The main “claim to fame” of black cohosh relates to the relief of menopausal symptoms. This herb is said to relieve night sweats, lessen frequency of hot flashes, lessen the intensity of hot flashes, reduce headaches and slow mood swings, among other things. However, the scientific evidence is still lacking to prove this claim correct. While many case studies have been done, often times the placebo group will have the same or nearly the same results as the group taking the actual black cohosh supplement.

Further, some studies show that black cohosh relieves menopausal symptoms while others do not. These inconsistencies have placed seeds of doubt in physicians, consumers and the public in general. To remedy some of the inconsistent results, a 12 month random and placebo controlled study is currently in progress at Columbia University of New York.

Further, the long term effects of taking this supplement have not yet been studied. Some cases have actually been tied to liver disease, prompting Britain and Australia to require its manufacturers to put a warning on the label of their brand of supplements.