Black Cohosh
(Cimicifuga racemosa, Actaea racemosa)

General Info

Active Forms

Absorption

Dietary Sources

Dosage Info

Dosage Range 20-40mg (equivalent to 1mg-2mg of 27-deoxyactein), 2 times daily (standardized extract). Most Common Dosage 40mg (equivalent to 2mg of 27-deoxyactein), 2 times daily (standardized extract). Dosage Forms		Adult RDI Adult ODA

Overview

Interactions

Drug/Herb Interactions
•	Estrogen and estrogen-like medications

Black cohosh rhizome has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries as a remedy for conditions such as headache, non-eruptive measles, gingivitis, uterine and rectal prolapse. Native Americans used black cohosh as a remedy for female related problems, including painful menses, problem childbirth, arthritic problems and as an antidote for snakebite. The Eclectic physicians of the turn of the century in America relied on preparations of black cohosh for many problems, including rheumatism and female complaints. The rhizome preparation of black cohosh was listed as a popular remedy in the early U.S. Pharmacopoeias from 1820 to 1936, demonstrating the interest in the medicinal value of this herb.

Toxicities & Precautions

General
This dietary supplement has a good safety profile with low toxicity, few and mild side effects and good tolerability.(1, 2)

Black cohosh is recommended to be taken for 6 months followed by serum hormonal level.

Health Conditions
Medical and scientific evidence indicates that constituents contained in this dietary supplement have estrogenic activity. Until further research is performed, concern is warranted when recommending this dietary supplement to individuals who are susceptible to hormonally related cancers or who have a history of estrogen positive cancers.(3)

Side Effects
Large doses may cause nausea, vomiting, and headache.(4)

Pregnancy/Breast-Feeding
Do not use black cohosh in pregnancy, as it has reported uterine smooth muscle stimulant activity in laboratory studies.(5, 6)

Age Limitations
Do not use in children under 2 years of age unless recommended by a physician.

Symptoms & Causes of Deficiency

Footnotes

¹ McKenna DJ, Jones K, Humphrey S, Hughes K. Black cohosh: efficacy, safety, and use in clinical and preclinical applications. Altern Ther Health Med. May2001;7(3):93-100.
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² Huntley A, Ernst E. A systematic review of the safety of black cohosh. Menopause. Jan2003;10(1):58-64.
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³ Wade C, Kronenberg F, Kelly A, Murphy PA. Hormone-modulating herbs: implications for women's health. J Am Med Womens Assoc. 1999;54(4):181-3.
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⁴ PDR for Herbal Medicines, 2nd ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company; 2000:93.
⁵ McFarlin BL, Gibson MH, O'Rear J, Harman P. A national survey of herbal preparation use by nurse-midwives for labor stimulation. Review of the literature and recommendations for practice. J Nurse Midwifery. May1999;44(3):205-16.
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⁶ Dugoua JJ, Seely D, Perri D, et al. Safety and efficacy of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) during pregnancy and lactation. Can J Clin Pharmacol. Oct 2006;13(3):e257-61.
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Black Cohosh(Cimicifuga racemosa, Actaea racemosa)

Black Cohosh
(Cimicifuga racemosa, Actaea racemosa)