Double Good
Double Good
Synthetic hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is dangerous. Period.
Last week I told you about the results of a new study that found yet another danger linked to synthetic HRT: ovarian cancer mortality. In a review of data in the ongoing UK research project known as the Million Women Study, researchers found that women who use synthetic HRT may be 20 percent more likely to die from ovarian cancer.
So let’s review the box score of known HRT dangers, revealed by research over the past five years:
* Increased heart attack risk
* Increased stroke risk
* Increased breast cancer risk
* Increase risk of ovarian cancer mortality
That’s a sad and sobering list. And you can be sure there are many families out there who wish their wives, mothers, and daughters had said “no” to a doctor’s suggestion (which was once quite common) to take HRT. If only those doctors had first recommended black cohosh (BC) – a popular botanical that’s been used to address hot flashes and other menopause symptoms for hundreds of years. A new study shows that BC might actually help prevent one of the health threats on that list of HRT dangers.
Turning down the heat
Black cohosh is a North American forest plant, once called “squaw root” by Native American healers because they found it useful in treating women’s health problems – particularly those associated with menopause.
In an e-Alert I sent you in 2002, I told you about a study in which Columbia University researchers examined the results of nearly 30 independent studies on alternative treatments for menopause symptoms. Researchers concluded that, overall, only black cohosh was shown to be consistently effective in treating menopause symptoms – especially hot flashes.
In the new study, which appears in the April edition of the International Journal of Cancer, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine note that the relationship of hormone therapy supplements and breast cancer risk has received little attention.
The U. Penn team used questionnaires to evaluate hormone-related supplement use among nearly 950 subjects with breast cancer, and more than 1,500 healthy control subjects. Results showed that black cohosh intake was associated with a 60 percent reduced risk of breast cancer.
One-two punch
HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., alerted me to the U. Penn study, and he added this comment: “Black cohosh has been used for ages for hot flashes related to menopause. I used it in my practice with success. Usually I mixed it with dong quai (Angelica sinensis) and chaste berry (Vitex agnus castus) to have a better chance at a faster response. But I believe the black cohosh was the high caliber ingredient in the mix. Once an effect occurred, then my patients would adjust with lower and fewer dosages until they didn’t need anything at all. Usually, if one agent was settled upon, it was black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa).
“Along with (natural) progesterone cream, black cohosh is a real 1-2 punch during symptomatic menopause.”
When I asked Dr. Spreen for specifics about dosage, he directed me to the web site for The Mayo Clinic, which offers this note: “Black cohosh is a popular alternative to prescription hormonal therapy for treatment of menopausal symptoms such as migraine headaches, sleep disturbances, hot flashes, mood problems, perspiration, heart palpitations, and vaginal dryness. Initial human research suggests that black cohosh may improve some of these symptoms for up to six months.”
The Mayo site also notes that a standardized black cohosh formulation called Remifemin has been used in most human studies of BC. These studies have commonly administered either 20 mg of 40 mg of Remifemin, twice each day. You can find further information at mayoclinic.com and remifemin.com.
Coincidentally, the U. Penn research also included data about Remifemin: Its use was associated with a 53 percent reduced risk of breast cancer.
Talk to your doctor before using black cohosh, Remifemin, or any other hormone-related supplement.
