Herbal Horizons Wellness

Actaea racemosa, commonly known as Black cohosh, was first used by Native American Indians for treating a wide variety of ailments, such as gynecological disorders and kidney ailments.

Aside from also treating menstrual disorders, North American colonists used black cohosh for back pain, hysteria, yellow fever, itch, spasms, uterine disorders and swelling.

In Europe, during the 17th century, it was used as pain reliever for pregnancy, during labor and for joint pains.

In the middle of the 1950s black cohosh started to gain popularity as a remedy for several women’s health issues and continues today.

Menstrual Symptoms

The ability for black cohosh to relieve menstrual symptoms has been proven in a study which involved 704 women. The findings revealed that 49% of those women who were given black cohosh extract claimed to experience complete relief from sweating, headache, heart palpitations, hot flashes, vertigo and other menstrual symptoms, while 37.8% of the study participants said they experienced significant improvement in their menstrual symptoms.

Menopause Symptoms

In a separate study, women who were given standardized black cohosh extract twice a day experienced as much as 76 to 93% improvement from headache, mild depression, irritability, sleep problems and hot flashes.

Experts have suggested that this relief can be attributed to the salicylic acid content of Actaea racemosa black cohosh. Salicylic acid is the same compound found in aspirin that is used as anti-inflammatory and pain reliever.

Black cohosh also contains isoflavones that are capable of mimicking the body’s hormonal activity, making it helpful for treating vaginal dryness, depression and hot flashes.

Osteoporosis

Research shows that bone loss can be reduced with the aid of black cohosh. This is because the herb contains phytoestrogens that are capable of averting the onset of bone loss. Black cohosh can also stimulate osteoblasts that play a role in bone reformation.

It prevents the bones from becoming brittle, reducing the chances of bone fractures, and for those who already have fractures, black cohosh can help speed up the recovery of bone density. It works best when taken during the early stages of osteoporosis.

Sleep Problems

Another issue that many menopausal and post-menopausal women face is difficulty sleeping. A medical trial conducted showed that regular supplementation of black cohosh significantly helped improve their sleep quality.

However, this herb should not be used in conjunction with any other sleeping pills since the compounds found naturally in black cohosh are so potent that complications may occur when mixed with chemicals contained in mainstream medications.

Muscle Aches and Pains

Actaea racemosa contains anti-spasmodic properties that are helpful in providing relief for people who are affected with aching and cramping muscles.

Black cohosh’s anti-inflammatory and natural analgesic properties are known to work well in treating chronic nervous tension, muscle strain and any other pains and aches caused by injury.

Other Benefits of Black Cohosh

The root of this plant can be used as a tea for relieving a sore throat. Other ailments such as cough, acute rheumatism, small pox, influenza and nervous system disorders can also be treated using black cohosh.

In Summary

As with many other herbal remedies, it is important to keep in mind not to overdo the application or the intake of black cohosh, as it is a very potent plant. As a reminder, always consult with your health care provider before adding any herbs or supplements to your regimen.