Hot flash? Try a buttercup

Black Cohosh – better than horse urine

Dr. Mattingly, D.C. is pleased to continue to bring you Carolyn Carter’s series of blogs about menopause and natural remedies.

A friend of mine had a scare last year with what turned out to be benign lumps, and she immediately went off her hormone replacement therapy. She told me she felt like she’d been catapulted back to the beginning of menopause, that she had somehow “delayed the inevitable.” She was miserable. Hot flashes. Inability to sleep. She asked me if I knew of anything that might help. I thought of mentioning black cohosh, but with her health scare last year, I wasn’t sure what to tell her.
Turns out she has a natural pharmacist in her area (that’s what she calls him). He runs the local health food store and evidently knows his stuff, according to my friend. He recommended she try Cimi-Fem. I checked it out. Cimi-Fem is a chocolate-flavored sublingual tablet that’s made with black cohosh.

Can you imagine? It helps with hot flashes and . . . it’s chocolate-flavored? Yum.

When I researched black cohosh, I found out it was once thought to mimic estrogen. Sometimes this reads as phytoestrogen or estrogen-like on the net. But newer research seems to disprove that. Actually, that’s probably a good thing. Because it was previously thought to mimic estrogen, women who had a history of breast cancer were advised not to take it. Given this new information, it could be safe for those women, too. But, to err on the side of caution, it’s always a good idea to ask your healthcare practitioner about black cohosh if you have such a history. Knowing my friend, I’m sure she checked with hers prior to taking it.

Here are some fun facts about black cohosh:

• Native Americans have used this plant for hundreds of years for women’s health issues.
• Grows in the eastern and central United States.
• Part of the Buttercup family.
• Helps with hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and other symptoms.

You should really see a healthcare practitioner to get started with this or similar products, but the professional advice you’ll receive will ensure you get the right products.

As for Cimi-Fem, I think it was the chocolate part that caught my eye. Not that I have a problem or anything. I can give it up anytime I want to.

Whether you need relief from menopause or chocolate addiction, Dr. Mattingly, D.C. can help.  Call (314) 963-9050 to set an appointment today, or set the appointment online by clicking here.