How Does Black Cohosh Help?

Black cohosh is said to contain a powerful plant active ingredient called phytoestrogen. This chemcial compound actually mimics the effects of human estrogen in the female body. If a woman takes in a significant amount of phytoestrogen by drinking this type of tea, she may alleviate or diminish many of the symptoms associated with lack of estrogen. The reason this happens is that the phytoestrogens contained in it bind themselves to hormone receptors in the uterus, breast, and other parts of the female body. This then leads to a lessening of the detrimental symptoms a lack of estrogen causes in women.

The action of the phytoestrogens possibly lessens hot flashes, vaginal dryness, headache, dizziness, depressive mood, and other hormone-related symptoms.

Another positive health effect of black cohosh tea is that it reduces the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH). LH is a compound produced by the brain's pituitary gland that regulates the activities of women's ovaries. In a 1991 study on women, it was shown to help minimize hot flashes by cutting down the LH hormone levels in a woman's body. Previous studies had shown that the rise of LH hormone in a woman's body was directly related with hot flashes.

These scientific discoveries led to the use of black cohosh tea as an alternative to hormone therapy. Some women actually prefer drinking this tea over receiving hormone therapy, because it is a much safer treatment with reduced health risks. Hormone therapy has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer when taken long-term. In contrast, black cohosh does not appear to stimulate the growth of breast tumors.

Forms of Black Cohosh
Black cohosh is available in several different forms. As an herbal supplement, it may be bought as a tincture or in tablet form. However, the most popular form is to enjoy it as a tea. Due to the popularity of the tea, it now comes in several different flavors and scents to make your herbal tea experience better a more enjoyable process. For women who are unable or unwilling to drink tea, it is now available in the form of capsules.