Black cohosh does not activate estrogen receptors (safe for breast cancer patients) nor does it increase the risk of thrombosis (blood clots).
I cannot take regular hormones either because of history of thrombosis so I will be watching your thread. Thanks for creating the new forum.
Sandy,
Bio-identical hormones are drugs as defined by "something you take to have an effect on your body". They often are more effective at alleviating symptoms of menopause, less dangerous, and often less costly than patented pharmaceuticals they advertise heavily on TV and in magazines.
Each patient is an individual. Some patients with a history of cancer, depending on the type (ER+ or not), can take hormones. Regardless, when I see patients for consultations, I provide information on all options including meditation, diet, exercise, herbals and OTC supplements, and prescription drugs (especially bioidenticals).