Cimicifuga racemosa
(Black cohosh)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Anti-inflammatory
• Antispasmodic
• Competes in vitro with 17-beta-estradiol for estrogen receptor binding sites
• Decreases the growth of the breast carcinoma cell line 435 when tested in vitro
• Diaphoretic
• Digestive stimulant
• Dilates the bronchioles
• Diuretic
• Emmenagogue-relaxes the uterus
• Female reproductive tonic
• Hypotensive
• Increases and normalizes uterine contractions during labor
• Inhibitory activity in vitro and in vivo on bone resorption in ovariectomized rats as well as rats on low calcium diets
• Mild expectorant
• Peripheral vasodilator
• Relaxes sleletal muscles
• Relaxes smooth muscles of the blood vessels
• Relaxes the uterus
• Sedative
• Suppress luteinizing hormone surges associated with hot flashes in menopausal woman
• Useful for after-pains following labor

Clinical Indications:

• Amenorrhea
• Dysmenorrhea
• Endometriosis
• Menopause
• Osteoarthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Dyspepsia
• Infertility
• Influenza with chilliness, aching muscles and an acute fever
• Muscular pain due to nervous tension
• Neuralgia
• Normalizes female hormone activity
• Pertussis
• Reproductive tract problems related to congestion, nervous irritability of the reproductive organs, achy muscles and irritability or depression
• Sciatic pain
• Tinnitus

Contraindications:

• First trimester of pregnancy due to emmenagogue effect
• Lactation due to the irritating effect on the baby's stomach mucosa

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• May prolong the hypnotic action of barbiturates

Chemical Constituents:

• Alkaloids:
  
  n-Methycytisine
• Isoflavones:
  
  Formononetin
• Organic acids:
  
  Butryic acid
  Ferulic acid (anti-inflammatory effect that could also alleviate pain)
  Gallic acid
  Isoferulic acid
  Palmitic acid
  Salicylic acid
• Resin
• Tannin
• Triterpene glycosides:
  
  Actein (aglycon - acetylacteol)
  Cimigoside
  Cimifugine (aglycone - cimigenol)
  Racemoside
• Volatile oil

Toxicity:

• Symptoms:
  
  Decreased pulse and blood pressure
  Dilated pupils
  Flushed face
  Frontal headache with a severe bursting sensation
  Injected conjunctiva
  Joint pain
  Light-headed
  Nausea
  Stiffness
  Trembling limbs
  Vomiting

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).