It is a member of the buttercup family and is sometimes known as bugbane, squawroot, rattle root or black snakeroot. It grows up to 2.5 metres high and has tall stalks of fluffy white flowers. The gnarled black root is the part of the plant that's used. It's dried, ground to a powder and sold in capsule form.
It all seems too good to be true, but it's been used for centuries and it's one of the main ingredients in Lydia Pinkham's Vegetable Compound, popular as a women's tonic in the USA in the early 20th century, which is still available today.
If you have a medical condition, then speak to your doctor before using Black Cohosh or any supplements. Do not use Black Cohosh whilst pregnant or breastfeeding. Be aware it could interfere with hormonal medicines, particularly the contraceptive pill. If you're taking medication for blood pressure, then, once again consult your doctor before using it, it can reduce blood pressure and it may cause yours to drop too low.
Having taken all that into account, if you're looking for some help to see you through menopause symptoms without resorting to chemical HRT, then Black Cohosh is known to help with hot flushes, sweating and vaginal dryness. It works by reducing the hormone that is produced in the pituitary gland that is thought to be the cause of hot flushes.
Black Cohosh has an anti-spasmodic effect, which means it can help with menstrual cramps. It works by increasing the blood flow to the uterus and reducing the intensity of the contractions. Likewise it may help during labor and after childbirth.
Black Cohosh has anti-inflammatory effects and it can treat nerve related pain such as sciatica or neuralgia.
For menopausal or Pre Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) symptoms, take 40 mg twice a day. For PMS, begin treatment 7 to 10 days before you menstruate. For cramps, take 40 mg 3 or 4 times a day as needed. Consult your doctor regarding the time to take it for labor pains. It can be taken any time of the day, but it may cause stomach upsets, so it's best to take it with food. Allow four to eight weeks to see a benefit for menopausal symptoms. It's safe to take for long periods.
There are no known toxic effects. A very high dose can cause nausea, vomiting, reduced pulse rate and headaches. Stick to the recommended dosages. Find a supplement that contains 2.5% of triterpenes, which is the active ingredient.
Black Cohosh is also used as a compress for sore muscles and aching joints. Boil the root in water for 20 minutes, let it cool and apply to the affected area and cover with a clean cloth for about 20 minutes.
Black Cohosh is a marvel of nature. If you're female, there's some point in your life when it's going to be of use.
A female herb, black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) is a perennial plant whose gnarled root has a long history of being used as treatment for various "female problems." In fact, generations of American women have relied on black cohosh to relieve the symptoms, from PMS and menstrual cramps to menopausal symptoms.
The first recorded use of black cohosh was in the 1900s when this indigenous American wildflower belonging to the buttercup family provided the main ingredient in a popular tonic for women. Today, black cohosh is used to treat a variety of other complaints, including insect bites and eczema, and is considered an herbal drink with various health benefits.
Health Benefits of Black Cohosh Tea
Beyond its use as treatment for "women problems," black cohosh tea's healing properties include anti-inflammatory and mild sedative effects, making it perfect for relieving muscle aches and pains. Not only that, but because of these same properties, black cohosh may also be drank to clear mucous membranes and lessen associated congestion and bothersome coughs.
Specifically, black cohosh tea may help to relieve hot flashes and other menopausal and peri-menopausal symptoms. During middle age, the estrogen levels in a woman's body start to decline. As a result, she may experience hot flashes, vaginal dryness, depression, and other unpleasant symptoms. Scientists have discovered that drinking black cohosh tea may help offset this decline in estrogen.
How?
Black cohosh is said to contain a powerful plant compound called phytoestrogen. This compound actually mimics the effects of human estrogen in the female body. Taking in lots of phytoestrogen by drinking black cohosh tea helps alleviate the symptoms associated with lack of estrogen as the phytoestrogens the beverage contains bind themselves to hormone receptors in the uterus, breast, and other parts of the body.
The action possibly lessens hot flashes, vaginal dryness, headache, dizziness, depressive mood, and other hormone-related symptoms as a result.
Another effect of black cohosh tea is reducing the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), a compound produced by the brain's pituitary gland that regulates the activities of women's ovaries. In a 1991 study on women, black cohosh can help minimize hot flashes by cutting down the LH hormone levels in a woman's body. Previous studies have shown that the rise of LH hormone is directly related with hot flashes.
These scientific discoveries led to the use of black cohosh tea as an alternative to hormone therapy. Some women actually prefer drinking black cohosh tea to hormone therapy, because of less risk. Hormone therapy has been linked to a slightly increased risk of breast cancer when taken long-term. In contrast, black cohosh doesn't appear to stimulate the growth of breast tumors.
Buy Black Cohosh
Black cohosh is available in several different forms. As an herbal supplement, it may be bought as a tincture or in tablet form. However, the most popular remain to be black cohosh tea, which comes in several different flavors and scent to make your herbal tea experience better. Black cohosh may also come in the form of capsules.
Both Aditi Miscall & Jonas Smith are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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