HerbResearch

A recent article by Whiting et al. regarding suspected cases of hepatotoxicity
from Cimicifuga racemosa (Whiting et al., 2002) published in the Medical Journal of Australia caused a great deal of concern in Australia.

Committee on herbal medicinal products (hmpc) assessment of case reports connected to herbal medicinal products containing cimicifugae racemosae rhizoma (black cohosh, root)

TO THE EDITOR: We wish to comment on the ar ticle by Whiting and colleagues on the proposed causal relationship between herbal remedies and severe acute hepatitis.

Original article by Whiting et al.

Australian researchers and clinicians seem hell-bend on finding a causal link between black cohosh and liver failure. The latest is “Lessons from Practice: Liver failure associated with the use of black cohosh for menopausal symptoms” by Drs Chow et al. However, the assertion that the massive hepatocellular necrosis was associated with the herbal medication cannot be substantiated.