Black Cohosh Looks OK to Take with Tamoxifen

NEW YORK--Some good news came out today for those women suffering menopausal symptoms. A study released today from Columbia University found that black cohosh decreases menopausal symptoms and had no effect on the level of hormones in breast cancer patients, which researchers take as a good sign for not interfering with the breast cancer drug, Tamoxifen.

The two-month, placebo-controlled study included 85 breast cancer survivors, 42 of whom were assigned black cohosh. (A third of the patients were not the usual age from menopause, but Tamoxifen has possible side effects that included menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and excessive sweating.) Researchers noted that both the placebo and black cohosh groups reported a 27-percent decrease in hot flashes, although the herb-supplemented group reported experienced less sweating, a common complaint during menopause.

The product used is this study was RemiFemin Menopause, distributed in the United States by GlaxoSmithKline and marketed internationally by Schaper and Bruemmer GmbH & Co. KG of Germany. To learn more about the research, visit http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu.