Black Cohosh shows promise as an all natural herbal remedy for post menopausal hot flashes. This plant is a member of the buttercup family and scientifically known as both Actaea racemosa and Cimicifuga racemosa. Native to North America, its medicinal use is traced back to Native American health remedies. You may know black cohosh by one of its common names rattleweed, snakeroot and bugbane.
Habitat
Black cohosh is an herbaceous perennial that grows in USDA plant hardiness Zones three through nine. A perennial plant species needs more than two years to complete its lifecycle. The College of Natural Resources at Virginia Tech University wants you to know it grows easily in the garden. Plant your black cohosh seeds in a spot that receives partial shade and direct sunlight. The ideal soil is humus-rich that remains slightly moist.
You can find black cohosh growing wild in the shaded woodlands of Oregon, Washington and Ontario. Due to its value and popularity as a medicinal herb, wild plots are disappearing. It is now cultivated for commercial use.
History
According to information published by the National Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), North American Indians used black cohosh as a natural remedy for gynecological and kidney disorders, along with rheumatism, sore throat and general malaise. Later in the nineteenth century, it was used as a diuretic and as a home remedy to reduce fever and bring on the menstrual cycle.
Herbal Preparations
The roots of black cohosh are the part of the plant used for herbal remedy preparations. The ODS recommends taking standardized extract products. One standardized tablet is commercially manufactured to ensure the highest quality and consistent potency. Each black cohosh extract tablet consists of 20 grams of the root.
Hot Flashes
Black cohosh may be a natural treatment for hot flashes in postmenopausal women, according to a study conducted by the Mayo Clinic's Department of Surgery. Women who ingested the prescribed dose of black cohosh reported "less trouble with sleeping, less fatigue, and less abnormal sweating". The conclusions of the study, published in the journal "Cancer Investigation", stated that black cohosh had a low toxicity and appeared to reduce hot flashes.
Contraindications
The ODS warns that the use of black cohosh by pregnant women and those with breast cancer is contraindicated. It goes on to caution people with liver disorders or those who develop symptoms of liver trouble, including but not limited to dark urine, jaundice and liver pain, should immediately discontinue taking black cohosh and contact a medical professional.
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