Black Cohosh & Chemotherapy

[Guest guest]

Many women take black cohosh during menopause. If you are taking

this herb and undergoing cancer treatment, you may want to discuss it

with your doctor. A new study came out indicating that black cohosh

increases the toxcity of cancer drugs:

" NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women with breast cancer (news - web

sites) who are undergoing chemotherapy may want to avoid black cohosh,

the herbal remedy often used to treat menopausal symptoms such as hot

flashes, according to Connecticut researchers.

In a new study of laboratory-grown breast cancer cells, the herb

seemed to increase the toxicity of the commonly used chemotherapy

drugs doxorubicin (Adriamycin) and docetaxel (Taxotere), but not a

third, cisplatin...

....The suggestion that black cohosh may make these anticancer drugs

more potent than they already are could be " a good thing or a bad

thing, " Rockwell said. "

catharine

http://www.thecancerzone.com