HealingFoodWorks

The name of this herb, which was introduced to early settlers by native Americans, comes from the Algonquin word called Cohosh, meaning "knobby, rough, roots".  Native American women traditionally relied on black cohosh for women’s diseases.  By the 1800s, herbal healers became convinced that black cohosh healed everything and used it to treat everything from snake bites to small-pox to hypochondria.  By 1912  black cohosh was one of the medicinal herbs most frequently prescribed by American Physicians. 

Healing potential of Black Cohosh:

Black cohosh supplies estrogenic sterols and glycosides chemicals (these help the body produce and use a variety of hormones) and the host of micronutrients.  According to an expert panel that judges the safety and effectiveness of herbal medicines for the German government, black cohosh is effective for treating PMS and painful menstruation.  In fact, studies indicate that it can be effective as hormone replacement therapy for relieving hot flashes and other menopausal difficulties. 

Black Cohosh can be taken in the form of a decoction or a tincture or in capsules It was reccommeneded black cohosh not be used for more than six months.  Do not use this herb if you suspect that you are pregnant, because it stimulates the uterus and can cause premature contractions.  Do not use while nursing.  The dried herbs as well as the plant can be purchased through mail order sources.  Black cohosh is easy to grow in rich, moist soil in light shade.  The part of the plant used rhizome or root.

Tags: Black Cohosh, food, healing