Cimicifuga racemosa Monograph
Alternative Medicine Review 2003 (May); 8 (2): 186–189 ~ FULL TEXT
Black Cohosh, known botanically as Cimicifuga racemosa, has been used by Native Americans and Europeans for gunecological conditions predating the settlement of the New World. Find out more here.
Hot Flashes: A Review of the Literature on Alternative and Complementary Treatment Approaches
Alternative Medicine Review 2003 (Aug); 8 (3): 284–302 ~ FULL TEXT
Hot flashes are a common experience for menopausal women, with an 85-percent incidence in the West. With the increased knowledge of side effects attributable to conventional treatment options, more women are exploring natural alternatives. Although more definitive research is necessary, several natural therapies show promise in treating hot flashes without the risks associated with conventional therapies. Soy and other phytoestrogens, black cohosh, evening primrose oil, vitamin E, the bioflavonoid hesperidin with vitamin C, ferulic acid, acupuncture treatment, and regular aerobic exercise have been shown effective in treating hot flashes in menopausal women.
Black Cohosh: An Alternative Therapy for Menopause?
Nutr Clin Care 2002 (Nov); 5 (6): 283–289
Due to the long-term health risks now associated with hormone replacement therapy, many menopausal women are actively seeking alternative treatments. One such alternative is black cohosh (Actaea racemosa, syn. Cimicifuga racemosa), which has been used in the United States for the treatment of gynecologic complaints for more than 100 years. Review of the published clinical data suggests that black cohosh may be useful for the treatment of menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, profuse sweating, insomnia, and anxiety.
Effects of Extracts from Cimicifuga racemosa (Black Cohosh) on Gonadotropin Release in Menopausal Women and Ovariectomized Rats
Planta Med 1991 (Oct); 57 (5): 420–424
Remifemin (A German Black Cohosh preparation) is an ethanolic extract of the rhizome of Cimicifuga racemosa (C.r.) and is used to relieve climacteric hot flushes. In the present study the effects of this preparation on LH and FSH secretion of menopausal women were investigated. After an 8 weeks treatment, LH but not FSH levels were significantly reduced in patients receiving the Cimicifuga extract. To further characterize the endocrinologically active principles of this plant extract, a lipophilic extract of C.r. was prepared and subjected to Sephadex chromatography.
Cimicifuga racemosa L. – Black Cohosh
Quarterly Review of Natural Medicine, Spring 1996
Preparations of the drug have characteristics similar to those of hormones, where the estrogen-like active constituent is especially dominant. Formononetin is a competitive ligand in the estrogen receptor assay and binds ex vivo to the uterus of oophorectomized rats. Anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic and hypotensive effects were measured using animal experiments.
Clinical and Endocrinologic Studies of the Treatment of Ovarian Insufficiency
Manifestations following Hysterectomy with Intact Adnexa
Zentralbl Gynakol. 1988; 110 (10): 611–618
60 hysterectomized patients under 40 years old, who all had at least one intact ovary and still complained of climacteric symptoms, were treated with estriol, conjugated estrogens, estrogen-gestagen sequential therapy or an extract from cimicifuga racemosa after randomized distribution into 4 equal groups.
Efficacy and Safety of Phytomedicines for Gynecologic Disorders with
Particular Reference to Cimicifuga racemosa and Hypericum perforatum
Presented at First Asian European Congress on the Menopause;
January 28–31, 1998; Bangkok, Thailand
Extracts of Cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh) and Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) have a historic reputation as herbal remedies. Clinical research with C. racemosa mono-preparations (i.e. Remifemin®) and with the herbal combination containing C. racemosa and H. perforatum (i.e. Remifemin® plus) in pre- and postmenopausal patients suffering from psychovegetative menopausal disorders shows a good therapeutic efficacy and safety profile finally resulting in a positive benefit-risk-ratio of these herbal preparations.
Essay on the Phytotherapy of Hormonal Disorders in Women
Med. Welt. 1960; 44: 2331–2333
The conclusion reached on the basis of 4 years of experience with 517 female patients is that the Cimicifuga product has a hormone-like and slightly euphoric effect. This beneficial effect is particularly evident in autonomic-psychic change-of-life phenomena in the various age groups. There is no risk of adverse side effects, particularly no unphysiological bleeding.
Menopause Symptoms: Is it Possible to Switch from Hormone Treatment to a Botanical Gynecologicum?
Arztliche Praxis 1987; 47: 1551–1553
In an open study in praxi 50 patients who had been in a hormone treatment because of menopausal complaints, got the herbal remedy Remifemin® (a Cimicifuga racemosa aka black cohosh preparation) for 6 months.
Menopause Symptoms: Success Without Hormones
Arztliche Praxis 1983; 35: 1946–1947
An account is given of an open study with 36 women who by reason of climacteric complaints had been treated with the phytotherapeutic preparation Remifemin® (a Cimicifuga racemosa aka black cohosh preparation). All women either showed contraindications to a hormone therapy or wished to be treated with a hormone-free preparation.
Phytocombination Alleviates Psychovegetative Disorders
TW Gynäkologie 1997; 10: 172–175
In a multicentric postmarketing surveillance the therapeutic efficacy and safety of the pharmaceutical combination of Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) and St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) was investigated in psychovegetative disorders during menopause.
Phytotherapy Influences Atrophic Vaginal Epithelium
Therapeuticon 1987; 1: 23–31
After three months of therapy with the phytotherapeuticon, all three parameters had significantly improved. The applicated estrogen does proved to be too low, and yielded no effect compared to placebo. The usefulness of the phytopharmacon Remifemin® as an alternative to estrogen could be substantiated.
Therapeutic Efficacy and Safety of Cimicifuga racemosa
For Gynecologic Disorders
Advances in Therapy 1998; 15: 45–52
These studies show good therapeutic efficacy and tolerability profiles for C. racemosa. In addition, clinical and experimental investigations indicate that the rootstock of C. racemosa does not show hormone-like activity, as was originally postulated.
