Botanical name :Cimicifuga racemosa
Parts used and habitat: Black cohosh is a shrub-like plant native to the eastern deciduous forests of North America, ranging from southern Ontario to Georgia, north to Wisconsin and west to Arkansas. The dried root and rhizome are used medicinally. When harvested from the wild, the root is black in color.
Idications and usage; (refer to the individual health concern for complete information):
(1) Primary: Menopause
(2) Other: Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation); Osteoporosis; Uterine spasms
Historical ir traditional use: (may or may not be supported by scientific studies): Native Americans valued the herb and used it for many conditions, ranging from gynecological problems to rattlesnake bites. Some nineteenth-century American physicians used black cohosh for fever, menstrual cramps, arthritis, and insomnia.
Actions and pharmacology: black cohosh contains several ingredients, including triterpene glycosides and isoflavones. Other constituents include aromatic acids, tannins, resins, fatty acids, starches, and sugars. Formononetin is a constituent in the herb that has been shown to bind to estrogen receptor sites in test tube studies. As a woman approaches menopause, the signals between the ovaries and pituitary gland diminish, slowing down estrogen production and increasing luteinizing hormone (LH) secretions. Hot flashes can result from these hormonal changes. A clinical study in Germany demonstrated that an extract of black cohosh decreases LH secretions in menopausal women. German clinical studies support the usefulness of black cohosh for women with hot flashes associated with menopause. A review of eight trials concluded black cohosh to be both safe and effective. Recently, a clinical study compared the effects of 40 mg versus 130 mg of black cohosh in menopausal women with complaints of hot flashes. While hot flashes were reduced equally at both amounts, there was no evidence of any estrogenic effect in any of the women. Black cohosh is therefore reserved only for the symptomatic treatment of hot flashes associated with menopause and is not thought to be a substitute for hormone replacement therapy in menopausal and postmenopausal women. A recent study suggests black cohosh may protect animals from osteoporosis. Human studies have not confirmed this action.