The results of this current study certainly create a cause for concern, but I wouldn't start dumping out your bottles of black cohosh just yet.

This study, as well as a previous negative one that was published a few years ago, was done on mice, not humans. Although mice and humans share certain characteristics, their bodies differ in how they react to a number of substances. A number of the positive studies on the use of black cohosh during treatment for breast cancer used human subjects, or human cells.

Obviously further investigation must be carried out in order to reach a definitive conclusion regarding this issue.

Regardless of the results of these future studies, there are a number of other options available that can help you prevent breast cancer and hot flashes. In regard to breast cancer, the following tips are especially important:

• Reduce your grain carbohydrate intake.
• Normalize your ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fats by taking a high-quality fish or cod liver oil.
• Get regular exercise.
• Normalize your vitamin D levels and vitamin A levels by getting plenty of sunshine and, again, taking a high-quality cod liver oil supplement.
• Get a good night's sleep.
• Use broccoli sprouts.

Some of the suggestions above may also help reduce your hot flashes, and can certainly help with other menopause-related concerns. Additional hot flash remedies include:

• Taking an herbal tincture or tea made from the commonly used herb sage (salvia officinalis) as needed or a half hour before bedtime.

• Addressing current or past emotional trauma, which is a frequent reason why adrenal function becomes impaired, is an important way to help balance their function.

Gary Craig's Comment:

We find that cancer often has unresolved emotional issues as a contributing cause. A good example of this is the report I made of seven cancer patients that met with me in my home a year ago. Four of them had obvious improvements.

Gary Craig is a pioneering developer of EFT, a profoundly effective emotional/mental healing approach. I learned it from Gary and have taught it to patients in my clinic for years, and they have experienced truly incredible and permanent results with it. Read more about Gary Craig's EFT Course.

Related Articles:

The Estrogen Alternative -- Black Cohosh

Non-Hormone Approaches to Reduce Hot Flashes

Twelve Changes That Will Cut Your Cancer Risk in Half