notes Dr. Duke, can contribute to a "mastogenic" effect; the natural enlargement of the breasts. Black Cohosh has also been used to induce labor and should not be used during pregnancy.
Author Reply
Steph
(no login) My suggestion March 9 2006, 8:31 AM
BC should NOT be considered a beneficial NBE herb in a routine.To my knowledge BC was PROVEN early on in the NBE introduction to ONLY cause a temporary swelling of the breasts which will immediatly cease upon stopping consumption of the herb.
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Sunset
(Login liquidSunset)
EVE MEMBERS possible Dangers March 17 2006, 6:33 PM
Dangers of Black Cohosh As HRT
Popular Herb Linked to Liver Disease By Charlene Laino
WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD
on Friday, October 17, 2003
Oct. 17, 2003 (BALTIMORE) -- Black cohosh, an herbal remedy gaining popularity as a panacea for the hot flashes, mood swings, and other symptoms of menopause, can cause the body's immune system to launch an attack on the liver, doctors warn.
Stanley M. Cohen, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, tells WebMD that he and colleagues have diagnosed what they believe is the first case of autoimmune hepatitis caused by the use of black cohosh.
A progressive inflammation of the liver, caused by the body's immune system attack on liver cells --autoimmune hepatitis can cause people to become so tired that even crossing the room is a chore. Some patients complain of abdominal discomfort, others of achy joints and itching. The skin may become yellow, and the liver can become enlarged. Without proper treatment, this serious illness progresses and most people eventually die. The disease is thought to have some genetic link, with women accounting for as many as 70% of the patients.
Fortunately, with prompt diagnosis and therapy, most people, including his patients, recover, Cohen says.
"If you're taking black cohosh, ask your doctor for liver function tests," he says. His patient had been taking the herb for only a few weeks when symptoms developed.
"Black cohosh has the potential for serious side effects," Cohen says. A search of the medical literature revealed five reports of other liver problems associated with the use of black cohosh, he says.
Eamonn Quigley, MD, of the department of medicine at Cork University Hospital in Cork, Ireland, says that several studies show high use of herbal products among patients with liver disease.
"Many [people] have made the assumption that herbal remedies are innocuous, but we now know they are not," he says.
The doctors spoke with WebMD at the 68th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology this week.
Dr. Cohen says that the use of black cohosh has increased since last year, when the large Women's Health Initiative study demonstrated that use of estrogen was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer and heart problems. That led the nation's top doctors to conclude that for many patients, the benefits of hormone replacement therapy don't outweigh the risks.
"Since then, women have been looking for other products that can relieve menopausal symptoms," Dr. Cohen said, "and one of the most popular is black cohosh," known scientifically as Actea racemosa.
Catherine Ulbricht, PharmD, RPh, founder and editor of the Natural Standard Research Collaboration, which collects data on complementary therapies, says several studies have reported black cohosh to improve menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes, mood disturbances, palpitations, and vaginal dryness, for up to six months.
"But although these initial studies are suggestive, they have been few in number and have universally suffered from weaknesses," says Dr. Ulbricht, who is also a senior attending pharmacist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Also, there have been no studies looking at whether the herb is safe and effective over the long-term, she says.
Dr. Cohen says his team came to the conclusion that their patient, a 57-year-old woman, likely suffered from black cohosh-induced autoimmune hepatitis after exhaustive examination.
The woman, who came in complaining of increasing fatigue and lethargy over the past two weeks, had recently stopped hormone replacement therapy at the advice of her primary physician. She started taking black cohosh three weeks prior to feeling ill, he says. Liver function tests and a liver biopsy revealed abnormalities that are consistent with a diagnosis of drug-induced autoimmune hepatitis, Dr. Cohen says.
The woman was told to stop taking the herb and was treated with prescribed steroids. She felt completely better just two weeks later, and liver function tests were back to normal in about nine weeks
March 9 2006 at 8:19 AM Mrs.Taylor (no login)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~BLACK COHOSH~Herbal researcher Dr. James Duke has this to say about Black Cohosh; "Black cohosh really should be better known in this country, especially with our aging population and the millions of women who are now facing menopause. Recognized for its mild sedative and anti-inflammatory activity, black cohosh can help with hot flashes and other symptoms associated with that dramatic change of life called menopause. It's also reported to have some estrogenic activity. Herbalist Steven Foster refers to a study that compared the effects of conventional estrogen replacement therapy with black cohosh. That study looked at 60 women, younger than 40 years old, who had had complete hysterectomies and were experiencing abrupt menopause. In all groups, treatment with black cohosh compared favorably with conventional treatment." "Native Americans used the roots and rhizomes of this member of the buttercup family to treat kidney ailments, malaria, rheumatism, and sore throats. Early American settlers turned to it for bronchitis, dropsy, fever, hysteria and nervous disorders, lumbago, rattlesnake bites, and yellow fever. It's also reportedly well known for easing PMS and menstrual irregularities." This estrogenic activity, notes Dr. Duke, can contribute to a "mastogenic" effect; the natural enlargement of the breasts. Black Cohosh has also been used to induce labor and should not be used during pregnancy.
Author Reply
Steph
(no login) My suggestion March 9 2006, 8:31 AM
BC should NOT be considered a beneficial NBE herb in a routine.To my knowledge BC was PROVEN early on in the NBE introduction to ONLY cause a temporary swelling of the breasts which will immediatly cease upon stopping consumption of the herb.
Edit Message Delete Message
Sunset
(Login liquidSunset)
EVE MEMBERS possible Dangers March 17 2006, 6:33 PM
Dangers of Black Cohosh As HRT
Popular Herb Linked to Liver Disease By Charlene Laino
WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD
on Friday, October 17, 2003
Oct. 17, 2003 (BALTIMORE) -- Black cohosh, an herbal remedy gaining popularity as a panacea for the hot flashes, mood swings, and other symptoms of menopause, can cause the body's immune system to launch an attack on the liver, doctors warn.
Stanley M. Cohen, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, tells WebMD that he and colleagues have diagnosed what they believe is the first case of autoimmune hepatitis caused by the use of black cohosh.
A progressive inflammation of the liver, caused by the body's immune system attack on liver cells --autoimmune hepatitis can cause people to become so tired that even crossing the room is a chore. Some patients complain of abdominal discomfort, others of achy joints and itching. The skin may become yellow, and the liver can become enlarged. Without proper treatment, this serious illness progresses and most people eventually die. The disease is thought to have some genetic link, with women accounting for as many as 70% of the patients.
Fortunately, with prompt diagnosis and therapy, most people, including his patients, recover, Cohen says.
"If you're taking black cohosh, ask your doctor for liver function tests," he says. His patient had been taking the herb for only a few weeks when symptoms developed.
"Black cohosh has the potential for serious side effects," Cohen says. A search of the medical literature revealed five reports of other liver problems associated with the use of black cohosh, he says.
Eamonn Quigley, MD, of the department of medicine at Cork University Hospital in Cork, Ireland, says that several studies show high use of herbal products among patients with liver disease.
"Many [people] have made the assumption that herbal remedies are innocuous, but we now know they are not," he says.
The doctors spoke with WebMD at the 68th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology this week.
Dr. Cohen says that the use of black cohosh has increased since last year, when the large Women's Health Initiative study demonstrated that use of estrogen was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer and heart problems. That led the nation's top doctors to conclude that for many patients, the benefits of hormone replacement therapy don't outweigh the risks.
"Since then, women have been looking for other products that can relieve menopausal symptoms," Dr. Cohen said, "and one of the most popular is black cohosh," known scientifically as Actea racemosa.
Catherine Ulbricht, PharmD, RPh, founder and editor of the Natural Standard Research Collaboration, which collects data on complementary therapies, says several studies have reported black cohosh to improve menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes, mood disturbances, palpitations, and vaginal dryness, for up to six months.
"But although these initial studies are suggestive, they have been few in number and have universally suffered from weaknesses," says Dr. Ulbricht, who is also a senior attending pharmacist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Also, there have been no studies looking at whether the herb is safe and effective over the long-term, she says.
Dr. Cohen says his team came to the conclusion that their patient, a 57-year-old woman, likely suffered from black cohosh-induced autoimmune hepatitis after exhaustive examination.
The woman, who came in complaining of increasing fatigue and lethargy over the past two weeks, had recently stopped hormone replacement therapy at the advice of her primary physician. She started taking black cohosh three weeks prior to feeling ill, he says. Liver function tests and a liver biopsy revealed abnormalities that are consistent with a diagnosis of drug-induced autoimmune hepatitis, Dr. Cohen says.
The woman was told to stop taking the herb and was treated with prescribed steroids. She felt completely better just two weeks later, and liver function tests were back to normal in about nine weeks