Is it real? Or is it…

Posted by Liz on Jun 2, 2008 in women's health | 0 comments

An interesting report from the American Herbal Products Association highlights the dangers of simply going into a drug store and buying an herb right off the shelf. A study in the Journal of Agriculture & Food Chemistry shows that 3 of 11 black cohosh supplements purchased did not contain black cohosh but rather, a less expensive Chinese herb called cimicifuga that do not have the same chemical compounds or uses as the North American variety (which contains cificifuga racemosa).

What this means is that when you go shopping for herbs, well, they’re not all the same. Indeed, the best rule of thumb is to try to find a product that has been tested in clinical studies, or is manufactured by a reputable company. I’ll have more to say about this later in the week. But in so far as black cohosh goes? Remifemin, which is manufactured by Enzymatic Therapy, Inc, has been studied in clinical trials and is standardized, meaning that it contains the chemical compounds proven effective in alleviating certain perimenopausal symptoms. It may be slightly more expensive than the generic brand, but at least you know what you’re buying.