Blue Cohosh Root - Side Effects and Benefits
Botanical Name of Blue Cohosh: Caulophyllum thalictroides (L).
Other Common Names: Blueberry root, blue ginseng, yellow ginseng, beechdrops, pappoose root, squaw root.
Habitat: Blue cohosh is a perennial herbaceous plant native to Eastern USA and Canada. It grows in low rich moist soil near water.
Description: It can grow up to a meter in height with a simple stem; leaves are large and tri-lobed with clusters of small yellowish green flowers in May and June. The fruit is a small dark blue berry which can be roasted to make a drink similar to coffee. Blue cohosh should not be confused with black cohosh (Cimicifuga/Actaea racemosa). Both have been used by Native Americans and European settlers for women's conditions.
Plant Parts Used: Rhizome and root. These are hard, gnarled and can grow up to 8-10 cm long. They are harvested at the end of the summer when they are thought to be richest in their constituents. The rhizome is yellowy brown outside and whitish yellow in side. Its taste is sweetish bitter with acrid after taste. The main components of blue cohosh are alkaloids and steroidal saponins. It is available as a standardised extract or liquid extract.
 The Blue Cohosh Plant (Click on image to enlarge)
Attribution: H. Zell
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Traditional Uses of Blue Cohosh and Claims
- Traditionally it has been used for labour and birth. It is thought to induce labour and is still widely used by herbalists and some midwives (USA).
- Blue cohosh is thought to ease delivery by acting as a tonic for the womb and increase tone.
- It has also been used for a variety of menstrual problems such as heavy, painful periods and lack of periods.
- Pain caused by rheumatism is thought to benefit from blue cohosh.
- Blue cohosh has also been used when an antispasmodic action is required e.g. colic, asthma or nervous cough.
 Blue Cohosh ( Caulophyllum thalictroides ) Britton & Brown 1913
Potential Side Effects of Blue Cohosh
There are many serious safety concerns with blue cohosh. It has been used traditionally to induce abortion and some of blue cohosh components are thought to constrict (narrow) major blood vessels.
There are case reports of adverse effects with new born children whose mothers were treated with blue cohosh. This herb should only be used under the guidance of a professional health care provider and it should not to be used during pregnancy.
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