 | | | | Related Healthscout Videos | |
|
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Don't reach for the black cohosh to relieve those hot flashes.
Seattle researchers report it's no better than a placebo in easing the most common symptom of menopause.
Text Continues Below
"We were disappointed by the findings because many women want an alternative to hormone therapy, and many have assumed that black cohosh is a safe, effective choice," reports Katherine M. Newton, Ph.D., associate director of Group Health Center for Health Studies and the principal investigator of the Herbal Alternatives for Menopause Trial, or HALT. "While hormone therapy is still the most effective treatment for hot flashes, recent studies have shown that it poses serious risks."
The research compared five different groups of women. The first took a black cohosh supplement, the second took a multi-botanical supplement containing black cohosh, the third took the multi-botanical supplement and also received dietary counseling on increasing consumption of soy, the fourth received hormone therapy, and the fifth received the sham pill for comparison purposes.
Only the hormone therapy proved effective at reducing the number of vasomotor symptoms -- the technical term for hot flashes -- experienced by the women, with most women reporting about four fewer flashes per day.
Writing in an accompanying editorial, a fellow investigator applauds the study for taking a scientific look at what has been widely hailed as a treatment for hot flashes in menopause. "Although only some women will have severe, prolonged vasomotor symptoms, they clearly need treatment options," concludes Carol M. Mangione, M.D., M.S.P.H., from UCLA. "We must continue the search for new treatments ... and we must test them carefully. The HALT shows us how."
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: Annals of Internal Medicine, 2006;145:924-925
|
.gif)
