Black Cohosh

Black cohosh is perhaps one of our most misunderstood herbs. Research on black cohosh’s mode of action has historically focused on its presumed hormonal (phytoestrogenic) activity but recent work suggests that it may in fact be acting as an antinociceptive agent. Re-examination of some of the writings of 19th and 20th century physicians and folk literature suggests that this mode of action may have been overlooked in modern experimentalists' in vitro and animal studies and in the very few well conducted human trials to date. The authors concluded that the common folk perception of this plant as a "remedy for female problems" may thus require revision as it may possess more general analgesic properties. “Future research will be hindered if the ancient wisdom is ignored and the synergy of the plant matrix is overlooked. A small number of studies in the Western medicine tradition have now begun to consider the link between black cohosh and pain, acknowledging what has been known for a long time.” 

Internationally renowned herbalist Rosemary Gladstar concurs and says black cohosh is not just ‘the menopause herb’, it has a long history of being used for the nervous system. She says there’s been so much research on it for the women’s reproductive system that its major use for the nervous system, and for stressed tight muscles, has been overlooked. While Gladstar uses it for stressed menopausal women she says her favourite use for black cohosh is for muscle tension and stress where it soothes and relaxes the smooth muscles in bad backs and sore limbs. She says it is a plant for women not just going through menopause but also cramping, pain and tension during the menstrual cycle. “It seems to have a balancing effect on the hormonal cycles of women and regulates the menstrual cycle.” 

American herbalist Jim McDonald echoes these sentiments and says it is important not to be reductionist, and dismissive, to the other virtues of plants by saying, for example, that black cohosh is a menopause herb. He says while the name of a problem, and the name of a herb, might be people’s introduction to herbalism it is not looking at the plant as a whole. “It doesn’t honour the plant or give herbalists the ability to know it as a dynamic individual plant”, he says. He warns herbalists not to use this plant as something for all women when they reach menopause. “It is a specific medicinal herb not a nourishing tonic to be taken by everyone everyday.” He says red clover (Trifolium pratense) is a more nutritious, nourishing food-like tonic for everyday. The specific medicinal profile for black cohosh is dull, achy inflammatory pain whether its muscle, uterine, tension or irritation in the prostate and headaches. McDonald says it acts in the rheumatoid spectrum of joint inflammation and for tender muscles in chronic fatigue syndrome. “A key indication is it has a strong effect on mood and disposition for people with a brooding, melancholy, dark cloud over their head with negative self-talk.”

References

Johnson TL, Fahey JW. Black cohosh: coming full circle?. J Ethnopharmacol. 2012;141(3):775-779. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2012.03.050

Gladstar R. Black Cohosh. [Internet]. Plant Walk video. Learning Herbs c2024. Available from https://www.learningherbs.com/products/plant-walks/categories/2154972023/posts/2176038680

McDonald J. Black Cohosh. [Internet]. Plant Walk video. Learning Herbs c2024. Available from https://www.learningherbs.com/products/plant-walks/categories/2154971239/posts/2176035651