Black cohosh for menopausal anxiety

Some studies have shown that nearly 50% of women experience psychological problems as they go through the menopause. Benzodiazepines and antidepressants are often used to treat anxiety in women going through the menopause but benzodiazepines can cause withdrawal problems and antidepressants can cause sexual problems, weight gain and withdrawal. Some women look for alternative remedies for their anxiety and turn to black cohosh extract made from the roots of a plant in the same family as buttercups and anemones. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania carried out a small-scale study of 28 people comparing the effectiveness of black cohosh to that of a placebo. They found that there was no significant difference between the black cohosh and a placebo over a 12=week study.

Amsterdam, Jay D. ... [et al] - Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Cimicifuga racemosa (Black Cohosh) in women with anxiety disorder due to menopause Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology October 2009, 29(5), 478-483