Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

oswellia 61
DIABETES (INSULIN or oral ANTIDIABETES MEDICATIONS)
and HYPERTENSION (high BLOOD PRESSURE).
See also HYPNOSIS; MEDITATION; MIND–BODY INTER-
ACTIONS; STRESS AND STRESS MANAGEMENT; VISUALIZA-
TION.
black cohosh An herbal remedy women may
take to treat HOT FLASHES at MENOPAUSE. The medicinal
extract comes from the dark roots and rhizomes
of the wildflower black cohosh (Actaea
racemosa or Cimicifuga racemosa), a member of the
buttercup family indigenous to North America.
Medicinal uses of black cohosh derive from NATIVE
AMERICAN HEALING traditions. In 2001 the American
College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
(ACOG) issued a statement of support endorsing
black cohosh as a short-term treatment (up to six
months) for relief of menopausal discomforts. Sold
without a doctor’s prescription as a dietary supplement
in the United States, black cohosh is an
ingredient in numerous women’s health products.
The apparent active ingredients of black cohosh
are deoxyactein, triterpenes glycosides (also called
triterpenes saponins), and fukinolic acid, phytoestrogenic
chemicals that produce a weak estrogen
effect in the human body. Clinical studies of black
cohosh generally support its effectiveness for
relieving hot flashes, though results for other
menopausal discomforts are less consistent. Studies
also have failed to demonstrate any benefit for
OSTEOPOROSIS.
As hot flashes are the major symptom for about
80 percent of women who have discomfort when
going through menopause, many gynecologists
recommend an initial trial of black cohosh in lieu
of conventional estrogen/progesterone or estrogen
hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for
menopause. Many women find that a combination
of botanicals in addition to black cohosh
(such as flaxseed, soy, and chasteberry) seems to
more effectively relieve symptoms, though these
clinical research studies so far have not generated
supportive evidence. Black cohosh does not
seem very effective for menstrual discomforts such
as cramps and excessive flow, though women
have used it as a premenstrual/ menstrual remedy
for several centuries. It typically takes 8 to 10
weeks to experience benefits after starting black
cohosh.
Herbalists recommend black cohosh products
that contain freeze-dried root, which appears to
have the most potent and consistent action.
Women who are pregnant should not take black
cohosh because its estrogen-like actions may
interfere with the body’s hormonal balance. Some
women experience gastrointestinal upset or dizziness;
reducing the DOSE and taking the remedy
with meals can minimize these side effects.
Women who are taking oral contraceptives (birth
control pills) should check with their doctors or
pharmacists about possible interactions.
BLACK COHOSH (Actaea racemosa, Cimicifuga racemosa)
Uses Risks/Side Effects Interactions
relieve menopausal uterine contractions oral
HOT FLASHES in PREGNANCY contraceptives
See also DONG QUAI; GINSENG; PHYTOESTROGENS; SOY.
boswellia Medicinal preparations that derive
from the resin of the Boswellia serrata tree native to
the desert areas of India. Boswellia has strong antiinflammatory
characteristics and provides relief
from OSTEOARTHRITIS and RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. It
also provides relief from symptoms of INFLAMMATORY
BOWEL DISEASE (IBD), especially in people who have
Crohn’s disease. In the United States boswellia is a
dietary supplement available without a doctor’s
prescription. The typical course of treatment with
oral forms of boswellia is 8 to 12 weeks. People who
are taking prescription medications should check
with their doctors before taking boswellia, though
there are no known interactions between boswellia
and other substances.
BOSWELLIA
Uses Risks/Side Effects Interactions
OSTEOARTHRITIS none known none known
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
INFLAMMATORY BOWEL
DISEASE (IBD)
See also NONSTEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS
(NSAIDS).