PMID- 12544678
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20030428
LR  - 20191106
IS  - 1072-3714 (Print)
IS  - 1072-3714 (Linking)
VI  - 10
IP  - 1
DP  - 2003 Jan-Feb
TI  - A systematic review of the safety of black cohosh.
PG  - 58-64
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the available data relating to the safety of 
      medicinal extracts of black cohosh (Actaea racemosa). DESIGN: Systematic 
      literature searches were conducted in seven electronic databases, and the 
      reference lists of all papers located were checked for further relevant 
      publications. Information was also sought from the spontaneous reporting programs 
      of the World Health Organization and national drug safety bodies. Sixteen 
      manufacturers of black cohosh preparations were contacted and asked for data held 
      on file. Finally, our own departmental files were searched. No language 
      restrictions were imposed. Combination products and homeopathic preparations were 
      excluded. RESULTS: Data from clinical studies and spontaneous reporting programs 
      suggest that adverse events (AEs) with black cohosh are rare, mild, and 
      reversible. Gastrointestinal upsets and rashes are the most common AEs. The 
      spontaneous reporting programs do contain a few serious AEs, including hepatic 
      and circulatory conditions, but causality cannot be determined. Although there is 
      large amount of data investigating the efficacy of black cohosh, in particular 
      the product Remifemin, safety issues and the monitoring of AEs have not been the 
      focus. CONCLUSION: If black cohosh products are taken for a limited length of 
      time, there seems to be a slight risk of mild, transient AEs. More serious AEs 
      seem to be rare, and it is impossible to ascertain causality with black cohosh 
      with the limited data available. Thus, although definitive evidence is not 
      available, it would seem that black cohosh is a safe herbal medicine.
FAU - Huntley, Alyson
AU  - Huntley A
AD  - Peninsula Medical School, University of Exter, United Kingdom. 
      Alyson.huntley@pms.ac.uk
FAU - Ernst, Edzard
AU  - Ernst E
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PT  - Review
PT  - Systematic Review
PL  - United States
TA  - Menopause
JT  - Menopause (New York, N.Y.)
JID - 9433353
SB  - IM
MH  - *Cimicifuga/*adverse effects
MH  - Female
MH  - Hot Flashes/*drug therapy
MH  - Humans
MH  - *Phytotherapy
MH  - Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
RF  - 30
EDAT- 2003/01/25 04:00
MHDA- 2003/04/29 05:00
CRDT- 2003/01/25 04:00
PHST- 2003/01/25 04:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2003/04/29 05:00 [medline]
PHST- 2003/01/25 04:00 [entrez]
AID - 10.1097/00042192-200310010-00010 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Menopause. 2003 Jan-Feb;10(1):58-64. doi: 10.1097/00042192-200310010-00010.