- Region
- North America
- Origin
- Woodlands of eastern North America. Actaea racemosa (Cimicifuga racemosa)
North America · Herb · № 150
Actaea racemosa
Herb · North America
Black cohosh
Actaea racemosa
Mainly sold for menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes. NCCIH reports that study results are mixed and there is not enough evidence that it helps.
Safety notes
There are rare reports of serious liver damage; stop if dark urine, jaundice or abdominal pain occur. Avoid in pregnancy or liver disease; use caution with breast cancer.
Cautions by tradition (3)
- Herbal medicine worldwide: Not in pregnancy.
- Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine: Not in pregnancy or with liver disease.
- Cherokee (Tsalagi) medicine: Not in pregnancy, while breastfeeding or with liver problems; not for babies.
Preparation
The root in standardised extracts or tincture. No dosage is given here.
Use in traditions
Native North American peoples used the root for women's complaints, snakebite and rheumatism. In the 19th century American Eclectic physicians adopted it. Ody describes how it went from Indigenous remedy to popular supplement.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Herbal medicine worldwide
Attributed effects
Antispasmodic, antirheumatic, anti-inflammatory, mildly pain-relieving, calming, promotes menstruation, diuretic, cough-suppressing, lowers blood pressure and blood sugar; for rheumatism, back pain, sciatica, menopausal complaints (hot flushes, night sweats), cough; Chinese relative (sheng ma) for feverish colds and measles.
Preparation and amount
Decoction ½ cup per dose (with bogbean and valerian) for back, nerve and rheumatic pain; tincture 20 drops (with St John's wort) for menopausal complaints; syrup with elecampane and liquorice for whooping cough; capsules 200 mg 2–3 times a day.
Caution: Not in pregnancy.
Western herbalism
Attributed effects
Antispasmodic, stimulating, induces sweating, astringent, expectorant, promotes menstruation; for menopausal complaints (hot flushes), anxiety and muscle tension, rheumatism, lower back pain.
Preparation and amount
Decoction: 1–2 tsp per cup, 10–12 min, 1–3 cups a day; compress: 3 tbsp per half litre; tincture: 3–60 drops 1–3 times a day.
Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine
Attributed effects
For rheumatism; for a baby that cries when lying on its back.
Preparation and amount
Boil the roots and sit over the steam under a blanket; fresh leaves in a small bag on a baby's back.
Caution: Not in pregnancy or with liver disease.
Cherokee (Tsalagi) medicine
Attributed effects
For rheumatic pain, colds and coughs, as a diuretic and gentle laxative, for hives, for fatigue, and to make babies sleep.
Preparation and amount
A tea of the root.
Caution: Not in pregnancy, while breastfeeding or with liver problems; not for babies.