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Black Cohosh (known as both Actaea racemosa and Cimicifuga racemosa), a member of the buttercup family, is a perennial plant that is native to North America. Other common names include black snakeroot, bugbane, bugwort, rattleroot, rattletop, rattleweed, and macrotys. Insects avoid it, which accounts for some of these common names.

Black Cohosh has been used as a curative for menopause and gynecological problems by Native Americans, early settlers and alternative medical practioners. Like most herbal medicines, independent scientific study has not been conducted to determine its effectiveness. However, pharmaceutical companies have conducted some research to determine if natural herbs and roots can be used in synthesizing compounds that can be patented. Herbal medicine, including Black Cohosh, is derived from plants and roots. Consequently, they cannot be patented.

A new study in The Cochrane Library finds no evidence that the herb is effective in helping women cope with hot flashes and other uncomfortable symptoms of menopause.

"I was a little surprised of the outcome of the review given the large number of perimenopausal women that use the herb across the globe for the management of menopausal symptoms, as well as the many manufacturers and therapists that promote the herb for this purpose," said lead reviewer Matthew Leach, Ph.D., a research fellow in the School of Nursing & Midwifery at the University of South Australia.

Leach and his co-reviewer evaluated 16 studies involving 2,027 menopausal women. Study participants used an average daily oral preparation of 40 mg of black cohosh for an average of 23 weeks. Treatments for randomly assigned comparison groups included using placeboes, hormone therapy, red clover, or antidepressants.

The reviewers found there was insufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of black cohosh for menopausal symptoms. There was no significant difference between it and the placebo groups in changing hot flash frequency. Compared to black cohosh, hormone therapy significantly reduced hot flash frequency.