As interest in women’s health grows, supplements containing ingredients ranging from black cohosh to red clover have gained consumer attention for their potential to reduce a range of menopause symptoms, but what is the scientific backing?
A combination of four different herbal extracts may significantly reduce hot flashes and sweating, improve sleep, and boost mood in post-menopausal women, says a new study.
The Netherlands’ Office for Risk Assessment & Research (BuRO) is advising certain populations not to consume black cohosh food supplements citing a link to severe liver toxicity.
The UK medicines agency says it continues to monitor the borderline between herbal products classified as medicines as opposed to food supplements on a case-by-case basis, although some categories are now under the complete jurisdiction of new EU herbal...
Last week’s warning from the UK medicines regulator that menopausal herb black cohosh must carry warnings about potential liver problems is not a problem of the mainstream food supplements sector, says the Alliance for Natural Health (ANH).
The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned manufacturers of black cohosh products that the herbal supplements must contain warnings about potential liver problems.
A new test method may enhance the identification of adulterants in black cohosh products, and allay concerns over potential liver toxicity from the presence of other related herbal species in black cohosh formulations.
A recently issued consumer warning against menopausal herb, black cohosh, by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA) may be based on false pretences according to a US-based herbals expert.
The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA) has issued a consumer warning about food supplements containing black cohosh after becoming aware of several websites promoting the menopausal herb.
The implementation of European Union food regulations into Czech law is benefiting the country’s food supplements and functional foods markets, according to a Czech trade association.
Hot flushes associated with the menopause are not helped by black
cohosh supplements, say results from the largest and longest trial
for the herb to date.
Scientists from the University of Illinois in Chicago have reported
for the first time just how black cohosh may alleviate hot flushes
in menopausal women - information previously lacking about the
herb.
Liver safety concerns surrounding black cohosh may be mitigated,
with a US District Court's dismissal of a product liability lawsuit
against two manufacturers of the herbal, and the testimony of the
plaintiff's experts.
Canada has issued an advisory about a possible link between black
cohosh and liver damage - bringing the herb, used in relieving
menopausal symptoms, further negative attention following similar
moves in the UK and Australia.
The UK herbal sector has reached an agreement with the medicines
regulator over labelling of black cohosh products with liver injury
warnings, and has asked it to review the safety data again next
year.
This week's warnings on the black cohosh and potential liver damage
may be the first time many general practitioners have heard of the
herbal, says complementary health expert, underscoring the need for
doctors to be aware of...
The UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
is introducing warnings labels for black cohosh products on
potential liver damage, following reports from two committees that
have reviewed the safety data...
A new study reports that one-third of black cohosh products tested
were not genuine but contained substituted products, results that
should drive manufacturers to comply with American Herbal Products
Association's (AHPA) recommendations.
Australia's Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA) has taken a
tough stance over the safety record of black cohosh, requiring that
OTC and alternative medicines containing the herbal must carry a
warning for the potential harm...
Taking supplements of the herbal black cohosh is unlikely to offer
much relief from menopausal hot flushes, conclude the US
researchers on a new trial.
Enzymatic Therapy appears to be unperturbed by recent rumblings
from the scientific community about the efficacy black cohosh to
alleviate menopause symptoms such as hot flashes. The
Wisconsin-based company has announced that it is...
A study presented this week showing that black cohosh supplements
offer no benefit for hot flushes was probably too short to measure
any effect, says the herbal science group the American Botanical
Council.
Black cohosh, a plant commonly used by breast cancer patients to
alleviate the menopause-like side effects of therapy, may alter the
effects anticancer drugs, suggests a study carried out at Yale
School of Medicine.
An 85-year-old specimen of black cohosh root still contained most
of the chemical compounds believed to help reduce hot flushes and
other menopause symptoms when analysed in a recent study, writes
Dominique Patton.
The herb black cohosh may reduce hot flushes by acting on body
temperature regulation, rather than through its oestrogen-like
effects, report researchers, who suggest the finding increases the
likelihood that the herb is a safe HRT...
A review of black cohosh, said to be the most comprehensive to
date, finds it to be safe, just days after another study suggested
that the herb, taken as an alternative to HRT, could trigger the
spread of breast cancer.
A new study on mice suggests that the herb black cohosh, used by
women as an alternative to HRT to treat menopause symptoms, may
speed up the spread of tumors in women with breast cancer.
With an increasing interest in herbal alternatives to reduce
menopause symptoms after recent warnings about the side-effects of
HRT, medical experts warn that many alternatives do not always have
much success. A report in this month's...
A study published in the current issue of Breast Cancer Research
and Treatment suggests that the black cohosh supplement
RemiFemin Menopause can safely relieve menopausal symptoms in women
with a history of breast cancer who cannot...
Coming after recent research highlighted the risks of HRT, the
American Botanical Council is to produce a scientific review of
black cohosh, a herb used by many women to treat menopause
symptoms.
Sure Balance, another new supplement to treat the menopause, is
launched in the US. The product contains black cohosh, soy and a
variety of herbs, and is being promoted as an alternative to HRT.
A supplement made from the herb black cohosh has been found to be
an effective alternative treatment to oestrogen for women suffering
from the menopause.
