Black Cohosh (has a safety note)
BotanicalActaea racemosa (syn. Cimicifuga racemosa)Also calledBlack snakeroot, Bugbane, Macrotys, Rattleweed, Fairy candle
A dark, knotted woodland root with a bitter, earthy taste, long used in North American herbalism for women in midlife. Read the cautions first.
* Safety note: Linked to rare liver injury and hormone questions; read the cautions before use. Read the cautions
Black cohosh grows in the shady hardwood forests of eastern North America, sending up tall white flower spires in early summer that earned it the name fairy candle. The part used is the dark, knotted root, which has a bitter, acrid, earthy taste. Cherokee and other Native American nations used it widely, and 19th century Eclectic physicians made it one of their staple herbs.
Black cohosh is not part of classical Ayurveda. Modern Ayurvedic writers describe it as bitter, pungent and cooling, a herb that settles pitta and kapha but can dry out vata. Today it is mostly sold as an extract for the menopausal years, and it is also one of the herbs most often linked to liver injury reports, which is why this page is mostly about using it carefully, if at all.
Ayurvedic Properties
Not described in classical Ayurveda; modern Ayurvedic writers describe it as bitter, pungent and astringent with a cooling energy and pungent vipaka, settling pitta and kapha but able to aggravate vata in excess (Satyori herb guide).
- RasaTastes
- ViryaHeating or cooling
- Cooling
- VipakaPost-digestive effect
- Pungent
- AgniEffect on digestion
- Neutral for agni
Bitter and cooling, it has little traditional role in digestion.
- GunaQualities
- TridoshaEffect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha
- Vata: increases in excess
- Pitta: decreases
- Kapha: decreases
- ↓decreases (calms that dosha)
- ↑increases (can aggravate it)
- =neutral or balancing
- ?not known
- V Vata · P Pitta · K Kapha
Cooling and bitter, black cohosh is described as a herb for pitta heat and kapha heaviness. Its dry, cold nature can unsettle vata, so modern practitioners pair it with warming, grounding herbs and keep use short.
Traditional Uses
- Traditionally used to support women through the midlife transition, in Native American and later Western herbal practice.
- Traditionally used to support comfort in the muscles and joints in 19th century American Eclectic medicine.
- Traditionally used to support a cool, settled feeling when pitta heat rises, in modern Western Ayurvedic practice.
How People Use It
- TeaOnly after talking with your doctor: gently simmer 1/2 teaspoon of dried root in 2 cups of water for 15 to 20 minutes, strain, and drink one cup a day for a short period. The taste is strongly bitter.
Black Cohosh Root Decoction with Cinnamon
A small, warming cup for the short term, with cinnamon and ginger to balance the root's cold, dry nature.
- 1/2 teaspoon dried black cohosh root
- 1 small piece cinnamon stick
- 1 thin slice fresh ginger
- 2 cups water
- A little honey once it has cooled slightly (optional)
- Put the root, cinnamon and ginger in a small pan with the water.
- Bring to a gentle simmer, cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Strain into a mug and let it cool a little before adding honey.
- Drink one cup a day for a few weeks at most, and only with your doctor's knowledge.
Pairs Well With
Cautions
- Cases of liver damage, some very serious, have been reported in people taking products labeled as black cohosh. These are rare and it is uncertain whether black cohosh itself was the cause, but NIH LiverTox rates products sold as black cohosh as a well established cause of liver injury. Do not use it if you have liver disease or drink alcohol heavily, and stop and see your doctor if you notice dark urine, yellow skin or eyes, unusual tiredness or pain in the upper belly.
- It is uncertain whether black cohosh is safe for women who have had a hormone-sensitive condition such as breast or uterine cancer. Avoid it if you have, or if you take hormone therapy, unless your doctor approves.
- Black cohosh may not be safe during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Never use it to try to start labor.
- Black cohosh is a different plant from blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides), which has caused serious problems including in newborns. Check labels carefully.
- Some commercial black cohosh products have been found to contain the wrong herb or unlisted herbs. Buy from a supplier you trust.
- If you take any medicine, talk with your health care provider before using black cohosh; some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways.
- Please consult a qualified practitioner or your doctor before using black cohosh.
In Our Shop
Organic Black Cohosh Root, from $7.00. Weighed and packed by hand at our Rockville Centre studio.
Shop Black Cohosh →Sources and Further Reading
This page shares how herbs are traditionally used in Ayurveda and other herbal traditions. It is for general education only and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and herbs are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please talk with your doctor or a qualified practitioner before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition.