Black Cohosh

Black cohosh has some potential side effects, but they’re typically mild. They include digestive upset, nausea, skin rashes, infection, muscle pain, breast pain or enlargement, and spotting or bleeding outside of your menstrual cycle.

However, black cohosh has also been linked to some severe cases of liver damage. For this reason, you shouldn’t take black cohosh if you have liver disease or are taking any other supplements or medications that may harm your liver.

Moreover, a recent animal study observed that black cohosh in high doses was linked to red blood cell damage, leading to anemia. Still, more research is needed to study these potential effects in humans.

Because black cohosh has not been extensively studied, you may experience some side effects that are not yet widely known. If you have any concerns, consult a healthcare provider.

Black cohosh may exhibit estrogenic effects, it may have a small beneficial effect on weight management in menopausal women

Black cohosh and other compounds — including chasteberry, zinc, ginger, and hyaluronic acid — helped improve hot flashes that were associated with insomnia and anxiety

Black cohosh has some potentially estrogenic activity, meaning it behaves like the hormone estrogen, which may worsen breast cancer or increase your breast cancer risk

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Supplementing with black cohosh may increase a woman with PCOS’s chances of getting pregnant on Clomid. Supplementing with black cohosh may also help regulate your cycles if you have PCOS.

Fibroids. One 3-month study in 244 postmenopausal women found that supplementing daily with 40 mg of black cohosh may decrease the size of uterine fibroids by up to 30%.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Though there are some claims online that black cohosh can help with PMS or PMDD, there’s no substantial evidence to support this.

Menstrual cycle regulation. In women with or without PCOS who are receiving fertility treatments like Clomid, black cohosh may help regulate their menstrual cycle.

Alleviatingmenopause symptoms is the reason most people use black cohosh, and it’s one of the uses that has the most compelling evidence to support it.