Black Cohosh Benefits

Black cohosh, also known as macrotys, bugwort, bugbane, black snakeroot, rattleroot and rattlewood, has medicinal properties when you use the stems and roots of the plant. These plant parts appear in teas, liquid tinctures, capsules and pills. Several research studies have investigated the health benefits of black cohosh.

Menopause Symptoms

Native Americans have used black cohosh to relieve the symptoms of menopause for over 200 years. They believe that the root of the black cohosh plant relieves symptoms such as mood swings, difficulty sleeping, irritability and hot flashes. While some scientific studies on black cohosh have been poorly designed and uncontrolled, some studies have confirmed these benefits. One study compared the use of 8 mg of black cohosh against estrogen replacement or a placebo in 60 women who retained at least one ovary after a hysterectomy. The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements reports that hot flashes decreased significantly in the group receiving black cohosh.

Premenstrual Syndrome

Premenstrual syndrome occurs one to two weeks before a menstrual period and causes symptoms such as breast tenderness, muscle pain, irritability, backache, headache, anxiety, upset stomach and food cravings. Because black cohosh contains salicylates and has antispasmodic properties, this plant provides relief of PMS symptoms. Black cohosh also helps to relieve headaches, because it constricts the blood vessels, according to Virginia Tech.
Do not give black cohosh to children or teens with premenstrual syndrome, as salicylate use increases the risk of Reye syndrome. This syndrome causes impaired liver function and brain damage and occurs most often in children ages 4 to 12, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Arthritis

Black cohosh contains salicylates, compounds that have anti-inflammatory properties. Derived from the bark of a willow tree, salicylates occur in aspirin and other pain relievers prescribed for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that preliminary research studies showed some pain relief occurred in those with osteoarthritis when researchers administered a combination of willow bark, black cohosh, poplar bark, guaiacum resin and sarsaparilla to study participants.

Cholesterol

Some alternative health practitioners recommend black cohosh to reduce levels of low-density lipoprotein, also known as "bad" cholesterol, in the blood. While some black cohosh users report reduced LDL cholesterol levels, research studies do not show a significant link between black cohosh and cholesterol. In one study, conducted by Leslie Spangler of the Center for Health Studies in Seattle, 351 participants received black cohosh alone, a botanical formula containing black cohosh, a botanical formula with soy diet counseling or a placebo daily for three months. No statistically significant differences occurred in any of the participant groups. The results of this study appeared in the June 2007 issue of "Maturitas."