Is Black Cohosh Safe to Take During Menopause?
If you are looking for a safe, natural supplement to help fight your menopausal symptoms, you should consider black cohosh. But before you decide to add black cohosh into your diet, you should first learn about what black cohosh is, as well as the risks and benefits it can have on your body and your menopause symptoms.
What Is Black Cohosh?
Black cohosh is a flowering, phytoestrogenic plant that grows in the woods of eastern North America. The word cohosh means “knobby rough roots” and it derives from Native American tribes who used this plant as medicine for centuries. Black cohosh is a widely available supplement that is used all over the world to treat a range of illnesses and conditions. Although little medical information is available about this plant and its supplements, many people experience real benefits in their day to day life by taking black cohosh.
Side Effects of Black Cohosh
There are several warnings about black cohosh and its use; breast cancer risk research has shown that the growth of breast cancer cells, in particular, can be accelerated by black cohosh. Dizziness, headaches, and nausea can occur when too much black cohosh is ingested at any one time. Consult a doctor if this occurs.
Research also shows that women who are taking aspirin should not add black cohosh to their daily lifestyle; these two components should not be mixed. Black cohosh can interfere with birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). In fact, some patients may find that black cohosh affects this type of medication in such a way that the medication becomes ineffective. Black cohosh was thought to not harm the unborn child, but it is extremely important to check with a doctor before taking this supplement during pregnancy.
Benefits of Black Cohosh
Although there are several side effects associated with black cohosh, there are also benefits. Not only could adding black cohosh into your life help you regulate your irregular periods, but it can also help combat many other symptoms of menopause. These include mood swings, depression and irregular sleeping habits. Because black cohosh has the ability to increase levels of estrogen, the cause of all menopausal symptoms, it is one of the best herbs to take when trying to combat your pesky menopausal symptoms.
If you want to learn more about herbs that can help you fight your menopause symptoms, click on the following link and find out about other natural herbs for menopause.
