| WHAT IT DOES BEST: | | | | tablets twice daily with meals, or as |
| Black Cohosh is most widely known for | | | | directed. |
| its use in relieving menopausal | | | | * Solid (dry) extract: 250mg three times |
| symptoms, particularly hot flashes. | | | | daily, or as directed. |
| THE BACKGROUND: | | | | * Tincture (liquid alcohol extract): |
| Historically, Native Americans used it | | | | 2-4ml daily, or as directed. |
| for a wide variety of conditions, | | | | Black Cohosh should not be taken longer |
| including rheumatism, sore throat, | | | | than six months at a time. |
| asthma, bronchitis and general fatigue; | | | | Black Cohosh Root is also known by the |
| early American settlers used it in | | | | names Bugbane, Bugwort, Cohosh, Rattle |
| tonics for female complaints. | | | | Root, Rattleweed, Richweed, and Squaw |
| RECENT FINDINGS: | | | | Root. Black Cohosh is native to North |
| Significant improvements in symptoms of | | | | America. The genus name Cimicifuga is |
| menopause--including night sweats, hot | | | | from the Latin cimicus, meaning insect, |
| flashes, vaginal dryness and | | | | and fugare, meaning to drive away |
| insomnia--have been reported in a number | | | | (because the plant tends to drive away |
| of studies, which mostly used | | | | insects). Black refers to the dark |
| standardized black Cohosh extract (BCE). | | | | colored rhizome, and Cohosh is an old |
| These findings were supported by a large | | | | Indian word meaning dark. Native |
| human trial published in the May 2005 | | | | American Indians valued the herb and |
| issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology, which | | | | used it for many conditions, ranging |
| found that standardized BCE is effective | | | | from gynecological problems to |
| in reducing hot flashes during early | | | | rattlesnake bites. For this reason, it |
| menopause. | | | | is sometimes called Black Snakeroot. |
| WHATS THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT? | | | | Some nineteenth-century American |
| The main actives identified so far are | | | | physicians used Black Cohosh for |
| collectively known as triterpene | | | | problems such as fever, menstrual |
| glycosides. | | | | cramps, arthritis, and insomnia. Black |
| POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: | | | | Cohosh has been valued by many societies |
| At recommended dosages, some women | | | | for its nutritional support for women. A |
| experience upset stomachs, weight gain | | | | popular herb for women, it helps restore |
| and dizziness. At high dosages, lowered | | | | healthy menses and soothes irritation & |
| blood pressure, limb pain and vomiting | | | | congestion of the cervix, uterus and |
| can occur. | | | | vagina. Black Cohosh can also improve |
| IS IT SAFE TO TAKE WHILE PREGNANT? | | | | circulation and lower blood pressure by |
| Women who are pregnant or nursing should | | | | temporarily dilating blood vessels. |
| not use black Cohosh. | | | | Typically, the rhizome and root of the |
| ARE THERE ANY DRUG INTERACTIONS? | | | | plant are used medicinally. Having |
| If taking heart disease or blood | | | | effective amounts of calcium, potassium, |
| pressure medications, consult with your | | | | magnesium and iron, Black Cohosh Root is |
| doctor before using. | | | | also an abundant source of estrogenic |
| WHICH TYPE AND HOW MUCH: | | | | substances. Commonly used to relieve |
| Black Cohosh is available as a | | | | arthritis, lower back pain and cramps |
| standardized extract in capsules or | | | | caused by menstruation, Black Cohosh |
| tablets, as dry extract in capsules or | | | | also relieves mucus production, thus |
| tablets and as a tincture. | | | | easing persistent coughs caused by |
| Standardized BCE provides 1mg of | | | | asthma, bronchitis and whooping cough. |
| triterpene glycosides per 40mg capsule | | | | Additionally, Black Cohosh has been used |
| or tablet. (Dry extracts are liquid | | | | to relieve swelling and soreness typical |
| alcohol extracts that have been dried. | | | | of rheumatism, and it is also known as |
| Tinctures are liquid alcohol extracts.) | | | | safe sedative to relieve both |
| * Standardized extract: 1-2 capsules or | | | | nervousness and anxiety. |