Black cohosh warning unnecessary – ABC

A cautionary statement for black cohosh is not warranted, the American Botanical Council says in an Oct. 31 letter to the U.S. Pharmacopeia. USP recommended in an Interim Revision Announcement appearing in USP's Pharmacopeial Forum that black cohosh products should carry the statement: "Caution: In rare cases black cohosh has been reported to affect the liver. Discontinue use and consult a health care practitioner if you have a liver disorder or develop symptoms of liver trouble, such as abdominal pain, dark urine, or jaundice." According to ABC, "reported cases of hepatotoxicity associated with the ingestion of black cohosh preparations constitute insufficient evidence to warrant the proposed caution by USP or any reputable regulatory body at this time." The group says given the implementation of FDA's Adverse Event Reporting regulation for dietary supplement firms, "it would seem more prudent to suggest a framework for enhanced attention to black cohosh reported incidents received through this new system"...