An earlier blog entry commented on a study assessing the safety of Black Cohosh in cancer patients. Previously it was thought that Black Cohosh exhibited estrogenic activity, but further research has found that Black Cohosh exerts its hormone regulating effects by modulating luteinising hormone. A population based study done in Philadelphia strengthens the case for Black Cohosh use in breast cancer patients, finding that it in fact may be associated with decreased risk of breast cancer.
 
A retrospective case-control study of the use of hormone-related supplements and association with breast cancer. Rebbeck TR, Troxel AB, Norman S, Bunin GR, DeMichele A, Baumgarten M, Berlin M, Schinnar R, Strom BL.
Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6021, USA. trebbeck@cceb.med.upenn.edu