Black Cohosh Purchase & Information
Alternative Names
Actée à Grappes Noires, Actée à Grappes, Aristolochiaceae Noire, Actée Noire, Baneberry, Baie d'actée, Black Snakeroot, Black Aristolochiaceae, Bugwort, Bugbane, Cytise, Cimicifuga, Cohosh Noir Cimicaire à grappes, Cohosh Negro, Cimicifuge, Herbe aux Punaises, Macrotys, Phytoestrogène, Phytoestrogen, Racine de Squaw, Racine de Serpent, Rattleweed, Rattlesnake Root, Rattle Root, Rattle Top, Rhizoma Cimicifugae, Racine Noire de Serpents, Snakeroot, Sheng Ma, Squaw Root CAUTION: Please refer to separate listing for White Cohosh and Blue Cohosh
Scientific Name
Cimicifuga Racemosa
Why Do People Use Black Cohosh?
Oral - The oral preparations of Cimicifuga racemosa (Black Cohosh), like black cohosh powder, are utilized for inducing labor in pregnant women, for the treatment of symptoms of menopause, dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), dyspepsia, nervous tension, fever, rheumatism, cough, sore throat, as a mild sedative and as an insect repellent.
Topical - For topical purposes black cohosh is utilized for wart and mole removal, acne, rattlesnake bites and improving skin appearance.
Is It Safe To Use?
Likely Safe - Black cohosh powder is likely safe to use when utilized orally and in appropriate concentrations. According to some of clinical researches, Cimicifuga racemosa is safe as long as its duration of usage is six months. But there are some reports that it may induce adverse effect like liver damage.
Likely Unsafe in Pregnancy - Black cohosh is likely unsafe for pregnant women when utilized orally. Black cohosh powder may have uterine, menstruation and hormonal stimulant effects. According to some studies, black cohosh should be avoid during pregnancy because it may enhance the miscarriage risks. However, regarding the safety of black cohosh for labor induction, there is insufficient reliable information available.
Likely Unsafe in Lactation - For lactation, black cohosh is likely unsafe to use. Hormonal side effects may occur due to black cohosh powder. Nursing child may experience adverse effects due to maternal intake of black cohosh. Nursing mothers should discontinue black cohosh until there is more confirmation regarding its safety.
How Effective Is Black Cohosh?
Possibly Effective for Menopausal Symptoms - Few extracts of black cohosh appear to decrease symptoms of menopause for example hot flashes. But there is significant variability in clinical trials preparations and their results. The most reliable evidence for commercial concentrate is Enzymatic/ Phytopharmica and Remifemin therapy. This preparation is made by mixing 1 mg 27-deoxyactein and 1 mg of triterpene glycosides, to form a 20 mg tablet. Few clinical trials recommend that it lessens menopausal symptom indices and flash occurrence as compared to placebo. Few clinical experiments also recommend that black cohosh and St. John's wort combination significantly lessens menopausal symptoms in women.
Insufficient Evidence to Rate for there is insufficient evidence to rate the efficacy of use of black cohosh powder for following conditions:
• Osteoporosis
• Labor induction
How Black Cohosh Works?
The most effective parts of Cimicifuga racemosa are its root and rhizome. Active constituents of black cohosh include isoferulic acid, tannins phytosterin, caffeic acid, salicylic acid, fukinolic acid, sugars triterpene glycosides and long-chain fatty acids.
Fukinolic acid is an inhibitor of neutrophil elastase, which is imperative in inflammatory reactions. Neutrophil elastase inhibition is a possible way by which black cohosh powder mitigates the effects of inflammation.
Presence of formononetin and isoflavone in black cohosh is not yet confirmed. Prior reports of content of isoflavone may have been the result of contamination of Cimicifuga racemosa with other members of same plant species. Black cohosh has estrogen-like impacts, the mechanism of which is still poorly understood. Clinical experiments recommend that black cohosh extract do not bind receptors of estrogen. According to clinical results, black cohosh does not seem to influence the structure of endometrial tissues or the level of hormones, for example, estradiol, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone (LH) or prolactin. However, there are some confirmations from animal model researches that black cohosh may boost the secretion of pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH).
What Are The Side Effects /Adverse Reactions of Black Cohosh?
Following oral consumption, black cohosh powder can generally cause gastrointestinal problem. Some other potential side effects include heaviness feelings in legs, headache, rash, weight gain, cramping, dizziness, vaginal bleeding or spotting and breast tenderness.
There have been suspicions that Cimicifuga racemosa may cause liver related diseases. However, side effects on liver have not been reported in clinical researches; a few case reports of toxicity of liver have been reported in ladies taking black cohosh along with or without other herbs. In one case, immune hepatitis developed in a women following three weeks of taking black cohosh powder. Side effects decreased two weeks after stopping the use of black cohosh. In minimum three cases, liver enzymes deregulation and hepatotoxicity symptoms became normal within one week after stopping the use of black cohosh.
How Black Cohosh Interacts With Other Herbs and Supplements?
Hepatotoxic Supplements & Herbs
There are some reports that black cohosh powder may cause autoimmune hepatitis and liver failure. Taking black cohosh along with hepatotoxic products may enhance the potential risk of liver damage. Such products include chaparral, kava, red yeast, androstenedione, comfrey, germander, pennyroyal oil, DHEA, niacin and others products.
How Black Cohosh Interacts With Drugs?
Use of Cimicifuga racemosa and following drugs may lead to increased chances of liver failure, hepatotoxicity and breast cancer:
• Atorvastatin
• Cisplatin
• Hepatotoxic Drugs
How Black Cohosh Interacts With Foods?
Not known.
How Black Cohosh Interacts With Lab Tests?
Liver Function Tests - The results of laboratory investigations have shown that use of black cohosh powder doesn’t lead to the elevation of liver enzymes. However, there are several incidences where use of Cimicifuga racemosa has been linked with liver failure.
How Black Cohosh Interacts With Diseases and Conditions?
Use of black cohosh powder may increase the risk of following diseases or conditions:
• Breast cancer
• Kidney transplant rejection
• Hormone sensitive cancer/conditions
• Liver failure
• Protein S deficiency
What Should Be the Dose/Administration of Black Cohosh?
For the treatment of symptoms of menopause, a specific black cohost extract (Enzymatic therapy/Phytopharmica, Remifemin), which is standardized to contain 1 mg triterpene glycoside in each 20 mg tablet has been used. Most of the studies have used 40-80 mg of that tablet.
Comments
The word cohosh came from Latin words used for “repel” and “bedbug”. As black cohosh utilized as an insect repellent, therefore its common name is bugbane. It should not be confused with white cohosh and blue cohosh, which are different plants.
General Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Specification sheet links below are a standard copy of the COA less the batch or lot number and manufactures dates. Specification sheet can be dated and should only be considered as a general information. Please contact and request an up to date COA if needed for specific updated information before placing order by filling out the contact form with product name and SKU number. If ordering quantities of twenty five kilos or more contact for availability.
