Positive Health Online

Abstract

UEBELHACK and co-workers, Clinic of Psychiatry, Clinic of Gynecology and St  Gertrauden-Krankenhaus, University Hospital Charite of the Humboldt-University, Berlin, Germany, have tested St John’s wort and Black cohosh for menopausal symptoms.

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of the fixed combination of Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) and St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) extracts in women with menopausal complaints with a pronounced psychological component.

Methodology

In this double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study, 301 women experiencing menopausal complaints with psychological symptoms were treated with St John’s wort extract and Black cohosh extract or a matched placebo for 16 weeks. Symptoms were evaluated by means of the Menopause Rating Scale mean score, and psychological complaints were evaluated using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale sum score.

Results

The mean Menopause Rating Scale score decreased by 50% in the treatment group and by 19.6% in the placebo group. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale total score decreased by 41.8% in the treatment group and by 12.7% in the placebo group. The treatment was significantly (p < .001) superior to placebo in both measures. There were no relevant group differences regarding adverse events, laboratory values, or tolerability.

Conclusion

This fixed combination of Black cohosh and St John’s wort is superior to placebo in alleviating menopausal symptoms including menopause-related depression.

References

Uebelhack R, Blohmer JU, Graubaum HJ, Busch R, Gruenwald J, Wernecke KD. Black cohosh and St John’s wort for climacteric complaints: a randomized trial. Obstetrics & Gynecology 107 (2 Pt 1): 247-255, Feb 2006.