Black Cohosh - Side Effects and Health Benefits
Botanical Name: Cimicifuga racemosa L, Actaea racemosa L.
Other Common Names of Black Cohosh Black snake root, bugbane, rattleroot, rattletop and rattleweed.
Habitat: Black cohosh is native to the United States and Canada particularly in the southeast, northern Oregon, Washington and Ontario. It is now cultivated in many European Mediterranean countries due to commercial demand.
Description: Black cohosh is a perennial plant of the Rannuculaceae (buttercup) family. It has radical compound leaves with sharply toothed margins and in summer produces a compound raceme of white staminate flowers. It grows up to height of 2 metres and is found particularly in shady forests. Its Latin genus name cimicifuga derives from cimex, the genus name of the bedbug and the Latin verb fugare to repel indicating that the unpleasant smell of the plant was used as an insect repellent. Black cohosh’s main constituents are cimicifugin, triterpene glycosides, isoflavones, tannins, isoferulic acid, salicylic acid, alkaloids (trace only), fatty acids, mucilage and starch.
Plant Parts Used: Rhizome. Black cohosh is generally taken as a standardised extract in tablet form, although it is also available as a dried root and a tincture.
 Black Cohosh in Bloom (Click on image to enlarge)
| Black Cohosh Extract, Root & Herb
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Black Cohosh Therapeutic Benefits and Claims.
- Traditionally used by North American Indians for a variety of aches and pains as well as menopausal symptoms.
 Balck cohosh ( Cimicifuga racemosa) - Modern day use of black cohosh is most commonly for menopausal symptoms but also pre menstrual syndrome (PMS) and irregular periods
- Clinical trials have shown black cohosh to be useful in reducing hot flushes and night sweats associated with the menopause. Some studies have shown it to be as effective as conventional hormone treatments.
- Some research has suggested that black cohosh in combination with St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is useful for both hot flushes and mood swings caused by the menopause.
- Black cohosh is often found in combination with other herbs thought to be of benefit for women’s health e.g. menstrual cycle and menopause.
- Contrary to traditional thinking, modern extracts of black cohosh do not contain natural hormones (oestrogens) and clinical studies have shown black cohosh to have no detrimental effect on the womb or breast tissue.
Potential Side Effects of Black Cohosh
Side effects with black cohosh are generally mild and rare. They include stomach upsets and nausea. Other side effects that have been noted are low blood pressure, headache, dizziness and allergic reactions. Some black cohosh products have been associated with serious liver conditions but this has not been confirmed and is most likely to be due to low quality products. There are no known interactions between black cohosh and conventional medicine although it is suggested not to take it with high blood pressure medication. Pregnant and breast feeding women should not take black cohosh.
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"Health is not valued till sickness comes."
Thomas Fuller
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