Black Cohosh is a herb native to North America that has traditionally been used for cognitive and inflammatory conditions, but has grown in popularity due to its ability to treat vasomotor symptoms of menopause; primarily hot flashes and night sweats. Studies on the matter are highly mixed. The larger body of evidence favors the efficacy of Black Cohosh for treatment of vasomotor symptoms but consists largely of unblinded studies. Safety-wise, Black Cohosh appears to be safe. It is non-estrogenic (despite being thought to influence estrogen in the past) and may act centrally (in the brain) via serotonin, dopamine or opioids. Stomach upset has been reported and seems to be attributable to Black Cohosh in some people, but reports of liver toxicity do not appear to be related to the Black Cohosh herb.
How effective has black cohosh been for relieving your symptoms?
Please share your review with the Caria community:
This poll ran on the Caria community site and is now closed. The final results are below.
- Somewhat effective51.78%102 votes
- Very effective31.98%63 votes
- Not effective16.24%32 votes
197 responses in total.
Community comments
26Real experiences shared by the community, from the original discussion to today.
Join the discussion
Share what worked for you — comments are reviewed before they appear.
Teena UK6 years ago
I have been using this herb for the past year to help with my hot sweats and it has helped in reducing the number I experience. It was only after I stopped taking them for a couple of months that they came back with a vengeance, so I’m back on it. I have had no side effects, it may not stop them, but it has helped reduce them.
Dano6 years ago
I find that black cohosh helps with night sweats and hot flashes.
Gillian UK6 years ago
Once I got my dosage right (13mg each day) I have not looked back. Minimal very mild hot flush now and then compared with sweat running down my back, beetroot face flush, felt like happening all the time.
Jackie6 years ago
I was using this when I started getting symptoms but my blood tests kept showing a negative for menopause and I therefore couldn’t start HRT. Found it helped keep the amount of my hot flushes down per day. Not finding it working as well now my menopause has properly kicked in.
Elpis6 years ago
I’m currently using a product with black cohosh in it. I found that after a few weeks it works well. I only have approx 2-3 mild hot flushes a day. But on talk to my Dr about menopause treatment. He says he was fine with me taking natural/herbal stuff for menopause providing it doesn’t have black cohosh in it. He is very worried about the side effects. So I’m a bit in limbo at present. As I haven’t yet found a product that doesn’t have black cohosh in it. Does anyone know if one?
Jo5 years ago
I just started taking a supplement called Estroven Complete Multi Symptom and it looks like it’s main ingredient is Rhapontic Rhubarb root extract. It seems to work well for me.
BBL6 years ago
I noticed an immediate decrease in night sweats. When I skip it for a few days, they return. Correlation, causation, who knows, but with the low risk of side effects I’m going to continue.
Susan6 years ago
It’s helped with my night sweats to the point I don’t have them which for me is wonderful, was getting them every night was waking up soaked and the bed too. Would definitely recommend trying this.
Vicki6 years ago
I started taking this after a chat with my GP during the lockdown. Reduced hot flashes from several times a day and night to maybe once every couple of weeks.
Debs6 years ago
I’ve been using this for approximately 5 months now but I noticed it working within weeks of taking it, I’d highly recommend it.
Joanne6 years ago
I tried black cohosh for night sweats, I found that it did work, but I had side effects from this like my legs feeling very heavy and tired also feeling very bloated. I’m now on sage.
Lisa6 years ago
I’ve been on it in a mixture of herbs for just over 2 weeks and am now starting to see its effects. I had been waking up with hot flashes/night sweats every 1-2 hrs and now only a couple of times per night. Decrease of day symptoms too. I hope to see more improvement, but am just happy to be able to get better sleep...
Laura6 years ago
I think I haven’t been using it long enough to be able to determine if it works. The few times I took it I ended up feeling flu-like so I don’t know if it’s because of the Black Cohosh or something else.
Wendy5 years ago
I had the same symptoms, like air hunger and flu! Feeling so bloated
Jo6 years ago
I recently started using a supplement containing black cohosh, within days it seemed to help significantly with brain fog and aching joints. Some reduction in hot flashes and night sweats, but still early days.
Carmen3 years ago
Jo, what supplement did you used that has black cohosh that helped you with brain fog?
Ellie6 years ago
Started taking it for night sweats, I think it helped, but, the side effect was horrible and had to stop. I was itching all over, and it does state on the product that one poss side effect is ‘nettle rash skin’.
Trish6 years ago
I have used a brand in Australia called Fusion that makes two menopause supplements. One with black cohosh and one without. With is called ‘Menopause’ and without ‘Menopause Free’. ‘Menopause’ changed my life! I tried going off it because I was concerned about the effect it could possibly have on my liver, but I cannot live without it so I had a blood test instead which confirmed my liver was functioning normally. My GP recommended that if it’s working for me, just have a regular blood test 4-6 monthly to monitor liver function. Also, all brands are not the same! I had three months trialling Flordis Femular Forte and it did absolutely nothing while I suffered again with debilitating hot flashes and night sweats. I started back on Fusion Menopause and it gave me relief instantly!
Nicole5 years ago
It takes away the hot flashes and night sweats.
Christine5 years ago
I’ve been taking black cohosh regularly for a few months and have noticed a decrease in my hot flashes. I don’t always take as many it says to on the bottle but when I do, it’s so much better.
Giulietta5 years ago
I really should write NA. I never tried it bc on consultation with my doctor she stated that some recent studies have pointed to a possible cancer risk. She said the studies need to be replicated by more to be truly robust or demonstrate that the recent ones are not conclusive. It was enough for me to avoid using black cohosh though.
Ari5 years ago
I started taking this supplement about a month ago because those hot flashes were starting to really bother me. Mind you, I got the cheapie Spring Valley pills at Walmart. It’s been unbelievable. I am not getting hot flashes anymore! I think it’s really helping me, and I’m thankful for that.
Mandzzz5 years ago
Hi , does anyone know if you can take this while on other prescribed medication?
Danish abroad5 years ago
The main benefit of taking black cohosh has for me been the vast improvement in my mood. Almost immediately my constant irritability disappeared. Thought it was just my imagination so stopped for a few days and it came back with a vengeance. Night sweats have also diminished somewhat although they seem to come in phases so can’t be sure. (They also seem very dependent on whether I’m constipated or not ...) Although I’m not a good candidate for HRT due to my mum having had several strokes at a young age, I did try estrogel briefly but it made me so dizzy I could hardly stand up straight and that was on one pump per day. So black cohosh seems a good solution.
JoAnna4 years ago
My night sweats started in 2022. In January I had them almost every night. At first I didn’t know what to do about it, until my friend told me about Black Cohosh. For the first two nights I still experienced night sweats, but much less then before - I started to feel like I got my life back! It’s a life changer! I take 2 capsules a day - night sweats are completely gone! Highly recommend it!!
Flo2 years ago
Age 57, Severe menopause symptoms day & nite. Bought Estroven 9/4/23, seems small improvement but hard to tell. Bought Black Cohosh drops 9/20/23. However, gonna return both. After 'additional' reading, possible kidney, liver damage or cancer is a deal breaker for me. My symptoms are very bothersome, but it's natural & will ease up. It appears that there's no EASY fix to menopause symptoms. Too much 'inconsistent' &'varying' advice on herbs & supplements..altho they do provide relief. I don't blame women from wanting relief, I do too. I'm just gonna pray, breathe, exercise, proper nutrition, sleep & tough it out, so I'm not 'fighting' for my health 'after' menopause settles down. Suffer some NOW or greatly LATER. God bless ladies & best wishes!