
Black Cohosh
(Actaea racemosa)
(aka Cimicifuga racemosa)
Other Names:
Black Snakeroot, Bugbane, Bugwort, Cimicifuga, Fairy Candles, Rattlerroot, Rattleweed, Richweed, Squaw Root
Range:
Family:
Ranunculaceae - Buttercup or Crowfoot Family
Growth Type:
Smooth herbaceous perennial plant
Height:
Up to 2 feet tall
Leaves:
Tripinnately compound leaves thrice divided with a coarsely toothed (serrated) margin. Terminal leaflet 3 lobed, middle lobe largest.
Stem/Trunk:
Sturdy erect single or branched stem
Root:
Rhizome
Flower Season:
Late spring to early summer
Flower Appearance:
White flowers in borne very long spikes. On a tall stem, 3'-8' tall, forming racemes up to 2' long. They have no petals or sepals, and consist of tight clusters of 55-110 white, 5-10 mm long stamens surrounding a white stigma. They have a distinctly sweet, fetid smell that attracts flies, gnats, and beetles.
Seed/Fruit:
The fruit is a dry follicle 5-10 mm long, with one carpel, containing several seeds.
Miscellaneous characteristics:
N/A
Habitat:
Rich woodlands
Parts Used:
Roots
Culinary Uses:
None Known
The following text is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness or injury. Always consult with a physician or other qualified medical care provider concerning the diagnosis and treatment of any illness or injury.
Energetics
Taste: Bitter
Thermal: Warming
Humidity: Drying
Traditional Medicinal Uses:
Root tincture has been used as an anti-inflammatory to treat rheumatism. It has also been showed to be highly effective when treating hot flashes associated with menopause. There is also evidence that it eases PMS symptoms as well. Historically some Native American tribes used Black Cohosh to treat snake bite. I can find no credible mention of antitoxin or anti venom actions.
Use to treat amenorrhea, bronchitis, chorea, dysmenorrhea, fibroids, intercostal myalgia, menopausal symptoms, muscular arthritis, neuralgia, pelvic inflammatory disease, premenstrual syndrome, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, sciatica, tinnitus aurium, uterine spasm, whooping cough.
This plant has been shown, by scientific studies, to be effective for the treatment of the following conditions. The fact that studies concerning all traditional uses listed above have not yet been completed, does not mean said uses are invalid. The plants I have included have a long history of effective use, and most were part of the U.S. Pharmacopia prior to the rise of allopathic medicine.
Amenorrhea (Absence of Menstruation): Rahal, Anu, Amit Kumar, Sandip Chakraborty, Ruchi Tiwari, Shyma K. Latheef, and Kuldeep Dhama. "Cimicifuga: a revisiting indigenous herb with multi-utility benefits for safeguarding human health—a review." International Journal of Agronomy Plant Production 4 (2013): 1590-1601.
Atrophic Vaginitis (Vaginal Atrophy): Rahal, Anu, Amit Kumar, Sandip Chakraborty, Ruchi Tiwari, Shyma K. Latheef, and Kuldeep Dhama. "Cimicifuga: a revisiting indigenous herb with multi-utility benefits for safeguarding human health—a review." International Journal of Agronomy Plant Production 4 (2013): 1590-1601.
Dysmenorrhea (Menstrual Cramps): Lawrence, A. Sheeba, and T. Ezhilarasi. "A Clinical study to assess the effectiveness of Actaea racemosa 30 C and 200 C in cases of primary dysmenorrhea in young females."
Intercostal Myalgia (Chest Muscle Strain): Denham, Alison, Julia Green, and Sue Hawkey. "What’s in the bottle? Prescriptions formulated by medical herbalists in a clinical trial of treatment during the menopause." Journal of Herbal Medicine 1, no. 3-4 (2011): 95-101.
Lumbar Radiculopathy (Sciatica): Chen, Li-Ru, and Kuo-Hu Chen. "Utilization of isoflavones in soybeans for women with menopausal syndrome: an overview." International journal of molecular sciences 22, no. 6 (2021): 3212.
Neuralgia (Nerve Pain): Lawrence, A. Sheeba, and T. Ezhilarasi. "A Clinical study to assess the effectiveness of Actaea racemosa 30 C and 200 C in cases of primary dysmenorrhea in young females."
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): Brice-Ytsma, Hananja, and Nathalie Chidley. Herbal Medicine in Treating Gynaecological Conditions Volume 2: Specific Conditions and Management Through the Practical Usage of Herbs. Aeon Books, 2024.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) (Muscular Rheumatism): Mahady, Gail B., Brian Doyle, Tracie Locklear, Scott J. Cotler, Grace Guzman-Hartman, and Rajabather Krishnaraj. "Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa) for the mitigation of menopausal symptoms: recent developments in clinical safety and efficacy." Women’s Health 2, no. 5 (2006): 783-793.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): Rai, Vishal. "Phytochemical Screening and Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Actaea racemosa (Black Cohosh) in management of menopausal symptoms & other medicinal applications." Dialogues in Cardiovascular Medicine 30 (2025): 33-48.
Uterine Leiomyomas (Fibroids): Tester, Jodie, and Tessa Finney-Brown. "Cimicifuga racemosa extract compared to tibolone in peri/post menopausal women with uterine fibroids." Australian Journal of Herbal and Naturopathic Medicine 27, no. 1 (2015): 34.
Medicinal Actions:
Analgesic,
Antiasthmatic,
Antihypothyroid,
Anti-Inflammatory,
Antirheumatic,
Antitussive,
Emmenagogue,
Estrogenic,
Nervine,
Oxytocic,
Sedative,
Tonic: Cardiac
This plant has been shown, by scientific studies, to exibit the following medicinal actions. The fact that studies concerning all of the traditional medicinal actions listed above have not yet been completed, does not mean said actions are invalid. The plants I have included have a long history of effective use, and most were part of the U.S. Pharmacopia prior to the rise of allopathic medicine.
Antispasmodic (common): Lawrence, A. Sheeba, and T. Ezhilarasi. "A Clinical study to assess the effectiveness of Actaea racemosa 30 C and 200 C in cases of primary dysmenorrhea in young females."
Bitter (common): Files, Back To Plant. "Common Name: Black Cohosh| Scientific Name: Cimicifuga Racemose."/
Emmenagogue (common): Ross, Stephanie Maxine. "Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa, syn. Cimicifuga racemosa): the queen of the female pharmacopeia." Holistic nursing practice 21, no. 3 (2007): 162-163.
Nervine (common): Staeb, Whitney, and Ohlone Herbal Apprenticeship. "Endometriosis: A Holistic Approach." (2016).
Oxytocic (common): "Physicians Desk Reference PDR For Herbal Medicines Fourth Edition", Thompson Healthcare Inc, (2007)
Tonic: Uterine (common): "Physicians Desk Reference PDR For Herbal Medicines Fourth Edition", Thompson Healthcare Inc, (2007)
Cautions According To WebMD
Possible Side Effects:
A. racemosa can possibly cause some mild side effects such as stomach upset, headache, rash, a feeling of heaviness, and weight gain. There is also some concern that black cohosh might cause liver damage in some people. People who take black cohosh should watch for symptoms of liver damage such as dark urine and fatigue.
Possible Interactions:
There is some concern that black cohosh might decrease how well cisplatin works for cancer. There is concern that using it with Atorvastatin may increase the chance of liver damage.
Herbal Preparations For Plant
00 Capsules
Part Used: Root
Plant State: Dried
Capsules made from dried powdered root are used in the treatment of amennorhea, bronchitis, chorea, dysmenorrhea, fibroids, hypothyroidism (Graves Disease), intercostal myalgis, menopausal symptoms, muscular arthritis, neuralgia, pelvic inflammatory disease, premenstrual syndrome, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, sciatica, tinnitus aurium, uterine spasm, whooping cough.
Dosage: 1-2 capsules three times daily.
Tincture
Part Used: Root
Plant State: Fresh
Alcohol Percentage: 80%
Plant to Alcohol Ratio: 1:2
Preparation Instructions...
Dosage: 10-25 drops three times daily.
Tincture
Part Used: Root
Plant State: Dried
Alcohol Percentage: 80%
Plant to Alcohol Ratio: 1:5
Preparation Instructions...
Dosage: 10-25 drops three times daily.

