Black Cohosh

Botanical

Cimicifuga racemosa (NUTT.) 

Family

N.O. Ranunculaceae

Synonyms

Black Snake Root. Rattle Root. Squaw Root. Bugbane.

Part Used

Root.

Habitat

A native of North America, where it grows freely in shady woods in Canada and the United States. It is called Black Snake Root to distinguish it from the Common Snake Root (Aristolochia serpentaria).

Description

The seeds are sent annually to Europe, and should be sown as soon as the season will permit. It flowers in June or early in July, but does not perfect seed in England, though it thrives well in moist shady borders and is perfectly hardy. It is a tall, herbaceous plant, with feathery racemes of white blossoms, 1 to 3 feet long, which being slender, droop gracefully. The fruits are dry.

The plant produces a stout, blackish rhizome (creeping underground stem), cylindrical, hard and knotty, bearing the remains of numerous stout ascending branches. It is collected in the autumn after the fruit is formed and the leaves have died down, then cut into pieces and dried. It has only a faint, disagreeable odour, but a bitter and acrid taste.

The straight, stout, dark brown roots which are given off from the under surface of the rhizome are bluntly quadrangular and furrowed. In the dried drug, they are brittle, broken off usually quite close to the rhizome. In transverse section, they show several wedge-shaped bundles of porous, whitish wood. A similar section of the rhizome shows a large dark-coloured, horny pith, surrounded by a ring of numerous pale wedges of wood, alternately with dark rays, outside which is a thin, dark, horny bark.

Constituents

The chief constituent of Cimicifuga root is the amorphous resinous substance known as Cimicifugin, or Macrotin, of which it contains about 18 per cent but the bitter taste is due to a crystalline principle named Racemosin. The drug also contains two resins, together with fat, wax starch, gum, sugar and an astringent substance. Black cohosh

Medicinal Action and Uses

Astringent, emmenagogue, diuretic, alterative, expectorant. The root of this plant is much used in America in many disorders, and is supposed to be an antidote against poison and the bite of the rattlesnake. The fresh root, dug in October, is used to make a tincture. Black cohosh

In small doses, it is useful in children's diarrhoea. Black cohosh

In the paroxyms of consumption, it gives relief by allaying the cough, reducing the rapidity of the pulse and inducing perspiration. In whooping-cough, it proves very effective.

The infusion and decoction have been given with success in rheumatism. Black cohosh

In infantile disorders, it is given in the form of syrup. It is said to be a specific in St. Vitus' Dance of children. Overdoses produce nausea and vomiting. Black cohosh

The Scientific Evidence For Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga Racemosa or Reminfemin) For Menopausal Symptom Relief
Most of the studies done used the Remifemin version of the herb. Many of the studies were done by the manufacturer of Remifemin.

Studies compared Black Cohosh to Estrogen Replacement (for physical and psychological symptoms) and valium (for psychological only), and to women not taking anything. In more than one study, black cohosh has been found to improve a myriad of physical and mood symptoms in the menopausal women who took it. Women who took it did as well as those who took estrogen or valium, and better than those who took nothing.

Black cohosh was not found to cause any of the side effects commonly associated with hormone replacement. While it is reported that nausea and vomiting can be due to overdose, no evidence of discontinuation due to side effects was found. Over 93% of women in one study reported no side effects.

Black Cohosh is not associated with increased breast cancer rates, nor dysfunctional uterine bleeding. It is not habit-forming. It does not interact with other medications. It is considered non-toxic.

Chemistry and Pharmacology of Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga Racemosa or Reminfemin)
It is classified as a phytoestrogen. It is from the plant family N.O. Ranunculaceae. The active components of the natural form include: acetin, cimicifugioside, acetylacteal, 27-deoxyactin, cimigenol, deoxyacetylateal. The processed forms also include isoterulic and salicylic acid (the main ingredient is aspirin).

It is not known exactly how it works. But studies on animals and women have shown that its various components act on the hormonal system in at various levels. Some do bind to estrogen receptors in the body. It causes LH, but not FSH suppression. (Estrogens cause both to be suppresed, when they both rise they are signs of menopause) . Some studies have found it to cause an increase in vaginal epithelium that is superior to estrogen replacment.

Preparations

Fluid extract, U.S.P., 15 to 30 drops. Fluid extract, B.P., 5 to 30 drops. Tincture, U.S.P., 1 drachm. Tincture, B.P., 15 to 60 drops. Cimicifugin, 1 to 6 grains. Powdered extract, U.S.P., 4 grains.

Consumer Guide

Black cohosh  is a popular Native American and Chinese remedy for female ailments and menstrual cramps, as well as fatigue, anxiety, rheumatoid arthritis, and respiratory conditions. In menopausal women, Black Cohosh extract reduces blood levels of a hormone associated with the negative physical and psychic effects of pre-menstrual syndrome and menopause, such as hot flashes, uterine spasms, depression, and dysmenorrhea.

Black cohosh preparations are derived from the root and rhizome of a shrub-like plant (Cimicifuga racemosa) also known as black snakeroot. The name Black cohosh is derived from the dark colour and the rough and gnarly structure of the root. (Cohosh is Algonquin for "rough.") The plant is native to eastern forests of North America.

Traditional uses

Black cohosh is a popular Native American and folk remedy for female ailments and menstrual cramps, as well as fatigue, anxiety, rheumatoid arthritis, and respiratory conditions like bronchitis. It was an ingredient in Lydia Pinkham's Vegetable Compound, a best-selling women's patent medicine of the late 19th century, at which time the herb was listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia and National Formulary.

Under the name "shoma," Traditional Chinese Medicine has long employed other Cimicifuga species (e.g., C. foetida, C. simplex Wormsk.) for similar purposes, as well as for alleviation of fever, pain, and inflammation.

Potential benefits

Black cohosh is also widely used in Germany for discomfort from menopause. It may have uses as a sedative and anti-inflammatory, and can lower blood pressure and possibly help control diabetes.

How do scientists think it works?

Animal studies have provided conflicting results on the question of whether Black cohosh has oestrogen-like effects in women. However, research involving animals and humans indicates that Black cohosh contains substances with endocrine (hormonal) activity. In menopausal women and animals, Black cohosh extract reduces the serum concentration of pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH), which is associated with negative physical and psychic effects of pre-menstrual syndrome and menopause, such as hot flashes, uterine spasms, depression, and dysmenorrhea. Numerous clinical studies indicate that the herb suppresses the increase in LH and may offer an effective, slower-acting alternative to oestrogen therapy. Experiments conducted in vivo and in vitro indicate that the LH suppressive effect may be initiated by three types of compounds that (1) do not bind to oestrogen receptors but suppress release of LH; (2) bind to oestrogen receptors and suppress LH; (3) bind to oestrogen receptors with no effect on LH.

In experimental rodents, constituents of Black cohosh reduced inflammation in response to influenza infections, via inhibition of interleukin 8-a compound that stimulates congregation of pro-inflammatory neutrophils (white blood cells).

In Europe, Black cohosh extract is also used as a therapy for spastic parametropathy, a neurovegetative disorder of the pelvis.

Black cohosh contains triterpene glycosides, including actein, racemoside, 27-deoxyactein, and cimicifugoside. An isoflavone called formononetin has been identified as binding to oestrogen receptors in the rat uterus, and cimicifugoside is believed to affect the hypothalamus-pituitary system, with effects on the reproductive and nervous systems. Aromatic acids (ferulic acid and isoferulic acid) are believed responsible for the drug's anti-inflammatory effects.

Types of products

It comes in capsules, concentrated drops, and extracts. The most popular products (e.g., Remifemin) are standardised to contain a minimum of 2.5% triterpene glycosides.

Safety

This herb promotes menstruation and should be avoided during pregnancy. It has other potential side effects, and is should be used under the supervision of an educated practitioner.

References

• Duker EM, et al. Effects of extracts from C. racemosa on gonadotropin release in menopausal women and ovariectomized rats. Planta Med 57(5):420-4, 1991.

• Jarry H, Harnischfeger G. Studies on the endocrine effects of contents of cimicifuga racemosa 1. Influence on the serum concentration of pituitary hormones in ovariectomized rats. Planta Med 51: 46-49, 1985. [German]

• Jaspersen-Schib R. Cimicifuga et troubles de la ménopause. Schwiez Apoth Ztg 128: 155-7, 1990 [French] Schwiez Apoth Ztg 127: 348-50, 1989 [German].

• Lehmann-Willenbrock E, Riedel HH. clinical and endocrinologic studies of the treatment of ovarian insufficiency manifestations following hysterectomy with intact adnexa. Zentralblatt fur Gynakologie 110(10): 611-18. [German]

• Shibata M et al. Pharmacological studies on the Chinese crude drug "Shoma." 1. Acute toxicity and anti-inflammatory action of Cimicifuga rhizoma, Cimicifuga dahuria maxim. Yagugaku Zasshi - J Pharm Soc of Japan. 95: 539-546.

• Einer-Jensen, N., et al., "Cimicifuga and Melbrosia lack oestrogenic effects in mice and rats," Maturitas (1996), 25(2):149-53

Black Cohosh Abstract

Title: Cimicifuga and Melbrosia lack oestrogenic effects in mice and rats Author: Einer-Jensen N; Zhao J; Andersen KP; Kristoffersen K Address: Department of Physiology, Odense University, Denmark Source: Maturitas, 25(2):149-53 1996 Oct
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: The natural medicines, Cimicifuga and Melbrosia, are widely sold. Cimicifuga is an extract of Cimicifuga racemosa (L.), and Melbrosia is a mixture of Gel´ee Royale, perga-pollen and pollen. Cimicifuga and Melbrosia are used through self- medication to relieve symptoms of hot flushes and other menstrual or menopausal discomfort in many of the Danish women consulting private gynaecologists. A gynaecologist tends to treat these symptoms with oestrogen, so the present experiments were therefore made to investigate whether Cimicifuga and Melbrosia have oestrogenic effects as defined by the classical biological methods: uterine growth in immature mice and vaginal cornification in ovariectomized rats. METHODS: Vehicle, 6, 60 or 600 mg/kg Cimicifuga or 30, 300 or 3000 mg/kg Melbrosia was administered orally for 3 days to groups of 10 immature mice and the uterus weight measured on the fourth day. Similarly, vehicle, 6, 60, 600 mg/kg Cimicifuga or 3, 30, 300 mg/kg Melbrosia was injected subcutaneously in groups of 12 ovariectomized rats for 3 days and vaginal smears investigated for signs of cornified cells. All experiments were repeated once. RESULTS: No signs of an oestrogenic effect connected with the preparations were found in any of the experiments. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that the eventual beneficial effects on menstrual or menopausal discomfort connected with Cimicifuga and Melbrosia self-medication cannot be explained as a traditional oestrogenic effect as measured in biological experiments. Language Eng Unique Identifier 97061576 MESH Headings Animal; Climacteric DE; Denmark; Oestrogen Replacement Therapy; Estrogens, Non- Steroidal *PD; Female; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Plant Extracts *PD; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Sex Maturation *DE; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Uterus DE Publication Type JOURNAL ARTICLE ISSN 0378-5122 Country of Publication IRELAND