Discussion

It has been said that if all the beneficial effects of Black Cohosh were fully known, it would become the most commonly used herb or drug in the world. It has such a range of effects, some of them quite powerful, that it is probably the most versatile herb in existence.

Its main effects are those involving the female reproductive cycle.

The two main groups of hormones affecting this cycle are the oestrogens and the progesterones. During a healthy cycle, there is a movement from slight oestrogen dominance to slight progesterone dominance occurring at the same time during each cycle. Sometimes the swings are excessive, or far too frequent, and this causes the possibly severe effects of PMS, both physical and emotional. Black Cohosh evens out these swings by two mechanisms:

1)   It has “oestrogenic” effects.

2)   It reduces the level of luteinising hormone (LH) released by the pituitary gland. This in turn reduces progesterone production.

1) “Oestrogenic” effects

Oestrogenic chemicals can have no effect until they bind onto receptor sites on the cells. The phyto-oestrogens in black cohosh and many other plants have far weaker effects (between 1/500 and 1/50) than the oestrogens produced in the body. However, the molecules have similar shapes, and so when phyto-oestrogens occupy a proportion of the receptor sites, overall oestrogenic activity is greatly decreased. This reduces the violent fluctuations that often take place.

There is another factor about phyto-oestrogens which is of importance. It appears that there are two types of receptor sites in the body, those in the womb and those in tissues like the breast. It seems that when phyto-oestrogens bind onto the latter, they block any oestrogenic effect, and therefore have a protective effect against cancer. This is probably the reason why Oriental women, who consume large amounts of soya, suffer far less from breast cancer.

2) Reduction of LH

As mentioned above, black cohosh reduces the amount of luteinising hormone released by the pituitary gland. This in turn reduces progesterone production, and stops the violent swings in blood levels that sometimes take place.

Menopause

It is in this context that this herb really comes into its own.

Menopause should be a process by which the body is slowly relieved of the burden of childbearing. In primitive cultures, with a natural way of life, a fair amount of exercise and little consumption of refined foods and additives, menopause passes almost without notice. In modern society, unpleasant symptoms have become so common and severe that menopause is almost regarded as a disease.

Menopause should be a time when the ovaries gradually reduce their production of oestrogen, with few if any symptoms. The pituitary gland should then send signals to other glands such as the adrenals, and even to individual fat cells, to increase their production of oestrogens. The resultant production, though greatly reduced, should be sufficient to carry out all the functions intended, except for menstruation and childbearing.

The adrenal glands are the main backup for oestrogen production, but when they become exhausted by over-use of stimulants such as caffeine in coffee, cola and tea, or weakened by poor diet such as over-use of sugars and refined foods, then they cannot perform their extra duty, leading to many symptoms now considered normal.

Help for Menopause

It seems obvious that as the main physiological change at menopause is the reduction of oestrogen production, then any agents that can mimic oestrogen production are likely to be the most helpful, and this does in fact appear to be the case. As mentioned above, many plants contain phyto-oestrogens, but the highest amounts are found in soya, and in particular black cohosh.

In Eastern societies, where soya is a staple part of the diet, menopause (and menstruation) pass almost without symptoms, but this is achieved by the consumption of great amounts of soya products.

Black cohosh has a higher concentration of phyto-oestrogenic isoflavones, and results can therefore be obtained by using supplements.

As explained above, the isoflavones have very weak effects, but these are sufficient to perform the functions of the residual production of oestrogen that is normally done by the adrenal glands and fat cells.

Taken in the correct dose, it will relieve symptoms such as:

¨        Hot flushes

¨        Excessive perspiration

¨        Headaches

¨        Dizziness

¨        Palpititations

¨        Tinnitus

¨        Irritability

¨        Depression

¨        Insomnia

Black cohosh has been tested against HRT for the physical and mental symptoms and against benzodiazapene tranquillisers for the emotional symptoms, and achieved better scores, after six to eight weeks of use, than either drug.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a less obvious effect of reduced production of oestrogens. Bones are not structures that are produced during our growing phase and then stay the same for the rest of our lives. They are continually being broken down and rebuilt, and the two processes must be kept in balance. There are two types of cells involved in this; osteoblasts build bones and osteoclasts break them down.

Isoflavones in Black Cohosh and other plants prevent the osteoclasts from becoming too active.

Other Effects

As if its help for ladies’ problems were not enough, black cohosh has a number of other benefits:

A) Blood pressure lowering

It has been shown to lower blood pressure, partly by dilating artery walls, and this is enhanced by its relaxing effect on muscles and the nervous system.

B) Nerve calming

It has been shown to have anti-anxiety and anti-depressant effects, independently of its effects on the hormonal system.

C) “Rheumatic” pain

It has been shown to be of use in “rheumatic” type pains, where the symptoms are caused by cramping and spasming of muscles.

Main Active Constituent

This is 27-deoxyactein.

Dosage

Extract containing 4mg of 27-deoxyactein, twice per day. This is equivalent to 500mg of the root twice per day.

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