Black Cohosh for Menopause
Though menopause marks the end of having regular periods, which sounds as if that is a good thing, it tends to come with many unpleasant side effects for most women. Hot flashes, poor sleep, night sweats, and weight gain are amongst the most common symptoms associated with menopause. During the period of time where the body transitions toward menopause, which is referred to as perimenopause, these symptoms arise and can cause a lot of discomfort along with an overall reduction in quality of life.
Black cohosh, or Actaea racemose, in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been viewed as cooling herb. This makes it particularly useful in balancing yin energy in menopausal women, especially when the symptoms of kidney yin deficiency present.
Kidney yin is called our nourishing energy and is responsible for regulating fluid in our body.
When the deficiency of kidney yin, it results in a lack of moisture in the body system which leads to heat, dryness and stiffness, can cause insomnia, night sweats, hot flashes, and irritability.
As an adaptogen (an herb that helps your body withstand stress), black cohosh can help reduce these symptoms without making you feel sleepy or sluggish during the day. If you are in need of relief from these symptoms, then read on to learn more about using black cohosh for menopause.
Black Cohosh for Hot Flashes
Also know as vasomotor symptoms or used interchangeable with night sweats, hot flashes are one of the more common symptoms of menopause. Practitioners of TCM have been using black cohosh for night sweats for ages. In fact, studies have shown that women who took black cohosh achieved a 26% reduction in their hot flash symptoms which was more than twice that of what was reported by the placebo group.
Black Cohosh for Menopausal Sleep Problems
Many women report sleep disturbances during both perimenopause and menopause. In a 2015 study, women who were experiencing disturbed sleep found relief from taking black cohosh. After a six-month period, women reported better sleep quality and sleep efficiency. They even found that they were able to stay asleep longer without regularly waking during the night.
How Does Black Cohosh for Menopause Work?
Black cohosh brings relief to menopause symptoms due to its estrogenic effect. Since menopause means that the levels of estrogen in the body are now officially on the decline, black cohosh’s estrogenic effects may act as a natural form of hormone replacement.
Some symptoms of menopause improve using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Black cohosh may have a serotonergic effect on the central nervous system, which may provide relief. This is thanks to its ability to bind to serotonin receptors.
Black cohosh can also act as a natural anti-inflammatory. The reduction in inflammation can result in a reduction of both hot flashes and night sweats.
Conclusion:
If you, like most menopausal women, are struggling with hot flashes, night sweats, and sleeps disturbances, consider speaking to your healthcare practitioner about supplementing with black cohosh for menopause as an affordable, drug-free option. It has a proven track record of reducing common menopause symptoms while also resulting in better quality sleep.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We can’t guarantee the treatment result, as the symptoms of conditions are unpredictable and vary greatly from person to person. The treatment length and recovery time also varies for individual. Please visit our clinics website: GinSen where a specialists will discuss your care and provide a consultation, and the treatment will be designed to meet your individual needs.
