Black Cohosh Side Effects

When using any herbal remedy, care must be taken because of side effects and black cohosh side effects are no exception. If you're considering taking black cohosh, use common sense and caution.

Black cohosh can have several side effects.

Black cohosh is a perennial herb native to North America. The Native Americans used black cohosh to treat sore throats, snakebites, and female complaints such as menstrual cramps and hot flashes. The roots and rhizomes, the parts that grow underground, are dried and crushed into a powder or made into a tincture. Herbalists have long believed that black cohosh has analgesic (pain relieving) properties as well as anti-inflammatory and anti spasmodic properties.

Today, black cohosh is most often recommended to address the symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes. And while folklore places another uses for black cohosh as an herb to induce labor, it should never be used for this purpose except under the supervision of an herbalist, nurse midwife, or skilled naturopathic physician.

Like any other supplement or herb, black cohosh may produce side effects. These range from mild discomfort to life-threatening liver conditions.

According to the National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, patients in clinical trials using black cohosh report a low incidence of black cohosh side effects. Of those reporting side effects, the most typical include:

• Headaches
• Stomach upset
• Heaviness in the legs
• Weight gain

Among reported side effects, the four listed above are the least severe and typically went away as soon as use of black cohosh was discontinued.

Other less common side effects include constipation, vomiting, and low blood pressure. If you experience any of these side effects, stop using black cohosh immediately.

More serious side effects, however, have been reported, particularly among women who used black cohosh over long periods of time. These serious side effects include liver problems such as jaundice and liver damage. One documented case reported in Australia resulted in liver failure requiring a liver transplant. Further investigation by medical professionals into the case uncovered no underlying disease factor, supplement or medication that could account for liver failure in this formerly healthy 47-year old woman. Because of this case and several other serious liver problems reported from using black cohosh, the Australian government now requires a warning label on the supplement.

Another very serious side effect of using black cohosh can be seizures. Seizures have been reported in otherwise healthy women using black cohosh, either alone or with another supplement. If you suspect that you may have had a seizure, see a doctor immediately and discontinue use of black cohosh supplements. Remember that seizures may not always be dramatic; they may include blacking out or loses of consciousness without the jerky movements portrayed on television. Any symptoms such as these should be taken seriously.

Women who have had liver disease or liver problems of any kind should not use black cohosh. Because it has caused bad side effects in otherwise healthy people, including liver failure, it should be avoided by anyone with a known liver problem.

Some reports indicate that black cohosh, especially when used with another herb called blue cohosh, can negatively impact newborn children. Newborns whose mothers took black and blue cohosh to induce labor have shown impaired cognitive function and breathing difficulties. Avoid taking black cohosh or other herbal supplements while pregnant or breast feeding.

If any black cohosh side effects are suspected, and if you notice your eye whites or skin looking yellow after taking black cohosh, see a physician immediately. While side effects such as stomach upset will go away on their own, yellowed skin or eye whites accompanied by nausea can mean jaundice and liver problems, and that requires immediate medical attention.

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