Preparations: Tincture: take 30-60 drops of the tincture three times a day. Capsules: 2 caps, 2 x daily. Tea: simmer 1 teaspoon of roots in 1 cup of boiling water for 10 minutes. Drink 3 x daily.

Black Cohosh Root (Actaea racemosa (formerly Cimicifuga racemosa)) Powder Bulk

Family

Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)

Etymology

The former genus name Cimifuga is from the Latin cimicus, "insect," and fugare, "to drive away," in reference to the plant's ability to drive off insects. The species name racemosa refers to the racemes of flowers. The common name black cohosh makes reference to the dark color of the rhizome; cohosh is Algonquin for "rough with hairs," in reference to the bumpy texture of the rhizome.

Range of Appearance

Native to North America, black cohosh is a hardy perennial that prefers moist or dry woodland environments. It grows from 3 to 8 feet in height. The large, toothed leaflets are pinnately compound. The tiny white flowers grow in long spires and bloom from late summer through early fall. Black cohosh is at risk of becoming endangered in the wild, so instead of wildcrafting, consider cultivating your own supplies. When purchasing black cohosh products, be sure they are made only from cultivated stock.

Parts Used

Rhizome, root

Physiological Effects

Alterative, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, antispasmodic, antitussive, astringent, cardiotonic, central nervous system depressant, circulatory stimulant, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, hypoglycemic, hypotensive, muscle relaxant, parturient, sedative, vasodilator

Medicinal Uses

Black cohosh, a member of the United States Pharmacopoeia from 1820 until 1926, was used in that time to treat scarlet fever, smallpox, and whooping cough. It was an ingredient in the famous Lydia Pinkham Vegetable Compound for "female complaints." Black cohosh is a popular women's herb. Many Native American tribes, including the Cherokee, Delaware, Iroquois, Penobscot, and Winnebago have used black cohosh to ease childbirth. It is known to help restore healthy menses and to soothe irritation and congestion of the cervix, uterus, and vagina. It also improves circulation in general and lowers blood pressure by temporarily dilating blood vessels. Black cohosh is used in the treatment of anxiety (related to menopause), arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, colitis, convulsions, debility, depression, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse), headache, heart palpitations, hyperhidrosis, hysteria, insomnia, irritability, menopause symptoms (including hot flashes), mood swings, night sweats, premenstrual syndrome, rheumatism, sciatica, tinnitus, tuberculosis, vaginal atrophy, vaginal dryness, vertigo, and whooping cough. It can also be used to induce labor or the menstrual cycle (under the supervision of a qualified health-care practitioner). Topically, black cohosh can be used as a poultice to treat snakebite.            

Culinary Uses

Black cohosh rhizomes and roots are not generally considered edible, aside from usage as tea. The leaves can be eaten when cooked, but they are more of an emergency survival food rather than a suggested wild edible.

Other Uses

The plant, whether in the garden, fresh, or dried, can be used as a bug repellent.

Constituents

Calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, vitamin E, triterpene glycosides (acetin, cimicifugoside), phytoestrogens, isoflavones, isoferulic acid, essential oil, tannins, resin (cimicifugin), salicylates

Contradictions

Avoid during pregnancy and while nursing, except under the guidance of a qualified health-care practitioner. Avoid also in cases of heart conditions. Excess use can irritate the nervous system and cause nausea, vomiting, headache, and low blood pressure. Unlike pharmaceutical hormone replacement therapy, black cohosh is considered to be a menopause tonic that is safe for women with estrogen-dependent cancers, uterine bleeding, fibrocystic breast disease, endometriosis, liver disease, gallbladder disease, or pancreatitis. Recently concern has arisen regarding the effect of this herb on the liver over the long term; further research is under way to investigate this issue.

Plant details were provided by iPlant by Brigitte Mars.

Hyperlink it to https://brigittemars.com/iplant-app/