Black Cohosh

Actaea racemosa

Black cohosh grows in the shaded forests of eastern North America. It is a six-foot tall perennial with divided green leaves and long spikes of white flowers in early summer [1]. The plant grows in rich moist soil [1].

Native peoples used the plant to treat aches and pains in the joints and for fever and reproductive disorders [1][2]. In the 1800s, black cohosh became a staple herb in American medicine. It was used to support menstruation and painful cramps, difficult childbirth, and other conditions related to menopause. Practitioners in the time saw it as having tonic, nervine, and antispasmodic actions to relax tension and ease muscle spasms [1][2].

Research has continued in modern times to look at the plant during menopause. Extracts of the root are used to support women in menopause to try and reduce the occurrence of hot flashes, sweating, and insomnia. The outcomes of clinical trials are inconsistent [3]. The plant has triterpene glycosides, along with other constituents that have estrogenic, sedative, and serotonergic actions [4][5]. Ongoing research is being done on the safety of this herb and the activity of its constituents on serotonin and estrogen receptors [5].

Black cohosh is a common plant of the forest. The current situation of the plant bridges the understanding of traditional herbal knowledge with modern herbal science. Black cohosh is a valuable plant found in both medicine and the landscape.

[1] Forest Farming Extension (USDA and North Carolina State University). “Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa L.) – Forest Farming.” 2023. https://forest-farming.extension.org/black-cohosh-actaea-racemosa-l/

[2] U.S. Forest Service. “Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa): An Annotated Bibliography.” General Technical Report SRS-97. 2004. https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/26166

[3] National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). “Black Cohosh.” 2024. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/black-cohosh

[4] Nuntanakorn, P. “Black Cohosh: A Review.” ThaiScience Journal, 2007. https://www.thaiscience.info/Journals/Article/SUIJ/10559448.pdf

[5] Soni, P., A. A. Siddiqui, J. Dwivedi, and V. Soni. “Benefits of Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) for Women’s Health: An Updated Review.” Pharmaceuticals 15, no. 3 (2022): 278. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15030278

[6] PubMed Database. “Actaea racemosa Triterpene Glycosides Menopause Clinical Trials – Peer-Reviewed Studies on Efficacy and Safety.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/