What the Evidence Says About Black Cohosh and Night Sweats

Based on the available research, there isn't strong evidence to say that black cohosh helps with night sweats. Here's a breakdown of what the data shows:

Night Sweats — Direct Evidence

Pillser's research database includes one meta-analysis (published in 2012, pooled data from 2,027 participants) that looked at black cohosh for menopausal symptoms¹. The findings:

• The effect on night sweats was neutral and not statistically significant.
• The study authors explicitly stated: "There were insufficient data to pool results for … night sweats."
• Median dose used in the trials was 40 mg/day.

Hot Flashes — Related Evidence

Since night sweats and hot flashes are closely related vasomotor symptoms, it's worth noting that research on hot flashes tells a similar story²:

• A 2014 systematic review found the evidence was divided — some improvements were seen when comparing results to baseline (before treatment), but no significant benefit was found when compared to a placebo.
• This strongly suggests a placebo effect may be at play.

Bottom Line

Question	Answer
Does black cohosh work for night sweats?	Not convincingly shown
Number of relevant studies	1 (meta-analysis)
Effect type	Neutral (not significant)
Quality of evidence	Insufficient to draw conclusions

In short, the evidence is too thin and too weak to confidently say black cohosh helps with night sweats. The few studies that exist suggest any benefit is small and likely not distinguishable from placebo.

If you're dealing with night sweats, it's worth discussing other options with a healthcare provider that have stronger supporting evidence.

Footnotes

1. Pillser research database, Black Cohosh and Reduced Night Sweats — 1 meta-analysis (n=2,027), neutral effect. ↩

2. Pillser research database, Black Cohosh and Reduced Hot Flashes — 1 systematic review, no significant benefit vs. placebo. ↩