Black Cohosh, St. Johns Wort Combo For Menopause

Black Cohosh, St. Johns Wort Combo For Menopause

BERLINGerman researchers found a fixed combination of St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum) and black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)was able to help alleviate psychological and physical complaints associated withmenopause. In the double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study, 301 womenwith menopausal complaints and psychological symptoms were treated with anethanolic St. Johns wort extract and isopropanolic black cohosh extract, or placebo, for16 weeks.

After the treatment period, the mean Menopause Rating Scale score decreased50 percent in the treatment group and 19.6 percent in the placebo group.Similarly, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale total score decreased 41.8percent in the treatment group and 12.7 percent in the placebo group. There were no major differences between groups regarding adverse events,laboratory values or tolerability.

The researchers concluded the particular combination of St. Johns wort andblack cohosh was superior to placebo in alleviating both the emotional andphysical complaints associated with menopause. Their results were published in Obstetrics & Gynecology (107:247-55,2006).