Journal of Education and Health Promotion

A comparative study on the effect of “black cohosh” and “evening primrose oil” on menopausal hot flashes

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Maryam Mehrpooya 1
. Soghra Rabiee 2
. Amir Larki‑Harchegani 3
. Amir‑Mohammad Fallahian 1
. Abbas Moradi 4
. Sara Ataei 1
. Masoumeh Taravati Javad 5

1 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran,

2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Science, Hamadan, Iran

3 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Hamadan University of Medical Science, Hamadan, Iran,

4 Department of Social Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

5 MSc. of Midwifery consulting, Department of Midwifery, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Hot flashes are considered to be a common experience for menopausal women
and they can compromise the quality of life. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of
Cimicifuga racemosa in comparison with evening primrose oil (EPO) in postmenopausal women
with menopause‑related symptoms.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was performed on 80 postmenopausal women with hot
flashes. The participants were randomly divided into two groups by blocked randomization. The
participants of one group received black cohosh and the other group received EPO for 8 weeks.
The severity and number of hot flashes and quality of life were measured by four‑point scale, and the
Menopause‑Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaire at pre‑intervention, 1st, 4th, and 8th weeks
after treatment. Data were analyzed in SPSS Version 16 using independent t‑test, Chi‑square, and
Fisher’s exact test.
RESULTS: Average severity of hot flashes in both groups and number of hot flashes in black cohosh
group in 8th week were significantly lower than 1st week (P < 0.001), but number of hot flashes in
primrose oil group in 8th week showed no significant differences (P = 0.32). The number of hot flashes
and quality of life score in black cohosh arm compared to EPO showed a significant decrease in
the 8th week (P < 0.05). All MENQOL scores were significantly improved in two groups (P < 0.05),
but the percentage of improvement in black cohosh arm was significantly superior to EPO group.
CONCLUSION: Both herbs were effective in reduction of severity of hot flashes and improvement of
the quality of life, but it seems that black cohosh is more effective than primrose oil because it was
able to reduce the number of hot flashes too.

Keywords

Cimicifuga
evening primrose oil
herbal therapy
hot flashes
menopause
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 8, Issue 3
March 2018
Pages 1-5

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