Black cohosh
Actaea racemosa
Synonyms: Megotrys serpentaria, Macrotrys racemosa, Cimicifuga serpentaria, Thalictrodes racemosa, Cimicifuga racemosa, Botrophis serpentaria
Western Herbalism Properties
Gallery
Botanical Description
Actaea racemosa (formerly Cimicifuga racemosa), known as black cohosh, black snakeroot, or fairy candle, is a tall perennial herb of the Ranunculaceae native to rich, moist deciduous woodlands of eastern North America, from Ontario and Maine south to Georgia. Plants arise from a stout, knotty, blackish rhizome bearing many fibrous roots and produce one or more erect flowering stems 1 to 2.5 m tall. The leaves are large, alternate, and two- to three-times ternately compound, with broadly ovate leaflets bearing sharply toothed and irregularly lobed margins. Inflorescences are tall, slender, wand-like racemes (sometimes branched) of small, pungent-scented flowers; each flower has four to five quickly deciduous sepals and numerous showy white stamens, the petals being reduced or absent. The fruit is a dry follicle containing several seeds.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
Black cohosh has an extensive ethnobotanical and Western herbal record. The Cherokee used a root decoction or infusion as a tonic, a remedy for rheumatism, colds, coughs, kidney trouble, and as a sedative, stimulant, and aid for menstrual and uterine complaints; the Iroquois employed it as an analgesic for rheumatism and as a kidney aid; the Penobscot, Delaware, and Micmac also used the rhizome for pain, kidney conditions, and tuberculosis (Hamel and Chiltoskey 1975; Herrick 1977; Tantaquidgeon 1942). In nineteenth-century Eclectic American practice, Lloyd, King, and Scudder employed black cohosh rhizome as a leading remedy for rheumatic and muscular pain, chorea, and ovarian, uterine, and menopausal complaints (King's American Dispensatory, Felter and Lloyd 1898). It remains an officially recognized herbal medicine in Europe (ESCOP, German Commission E) for menopausal symptoms.
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.