Black Cohosh Options

[jennyp]

I was on black cohosh for a year, with fairly good control.  Now, I'm reading that you shouldn't take it for more than 6 months straight.  I stopped it, and now everything's back with a vengance!

Anybody know if its safe to keep taking?  any good alternatives that work in the same way?

Ive upped my vitamins and added more soy, but it isn't working the same at all.

Help!

[raeh]

I have read thatyou can take black cohoshfor as long as as you want. There are no studies for after 6 months. I have read a lot about Black Cohosh and cannot find any problems.

[asilverlady1]

oh dear. i have been on Black Cohosh for well over 12 months!!! Is there any proper evidence that its bad for you after 6 months?

[Sharonrose]

How much Black Cohosh are you taking?  I was considering it.  Thanks.

(Edited by Sharonrose at 10:04 am on Feb. 6, 2003)

[MaryO]

Check out the Power Surge Recommendations Page for information about black cohosh and all kinds of menopause remedies

[Suzie]

My sister is a nurse and she's been taking black cohosh for years. I never heard anything about going off after 6 months. I think on the Remifemin instructions they advised going off after 6 months to see if you still have symptoms, and if so to continue using it. It works great for hot flashes and mood swings, doesn't it? I'm not planning to go off it any time soon !

Suzie

[babsala]

I bought a bottle of Black Cohosh but the dosage was very high and I had horrible side effects.  Can anyone tell me what the dosage should be? I'm willing to try again. I'm desperate! My flashes went away for a short time with E, B12 and a strong multi but they're back now in full force.

[Suzie]

Babsala,The best dosage is 50 mg. of standardized black cohosh twice a day. Be sure and get the standardized. It does make a difference. It takes a few months to kick in , but you should notice some improvement after a month. Good luck!

Suzie

[txkoolkat]

Hi,I'm new here and I'm so glad I found this forum just for us women seeking to find answers to the problems we have to deal with everyday and nite with these hot flashes and nite sweats. I had a full hysterectomy 2 years ago and for the past year my hot flashes have gotten worse. Also I've noticed that my bones and joints are hurting more. I've been taking black cohosh root 3 times a day at 540 mg. plus one tablet a day of soy isoflavones at 40 mg. I started taking caltrate 600 then switched to oscal then to coral calcium supreme. I am totally at my wits end. The hot flashes have not stopped and the night sweats are just as bad. I can't sleep at nite either. I'll be watching tv and falling asleep. I'll turn the tv off to go to sleep and POW! anxiety attack followed by a hot flash. I've been taking amitriptyline for panic attacks and depression for close to 20 years now. Thankfully I havent been depressed in a long time but the attacks continue. My metabolism is also gone wacky. I've had thyroid checks done but they came out negative.Can anyone please recommend something to ease these flashes? PLEASE?:confused:

[Gettinthere]

Hi, I'm new here but I've been doing my homework.

I intend to begin natural hormones with Dr. Erika soon so I don't think I will need these things for long but I just bought black cohosh, flaxseed oil, and evening primrose oil to help with the hot flashes and my skin which has become awful.

  I've been seeing a dermatologist who is helping but I am hoping the natural hormones will really help with that.  My dermatologist doesn't feel so hopeful and is talking about accutane; in the meantime I have gotten numerous injections for these cysts and I am holding out until I start the hormones.

I also need to get a couple of other supplements but this does get expensive and I can't afford to buy it all.   I need a diuretic and I really want to sleep again so those are my supplemental priorities for today. Next will be calcium, magnesium, and zinc due to osteopenia.

I am allergic to iodine which is in most, if not all good multi-vitamins so I am not sure what to do about that. What I am not clear on is what to do about the vitamins.  What do I really need?  I've been reading and reading and I've written to the experts but nothing is really crystal here.  Everyone has different ideas.  I welcome any suggestions regarding the vitamins, my skin, and what I might need after I start the natural hormones because I have a very difficult time taking all of these pills and tinctures and I don't want to buy things I won't need.

Thanks so much!

[2hot2mad]

I am new to this site and have been reading everything I can find. I am taking Black Cohosh for about 2 weeks now. I am taking the liquid because I read that was better. I am taking about 30 drops morning and night. I can't stand the smell or taste anymore. Is there a capsule that has the same potency as the liquid I could take. My hot flashes/nite sweats haven't changed yet. Thanks for any help.

[THOMPSON]

The Black Cohosh has helped me considerably...along with.... Vit. A,  Vit. B Complex,  Vit. C,  Flaxseed Oil, Magnesium in the morning with breakfast...AND use the Progesta-Care Progesterone Cream (it is a pump so dispenses correct amount and rub it in).   In the evening with dinner....I take Magnesium, Evening Primrose Oil and Black Cohosh and use the Progesta-Care Cream.  I noticed relief after about 3 weeks. I am 54+ and started going through perimenpause about 2 yrs. ago....

[SugarNSpice]

Hello Ladies - The hot flashes are the pitts!! I personally have not tried Black Cohosh yet. In a local newspaper - there was an article from the People's pharmacy regarding black cohosh. A lady wrote a letter and said she had adverse reactions from black cohosh. It is not listed how much she took a day or how often. She had her routine yearly blood work and showed an unexplained significant elevation in the liver function - since black cohosh was the only new pill she has taken recently - that must of been the culprit of the elevation of the liver function. She searched the literature and found that a few women have gone into liver failure:o. She stopped taking black cohosh and within 2 months her liver fuction returned nearly to normal - she recommended that women should have their liver enzymes checked soon after taking black cohosh. The People's pharmacy responded that Black cohosh is used to help control hot flashes....side effects are rare - they recommend that women who choose this remedy to ask their doctors to monitor liver function. I feel like a terrible messenger with this information:(.... sometimes I feel so confused what to use and what not to use. In the very next page - there was an article regarding hot flashes and black cohosh has worked out well!! So it's up to you how you want to handle this. Gettinthere - you said you would like a diuretic - if your looking at a natural way- try 3 stalks of celery a day - you'll be running to the bathroom alot, haha and you'll be getting rid of the fluid. Have a fabulous day!! Blessings, Stacy

[haneya]

I was using a natural progesterone cream (made from wild yam - Bellatude is the name) but it hasn't done anything for me - still having 10-15 HFs a day and its wearing me out! I decided to try black cohosh and started out to get Remifen. Next to it on the shelf was another product called extra-strength Estroven with black cohosh, soy and a bunch of other good stuff. I just started it yesterday but wondered if anyone else had used this product and/or Remifen with any success?

[FairyFeeties]

I am still on Premarin .3 mg. I just began weaning off. Should I be completely off Premarin before beginning this herb? Also, how do I wean off Premarin? I read part of a transcript where the pharmacist here (Pete?) said 2 days on, one off, etc. for five weeks when weaning off. I don't know how to interpret the "etc." part of his instructions. Please help? Thank You! FairyFeeties

[MaryO]

Hi, Fairy and welcome to Power Surge Dearest, founder of this huge website, has provided an excellent article on weaning off hormones at www.power-surge.com/educate/weanoffhrt.htm That should help you out

[charlee]

Have been taking SOY Supplement 60mg and Black Cohash 540mg for about 2 wks, - when I asked how many mg My gyn said 1 tablet per day. She suggested I go on HRT in 6 mo. Said she couldn't function without it.Would rather go natural. My family dr. says no HRT. Have not seen any difference in night sweats with the above - haven't slept a full night in a month. i am taking Vit C- Calcium also. I was anemic and my family dr had me on iron - but I read you shouldn't take that for long - so I stopped. Lack of sleep, flashes - sometimes twice an hr at night have left me with no energy. Just venting - and looking for a miracle:)

[Rebecca1223]

Hi, I've been taking 1,000 tp 1500mg of it for a couple of months and have no hot flashes or night sweats any more. Several of my friends have taken the same amount without problems and have had very good results. I think the amount in the Remifem...whatever it's called is too low and maybe they are just playing it safe. Why would all single selling bottles be 540mg and over???? I've never read anything about it having liver damage possibilities.

[charlee]

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[Rebecca1223]

Well I did alot of reading about Black Cohosh and alot of it said that you can take up to 1,500mg daily. I have a friend who takes 2,000 daily but I think that is a bit much. When my hot flashes and night sweats got under control I went down to 1,000mg a day and that has maintained me so far. I also take at least one soy shake from Revival a day. It takes some digging but you can read lots of articles on the use, history and dosage.

[charlee]

I had no clue on the dosage to start. Taking another one at night last night & a sominex got me 4 hours of sleep without waking up. I will try the uppage for awhile. I have only taken sleeping pills 4 times in my life. Don't want to start down that road.TextBlack

[charlee]

For what it's worth - and we all know how quickly things can change- I have been almost night sweat free for 2 nights since upping my dosage of black cohash to 1500 mg. Night before last no sweats - last night 2 but no chills. However, I seem to have forgotten how to sleep. Like Gilda said - it's always something...