Middle-aged women are warned against buying a potentially hazardous herbal product for treating symptoms of the menopause. The warning notice has been issued by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) over Black Cohosh one thousand mg capsules. The agency believed that unapproved herbal medicine contains fifty times the approved dose for treating menopausal symptoms.
This medicine does not have the essential authorization that is needed for as a medicine. Since 1998, fifty reports of suspected adverse reactions associated with various unapproved black cohosh medicines have been received. The reports including some people suffering jaundice, hepatitis and liver problems.
However, currently the pills can be bought in health food shops. Several black cohosh medications have a THR (traditional herbal registration) and come with a patient information brochure specifying the accurate use of the medicine and describing probable side effects.
The MHRA suggesting people to only use such registered herbal medications, which can be identified by a THR registration number on the packaging. A number of products also exhibit the THR logo. The MHRA has asked the manufacturer to remove those products from the market which it found carrying poor labeling relating to safety information and side effects.
According to Richard Woodfield, head of herbal policy, this alert underlined the significance of using registered products. The product missing of THR there has been no guarantee relating to the safety or quality of the product. Reading the patient information pamphlet ensures that you are aware of the correct way to take a medicine
In addition to that it explains the potential side effects plus any possible connections with other medicine you may be taking. An unlicensed herbal product may have incomplete, imprecise or no safety information, which means you are gambling with your health, particularly, when you take these products without consulting qualified healthcare professional, added Woodfield.