Treatment of Hair Loss with Black Cohosh

With its ability to regulate estrogen hormone levels, black cohosh has been found to be helpful in the treatment of hair loss in women. Black cohosh is a common ingredient in many hair loss remedies.

Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), also known as Black Snakeroot, Bugbane, Bugwort, and Squawroot, is a perennial plant native to woodlands in the United States and Canada. Black cohosh can reach up to 8 feet in height, its feathery spikes of white Astilbe-like flowers blooming from June through July. Its root is almost black in color and thick and knotted. The root was used by Native Americans as a natural medicine for the treatment of many ailments that included rattlesnake bites, menopause and gynecological disorders, rheumatism, inflammation of painful joints, improving circulation and relieving pain.

What is black cohosh?

Black cohosh is considered as a food and not a drug by the Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA). The roots and rhizomes of the black cohosh plant are used in herbal remedies. Black cohosh supplements are available over the counter in pill, capsule, and tincture forms. Black cohosh contains vitamins A and B5, calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, lipids and resin.

How does black cohosh work?

Black cohosh comes from a family of plants well known for their ability to deaden pain, and it has analgesic properties. The root contains steroid-like compounds that are thought to play a key role in its anti-inflammatory action. These compounds are believed to act both locally (when applied topically) and systemically (when taken internally) to reduce inflammation.

Black cohosh has been found to contain chemicals that can affect the female reproductive tract, notably formononetin and cimicifugoside. Formononetin, an isoflavonoid, has been shown to stimulate the production of estrogen and to have anti-cancer activity. Formononetin has also been demonstrated to be a fungicide, improving or prevent symptoms associated with Candid albicans (thrush) infection.

Black Cohosh also has weak estrogenic effects which help reduce the number, severity and frequency of hot flushes and night sweats as well as inhibiting other symptoms such as insomnia, mood swings, nervousness, irritability, heart palpitations and headaches.

Another compound found in black cohosh, cimicifugin, has been found to reduce blood pressure. Cimicifugin has also been shown to boost the circulation.

Side effects of black cohosh

There are no reported side effects from black cohosh when taken at recommended doses. However, in large doses black cohosh can cause stomach pain, diarrhea, dizziness, nausea, tremors, joint pain and headaches. The side effects of taking black cohosh extract over an extended period of time have not yet been determined.

Additionally the safety of black cohosh in relation to breast cancer, due to its estrogenic properties, has not yet been fully established. It is advisable that women with a family history of breast cancer consult a health practitioner prior to taking the herb. Pregnant and lactating women should avoid black cohosh since it has been associated with the stimulation of contractions and the induction of premature labor in some users.

Black cohosh dosage

Decoction: Boil 2 teaspoons of ground root in 1 pint of water. Take 2 to 3 tablespoons 6 times a day.
Fluid extract: Take from 5-30 drops in liquid daily.
Tincture: Doses range from 1-30 drops in a teaspoon of water.
Capsule: The recommended dosage is 1 capsule, taken 3 times daily.

Caution – excessive intake of black cohosh can cause nausea, vomiting and vertigo.

Remifemin

Most studies involving black cohosh have used an extract called Remifemin, which is standardized to contain 1 mg of terpene glycosides per 20 mg tablet. The most commonly used dosage of Remifemin is two 20 mg tablets taken twice daily.