Like many herbs, black cohosh can have serious side effects. When you're pregnant, you must not take any substances that might affect the growing fetus. Black cohosh, a member of the buttercup family, is not proven safe for use in pregnancy. Some midwives and alternative medicine practitioners use the herb to stimulate labor. Take this herb in a tea only under the supervision of a qualified medical practitioner.
Uses
When taken in teas, herbs are often less concentrated than when taken in tinctures, but that doesn't mean they are safe. Black cohosh is sometimes used in conjunction with the similar-sounding blue cohosh to induce and enhance labor contractions. In Europe, black cohosh is commonly used to treat menopausal symptoms because of its estrogen-like effects. However, the estrogenic effects of this herb have not been proven in clinical studies.
Studies
Few studies exist on the effects of black cohosh in pregnancy. A review of studies conducted by researchers from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and reported in the "Canadian Journal of Clinical Pharmacology" found only that black cohosh has a long history of use as a labor stimulant and as an emmenagogue, a drug that brings on menstruation, and that it may have estrogenic effects.
Common Side Effects
Common side effects of black cohosh include headache, stomach pain and rash. Dizziness, nausea, giddiness and vomiting can result at higher doses. Breast tenderness, weight gain and a heaviness in the legs can also occur.
Serious Side Effects
When taken early in pregnancy, this herb could cause miscarriage or preterm labor. In rare cases, black cohosh can cause liver damage. It's not clear if the black cohosh itself or contaminants in the product cause liver damage. Signs of liver damage include jaundice, upper right quadrant pain, dark-colored urine, itching and fatigue.
References
- eMedTV; Black Cohosh; Kristi Monson, Pharm.D; August 2010
- "Canadian Journal of Clinical Pharmacology"; Safety and efficacy of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) During Pregnancy and Lactation; J. Dugoua; Fall 2006
- Creighton University AltMed; Black Cohosh; Heidi Tetherow, MD.; July 2006
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; Black Cohosh; July 2010
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