Black cohosh – Healing effects and uses

Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa) is a buttercup family plant that was previously classified under the Latin name Cimicifuga. The plant originally calls central to eastern North America as well as eastern Canada its home.

It thrives best in partial shade. You should avoid fully sunny and fully shaded spots if you want to plant black cohosh in your garden. It takes about two to three years to become well established – after that, it grows stronger and more attractive in height.

 

Like many plants in our glossary, black cohosh is an ancient medicinal herb that was even used by Native Americans – for snake bites and to ease childbirth. Today, you can get this buttercup family plant as a controlled herbal medicine from the pharmacy. The roots serve as the basis.

Black cohosh is said to help with menopausal and menstrual cycle complaints. In the past, doctors attributed an estrogen-like effect to it, but could not prove it. They now suspect that the effect of black cohosh is more neurovegetative in nature.

It is important to use tested and approved medicinal products, as others, such as dietary supplements or teas, have no proven effects. Discuss your symptoms with your gynecologist before taking it. Since long-term use of black cohosh can cause liver damage, you should not take it for longer than six months.

Note: Black cohosh preparations are often still marketed under the old name Cimicifuga.

 

The important active substances contained in the rhizome include triterpene glycosides and flavonoids.

 

Black cohosh can grow up to two meters tall if allowed to grow undisturbed. It has large pinnate leaves from which straight stems emerge, carrying long flower spikes at the top. It blooms white from June to August – and with its perennials, it is a beautiful eye-catcher even outside the flowering period.