MHRA, the UK regulator of medicinal products, has called for a voluntary
withdrawal of black cohosh products due to potential contamination.
http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Safetyinformation/Generalsafetyinformationandadvice/Herbalmedicines/Herbalsafetyupdates/Allherbalsafetyupdates/CON207203
Contrary to the MHRA report the suspected contaminant Cimicifuga foetida
has actually been researched and is known to possess anti-viral,
antidepressant and anti-tumour activity, and has not shown any noted
adverse reactions:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22928833
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22298455
Cimicifuga racemosa (now known as Actaea racemosa), according to the above report has been associated with hepatotoxic reactions despite research showing the opposite:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21660145
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20406160
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19586731
Contamination is
certainly not desirable however and I would urge members of the public to purchase licensed herbal products from reliable suppliers, or visit a herbalist...
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