Anyone tried Remifemin (black cohosh)?

[OakLeaf]

Yeah, FWIW, I had to stop consuming soy when I found I was at high risk for breast cancer, and my hot flashes didn't start until then, even though it had been a couple of years since my last period.

[emily_in_nc]

I try to avoid much soy due to the thyroid connection, and the fact that, unless organic, it's one of the most GMO'd plants out there. I hate that, because I love tofu!

So far, I'd have to give the Remifemin a tentative thumbs up, though a six-day trial is hardly definitive. I've only had 1-2 hot flashes overnight since I've been taking it, where I was having 5-10 before. But it may just be random luck. No side effects, though, so I'll certainly keep taking it and evaluate after the box (one month's worth) is done.

[emily_in_nc]

Just wanted to follow up on my own thread in case anyone else is struggling with night sweats/hot flashes primarily at night during menopause. For me, and of course YMMV, Reminfemin (black cohosh) has totally done the trick. From the time I'd been on it for one week, I have had no more than handful of hot flashes overall. I was having many per night before, but now it's been a couple of weeks since the last one.

I am completely surprised as I was hoping for an improvement but got a complete cure! No side effects that I've noticed either.

[missjean]

Sorry to dredge up an old thread, but some might find it helpful.
After my hysterectomy in late March, the hot flashes started back up in earnest. I started taking black cohosh and after a few days, blessed relief - almost all gone :-)!
But after about 3 weeks, the hot flashes started up again, even tho I was still taking the cohosh - slowly at first, then full on, every couple of hours. It was terrible.
About that time, my husband started acupuncture for shoulder pain and was having great results. I asked the acupuncturist if hot flashes were something they could treat. I've had 5 sessions so far and the flashes are down to about 2 or 3 mild ones a day. Does it really work? Is it just the placebo effect? I don't know, but either way, it's working.

[shootingstar]

Never heard of acupuncture for hot flashes. Not that I need any treatment when hot flashes are very rare now. (compared to a yr. ago. Even though very mild and short --meaning 1-2 min. in morning. I just let it pass.)

I hear of many different experiences how women deal with them. One woman at work, told me last week that she stopped drinking coffee and any caffeine in coke, that seemed to reduce intensity and frequency for her. She is around mid-50's.

[emily_in_nc]

I'm glad you brought this thread back, missjean -- I was the OP.

Originally the Black Cohosh worked very well indeed for me, eventually completely stopping my nighttime hot flashes (really the only time I have them, though I do very occasionally have one during the day, it's rare though). But over time, the flashes gradually started coming back. Don't know if I became habituated to the herb or what, but that was my experience.

So, I added non-GMO soy to the black cohosh, and gradually the nighttime hot flashes disappeared again. They're now gone again. I take one capsule of Nature's Way EstroSoy Plus every night before bed. It contains fermented soybeans, red clover blossoms, and black cohosh. I take one Remifemin (black cohosh only) in the morning. Once I am done with this pack of Remifemin, I'm going to try eliminating that dose in the morning and just taking the EstroSoy, as they're both kind of pricey. We'll see if that continues to hold the hot flashes at bay.

Glad you've had some success with the accupuncture. Whatever works sound good to me!

[ny biker]

Bump!

Emily, is the soy supplement still working for you? I'm in a phase now where I have to choose between being cold or having flashes -- every time I put a sweater on or use more than a light blanket on the bed, the internal furnace kicks in. It's getting annoying.

And thanks for this thread!

[emily_in_nc]

Bump!

Emily, is the soy supplement still working for you? I'm in a phase now where I have to choose between being cold or having flashes -- every time I put a sweater on or use more than a light blanket on the bed, the internal furnace kicks in. It's getting annoying.

And thanks for this thread!

I actually stopped taking it after I ran out sometime in late summer. The flashes haven't been too bad. I have the same issue, though; if I pull up a blanket on the bed (even if I am cold initially), I quickly get really hot and sweaty. So I mostly just sleep with a sheet -- helps that I am in Mexico for the winter,where it's plenty warm so no blanket is needed! I definitely still have some hot flashes and night sweats, but they are over quickly and not super frequent, so for now I am doing without any medications.

You should consider giving it a try, though...I do think it decreased the frequency for me.