|
JoJo's News - Writing, Researching, and Distributing Articles of Interest for You By:
Jonna Ocampo April 15, 2009
Women-menopause-cancer-and black
cohosh Hot flashes, night sweats, and severe mood swings are, for many women, the most common symptoms
associated with menopause, and until recently hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was the most common conventional treatment.
But since a landmark 2002 study linked synthetic HRT to serious health risks, including an increased risk in breast cancer,
stroke, and heart attack, more women and their healthcare practitioners have turned to safer, natural alternatives to manage
menopause. Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa), a North American herb traditionally used by Native Americans to address gynecologic
disorders, has become a star among herbal remedies for treating menopausal symptoms. Numerous clinical studies, largely
conducted on the product Remifemin, which contains a standardized extract of black cohosh, have confirmed the effectiveness
of the herb in reducing the frequency and severity of hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings. As with any herb, black
cohosh is not a cure-all, but for those women who responded to the herb, they responded extremely well. In addition
to reducing menopausal symptoms, the latest research on black cohosh has shed compelling new light on this medicinal herb,
demonstrating that it may be a woman's best ally in preventing breast cancer. In a 2007 study published in the
International Journal of Cancer, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that women who took
black cohosh to relieve menopausal symptoms cut their risk of developing breast cancer more than 60 percent. Remifemin reduced
the risk of breast cancer by more than 50 percent. This follows a 2002 German study that found that black cohosh extract significantly
inhibited the growth of breast cancer cells and increased the effectiveness of the chemotherapy drug, tamoxifen, in women
with breast cancer. The benefits of black cohosh seem to extend to breast cancer survivors as well. Another 2007 study,
evaluating more than 18,000 breast cancer patients, showed that the women who took black cohosh had a lower rate of recurrence
of cancer compared to those women who did not take the herb. While black cohosh has traditionally been used as an effective
natural treatment for menopausal symptoms, its potential as an ally in the fight against breast cancer should not be overlooked.
Article by: Lindsay Wilson
|
