Botanical Name of Blue Cohosh: Caulophyllum thalictroides (L).

Other Common Names: Blueberry root, blue ginseng, yellow ginseng, beechdrops, pappoose root, squaw root.

Habitat: Blue cohosh is a perennial herbaceous plant native to Eastern USA and Canada. It grows in low rich moist soil near water.

Description: It can grow up to a meter in height with a simple stem; leaves are large and tri-lobed with clusters of small yellowish green flowers in May and June. The fruit is a small dark blue berry which can be roasted to make a drink similar to coffee. Blue cohosh should not be confused with black cohosh (Cimicifuga/Actaea racemosa). Both have been used by native Americans and European settlers for womens? conditions.

Plant Parts Used: Rhizome and root. These are hard, gnarled and can grow up to 8-10 cms long. They are harvested at the end of the summer when they are thought to be richest in their constituents. The rhizome is yellowy brown outside and whitish yellow in side. Its taste is sweetish bitter with acrid after taste. The main components of blue cohosh are alkaloids and steroidal saponins. It is available as a standardised extract or liquid extract.

Tradtitional Uses of Blue Cohosh and Claims

* Traditionally it has been used for labour and birth. It is thought to induce labour and is still widely used by herbalists and some midwives (USA).
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* Blue cohosh is thought to ease delivery by acting as a tonic for the womb and increase tone.
* It has also been used for a variety of menstrual problems such as heavy, painful periods and lack of periods.
* Rheumatism, pains are though to benefit from blue cohosh.
* Blue cohosh has also been used when an antispasmodic action is required e.g. colic, asthma or nervous cough.

Potential Side Effects of Blue Cohosh

There are many serious safety concerns with blue cohosh. It has been used traditionally to induce abortion and some of blue cohosh components are thought to constrict (narrow) major blood vessels. There are case reports of adverse effects with new born children whose mothers were treated with blue cohosh. Overall, this herb can not be recommended.