HHS HealthBeat (January 29, 2007)

Cold comfort for hot flashes

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

When it was put to a key test, the herbal supplement black cohosh didn't live up to its reputation for relieving hot flashes and night sweats of menopause. A study found it no better than fake medication.

Katherine Newton of the Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle did the comparisons. Her study, in Annals of Internal Medicine, was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

"Our finding wasn't a surprise. We weren't sure when we began the study whether black cohosh worked or didn't work. We were disappointed, in that it would be nice to have a safe and effective treatment for hot flashes in women." (13 seconds)

Hormone replacement therapy did reduce symptoms. But other studies have linked forms of hormone replacement therapy with higher risks of breast cancer, heart attack and stroke.

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: May 7, 2011