A potent plant for women’s problems
Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa, Black snakeroot or rattleroot) is a perennial herb of the family Ranunculaceae, growing to 2.5m in fertile woodland. A native of North America, it is now found in similar soil in any temperate zone. The plant has tender, deeply-toothed compound leaves, which look similar to celery leaves and produces racemes of pungent white flowers in the summer. As the synonyms imply, this herb is grown for its hard, knotty root, which is dried and ground and made into decoctions and tinctures.
Captain Peter Smith, an explorer, claimed that his crew when afflicted with yellow fever were cured by Native American medicine men using black cohosh root. It was claimed that cohosh was an effective cure for rattlesnake bite. Black cohosh was the main ingredient of the extremely popular 19th century women’s tonic Lydia Pinkham’s Compound.
The plant contains triterpene glycosides, including actein, cimifugine, racemoside, isoflavones, ranunculin and anemonin. This renders it analgesic, anti-inflammatory, nervine, sedative, spasmolytic, vaso-dilator, autonomic system regulator, a natural source of salicylic acid and a powerful agent on the female reproductive organs.
For centuries cohosh has been used to counter threatened abortion, alleviate menopausal problems and to regulate the menstrual cycle. It apparently works by inhibiting luteinising hormone (LH), responsible for many of the unpleasant consequences associated with the menopause such as hot flushes, insomnia, irritability and depression.
However, while cohosh has been approved by some of the European medical control boards, we do not know the long-term effects of taking the herb; it is still under trial.
Herbalists recommend the plant for muscular cramps, sciatica, low back pain, facial and intercostal neuralgia, painful menstruation, pre-menstrual tension, breast pains, migraine of hormonal origin, ovary pain, tinnitus, oestrogen deficiency and scarlet fever. It is used to treat asthma, bronchitis and whooping cough. When cohosh was introduced into Europe in the mid 19th century it was used to reduce the wracking cough associated with tuberculosis and as a treatment for infantile chorea (St.Vitus’s Dance).
There is a Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides), a member of the family Berberidaceae, another American native, which has similar properties to the black variety but is used by herbalists to delay premature childbirth and promote rapid recovery.
There are contra indications associated with the cohosh which means is must not be taken when pregnant or lactating.
Next week Passion flower
