Black Cohosh For the Breast Cancer Survivor - Naturally Treating Hot Flashes

Posted on January 28, 2009

Black cohosh is used to manage menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes, and may prevent breast cancer. In April 2007, a retrospective case-control study was published in the International Journal of Cancer revealing that black cohosh had a significant protective effect against breast cancer due to its antiestrogen, antiproliferative and antioxidant properties. But for someone with a history of breast cancer, use of estrogenic plants may be contraindicated.

There are really two questions to address here: 1) is black cohosh effective to treat hot flashes and 2) can women with a diagnosis of breast cancer safely use black cohosh?

Let’s start with the issue of efficacy. In June 2006, a phase III, double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial conducted at Mayo Clinic was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Researchers found that patients using 20 mg of black cohosh twice a day reported a decrease in hot flash frequency by 17% compared to the placebo group who reported a decrease of 26%. In other words, this trial failed to provide any evidence that black cohosh reduced hot flashes more than the placebo. In April 2008, a summary of black cohosh trials conducted over 20 years was published in Menopause. Researchers looked at results of several trials involving a total of 1,581 women and 329 men. Results from the randomized trials in women demonstrated that hot flashes were not substantially decreased by black cohosh, or for that matter, by vitamin E or a soy-based product. So while it appears the most current literature on this topic has found that black cohosh is not effective in treating menopausal symptoms, smaller studies indicate it might be somewhat effective. And, there is potential that black cohosh may reduce risk of breast cancer recurrence. In a retrospective, cohort study published in Nutrition and Cancer, 2007, of 18,861 patients, a total of 1,102 had taken black cohosh. The mean overall observation time was 3.6 years. Results showed that black cohosh was not associated with an increase in the risk of recurrence but associated with prolonged disease-free survival. After 2 years following initial diagnosis, 14% of the control group had developed a recurrence, while the black cohosh group reached this proportion after 6.5 years.

Now, onto the latest safety studies! Black cohosh seems to have a relatively good safety profile. The liver damage reported in a few individuals using black cohosh has been severe, but large numbers of women have taken the herb for years without reporting adverse health effects. In the case studies relating liver damage, we can’t rule out the possibility that the black cohosh was tainted or cross-contaminated. That’s why it is so important to seek quality controlled herbal products.With relevance to cancer patients, black cohosh does not seem to exhibit phytoestrogenic activity and is in fact possibly an inhibitor of tumor growth (Aug 2007, Supportive Care in Cancer). The 2007 Nutrition and Cancer study found that black cohosh did not raise estrogen markers in the serum. Authors of a March 2007 study published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics reported that an increase in the risk of breast cancer recurrence for women using black cohosh, compared to women not treated with black cohosh, was unlikely.

So, my suggestion is to try black cohosh to see if it helps you manage your menopausal symptoms. We know it’s safe and there is a possibility that black cohosh may help you prevent a recurrence. I would recommend you try Remifemin, a quality-controlled black cohosh dietary supplement developed and used by Europeans for years. It is now available in the United States at many larger-chain drugstores and supermarkets. Follow package instructions.

Dr. Kim Dalzell is a doctor of holistic nutrition and registered dietitian who has helped thousands of cancer patients with her nature-based healing approach to cancer control. She is a sought after speaker, author of Challenge Cancer and Win!, and industry spokesperson. To learn more about how you can control cancer with nutrition, please visit: http://www.cancerbusters.org

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