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Findings from the Women’s Health Initiative and Heart and Estrogen/progestin Replacement Study have decreased the near-universal use of hormone therapy (HT) to help relieve menopausal symptoms. Thus, some women have turned to alternative therapies, such as black cohosh and St. John’s wort. Neither approaches the efficacy of HT, but studies have shown some benefit.
In this German study, supported by a manufacturer of black cohosh, 301 women (age range, 45–60) were randomized to receive either a combination of black cohosh and St. John’s wort (3.75 mg/70 mg per tablet) or a placebo; two tablets were taken orally twice daily for 8 weeks, followed by 1 tablet twice daily for 8 weeks. Subjects had to have at least 3 months of climacteric complain…