Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Women's Health Sleep & Calm Pain & Inflammation

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Black Cohosh

Actaea racemosa

Also known as Black Snakeroot, Bugbane, Rattleweed, Fairy Candle, Cimicifuga

At a glance

Family

Ranunculaceae (buttercup family)

Type

Perennial woodland flowering herb

Parts used

Root and rhizome

Size

4 to 8 feet tall in bloom

Bloom

Late summer, tall white bottlebrush spikes from July to September

Habitat

Rich, shaded deciduous forests and woodland edges of eastern North America

Acquisition

Grow or buy

Traditional remedies in HerbSense

Key benefits

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Traditional menopause support

Eases occasional hot flashes

Supports hormonal transitions

Traditional muscle and joint comfort

Traditional uses

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Long before it became a fixture of the natural menopause aisle, black cohosh grew quietly in the understory of eastern hardwood forests, where Cherokee, Iroquois, and other Eastern Woodland peoples dug its gnarled black root for women's health, sore muscles, and general malaise. Nineteenth century Eclectic physicians adopted it eagerly, and by the twentieth century it had crossed the Atlantic, becoming one of Germany's most trusted traditional remedies for the changes of midlife. Herbalists have traditionally reached for it to ease the restlessness, warmth, and moodiness that can accompany the passage out of the childbearing years, treating it almost like a companion for that particular season of a woman's life.

Growing guide

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Sun

Partial to full shade, the dappled light of a woodland canopy suits it best

Soil

Rich, humusy, well drained soil that stays consistently moist, like a forest floor

Water

Regular water, never letting it dry out completely; mulch helps retain moisture

Planting

Plant root divisions or stratified seed in fall, tuck into a shaded border or native woodland garden, and be patient, since the plant takes several years to settle in and flower well

Fresh to dried

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Harvest

Roots are traditionally dug in autumn, once the plant has died back, from mature plants at least three to four years old

Drying

Wash the knotty rhizome thoroughly, slice it into smaller pieces to speed drying, and lay it out in a warm, airy spot out of direct sun until it snaps rather than bends

Storage

Keep dried root pieces in a sealed glass jar away from light and heat, where they will hold their character for a year or more

Best forms

Dried root for decoctions, or a professionally prepared tincture or standardized extract

Traditional preparations

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Featured preparation

Traditional Root Decoction

A gentle, old-fashioned way herbalists have traditionally prepared the tough root, simmering rather than steeping, to draw out its qualities.

How it's made. Traditionally, a decoction is made by simmering 1/2 teaspoon of dried, chopped black cohosh root in 1 cup of water for 15 to 20 minutes, then straining. This is generally taken in small amounts, such as a few tablespoons, rather than a full cup.

Pairs well with

✦Red raspberry leaf
✦Motherwort
✦Chaste tree (vitex)

Substitutes

✦Dong quai
✦Sage

Choose it when

“For the long, warm evenings when the body feels unsettled and a season of change is asking to be met gently.”

Did you know?

The name cohosh comes from an Algonquian word meaning rough or knobby, a nod to the root's gnarled, almost knuckled appearance, while bugbane recalls the old belief that its heavy scented flower spikes helped keep insects away from the cabin door.

Safety

Black cohosh should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding, since it has traditionally been linked to stimulating uterine activity. Rare but serious liver injury has been reported with its use, so avoid it if you have liver disease and stop immediately if you notice yellowing skin, dark urine, or abdominal pain. Use caution if you have a hormone-sensitive condition such as breast cancer, since its hormonal effects are not fully settled.