Black Cohosh & Its Uses

A member of the buttercup family, black cohosh is a flowering plant that can grow to 9 feet tall. It's also known as bugbane because insects avoid this plant. Black cohosh is native to North America, and the roots and rhizomes are used for various health benefits.

Availability

• Black cohosh can be grown at home or harvested in the wild, although it is listed as an endangered or threatened plant in some states. In addition, you can buy the dried root at natural food stores, as well as black cohosh capsules, tablets, tincture and standardized extracts.

Women's Health

• Black cohosh is officially approved in Germany for treating premenstrual discomfort and painful menstruation. Germany also has approved black cohosh as an alternative for hormone therapy during menopause to relieve hot flashes and prevent bone loss.

Pregnancy Considerations

• Midwives use black cohosh to reduce labor pain, to strengthen contractions too weak and to induce labor. The medical website eMedTV notes that no reliable scientific evidence supports these uses.

Arthritis

• According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, early studies indicate black cohosh may decrease inflammation associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia

• Black cohosh also can be part of an herbal therapy program to treat hypoadrenalism in chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia. A complete list of recommended herbs is provided in "Living Well with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia," a book by Mary Shomon published in 2004.