Actaea racemosa (Black Cohosh)

Question 1

How do you recognise Black Cohosh?

Answer 1

• A perennial herbaceous plant growing up to 2m with compound leaves & tall flower spikes. The sepals drop from the flowers & they have no petals (quite unusual) but consist of a single stigma surrounded by many stamens.
• Native to Canada & the USA - known in the States as Bugbane as scares off bugs. Grown ornamentally in the UK and flowers in summer.
• Mostly collected from the wild (See SHP link).
• Samples may be intentionally or accidentally mixed with other Actea species.
• Mainly collected in the wild in the US so there may be sustainability issues - you can grow in the UK but it takes a good while to establish

Question 2

What are Black Cohosh ‘s main constituents?

Answer 2

Constituents:
* Triterpene glycosides - actein and cimigenol-3-O-xyloside
* Isoflavones – fomononetin listed in many books but may not be present in this plant which may be present in red clover. .
* Essential oil.
* Alkaloids.
* Salicylates.
* Resins.
* Flavonoids

Not sure how it works.

Question 3

What family is Black Cohosh?

Answer 3

Family: Ranunculaceae

Question 4

What is Black Cohosh good for?

Answer 4

Summary: Has big over the counter sales as a remedy for menopausal problems such as hot sweats, flushes, palpatations, anxiety and also PMS and period pain. But Bendle things mainly of it as an antiinflammatory for RA and OA, and for muscle pain or cramps, in women who also have menopausal symptoms, due to its side effects.

Actions:
* Anti-inflammatory.
* Antirheumatic
* Antispasmodic.
* Uterine tonic.
* Hormone modulator
* Anodyne (pain killer).
* Anti-oxidant.
* Emmenagogue.

Applications:
* Rheumatoid arthritis.
* Myalgia & muscle cramps.
* Neuralgia including sciatica.
* Fibroids.
* PMS.
* Menopausal symptoms.
* As an aid in labour (encourages regular contractions, eases pain) - use in labour not in early pregnancy
* Also perhaps useful for Coughs.
* Same for Asthma
* It may be helpful with bone density but not much

Question 5

What is Black Cohosh ‘s Latin name?

Answer 5

Actaea racemosa

Question 6

What parts of Black Cohosh do you use?

Answer 6

Parts used: dried rhizomes & roots.

Question 7

What safety issues might Black Cohosh have?

Answer 7

• Safety: avoid in early pregnancy.
• Common side effects include headaches, nausea, dizziness.
• Safe for women with estrogenic breast cancer/ cancers
• Possible link to liver damage – if this happens it is very rare and likely due to substitution or mixture with other species/ contamination

Question 8

What useful research does Black Cohosh have?

Answer 8

External links:
* Sustainable Herbs Program page on Actaea
* Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) is a non-estrogenic alternative to hormone replacement therapy 2015 from International Journal of Phytomedicine and Phytotherapy

Question 9

What remedies might you use Black Cohosh in?

Answer 9

Dose: up to 20ml/week 1:3 tincture.
Case study: Bendle has a woman who comes every few years, had severe hot sweats and long term problems in knees and hands with OA. Also feeling fuzzy in her mind.
Bendle gave her Salvia (Sage) 20, Actaea (Black cohosh) 30, Glycyrriza (Liquorice) 10, Tilia (Lime flower) 40. This helped reduce pain and the sweats. He then adapted and moved to Salvia 30, Actaea 20, Hypericum 25, Leonorus (Motherwort) 15 and Apium (Celery) 10. He also suggested she take fish oil capsules. Pain and sweats went.