Actaea racemosa, Cimicifuga racemosa   Black cohosh,  Black snakeroot, Bugbane, Rattleroot, Macrotis, Squawroot   Family: Ranunculaceae
Actaea or Cimicifuga?
PART USED: Rhizome and roots- collected in Autumn
TASTE: Bitter and acrid ODOR: Disagreeable, odorless
ACTIONS
GROUP: Antirheumatics- Anti-inflammatory.
1. Antirheumatic.[1,2] Antiinflammatory.[4]
2. Sedative.[1,2,4]
3. Anti-spasmodic- especially to the female reproductive organs. Emmenagogue.[4]
4. Diuretic.[4]
5. Emmenagogue.[1]
6. Antitussive.[1,4]
7. Hypotensive, causing vasodilation.
INDICATIONS
1. Dysmenorrhea.[1,4] Uterine colic.[1] Depression with menstruation. Uterine cramps including dysmenorrhea. Ovarian pain.
2. Rheumatoid arthritis.[1] Intercostal myalgia.[1] Rheumatism.[4]
3. Whooping cough.[1,4] Bronchitis.[4]
4. Neuralgia. Sciatica.[1,4] Epilepsy.
5. Chorea.[1] St. Vitus' Dance.
6. Tinnitus aurium.[1]
SPECIFIC INDICATIONS: Muscular rheumatism.[1] Rheumatoid arthritis.[1]
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Should not be used in very weak Hot conditions, as has a diaphoretic action which drains energy further and can damage liver.
Black cohosh is a very widely used herb, however it has been rarely associated with causing a liver reaction in some individuals; the injury is generally unpredictable and may be reversible. Symptoms of liver disease can include jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes), dark urine, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, unusual tiredness, appetite loss, fever, bloated abdomen or abdominal pain. If these symptoms occur, stop consuming and contact physician.
Consumers who experience any of these symptoms while taking, or after using, a Black cohosh product should seek medical advice. Consumers who have previously experienced any liver complaints should not take Black cohosh without consulting their doctor first.
Overdose in humans causes headaches, dizziness, vomiting, termors, gastroenteritis, and pathogenic erections.[4]
COMBINATIONS
- Rheumatism, use with with Bogbean or Celery seed.
- Tinnitus, use with Prickly ash bark.
PREPARATIONS 3X/day
Powdered root/ Dry root   0.3-2 g,[1,2,4] or by decoction.[1]
Liquid extract 1:1 in 90% alcohol  0.3-2 ml.[1,2,4]
Liquid extract 1:2 in 35%.[3] 60%.[5]
Tincture 1:10 in 60% alcohol  2-4 ml.[1,4]

ORIGIN: Canada and the USA.
DESCRIPTION: A perennial herb. Rhizome thick, hard and knotty, with short lateral branches, cylindrical, copressed, marked with transverse leaf scars. Transverse section horny with a hard, thick bark. Rhootlets, when present, show a Maltese Corss effect in transverse section.
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Constituents
Research
Pharmacological studies have shown that the methanol extract binds to oestrogen receptors in vitro and in rat uteri; this is thought to be due to the presence of formononetin.[1] It is also hyptensive in animals, causes peripheral vasodilation in man,[2] is a central nervous sytem depressant and antispasmodic in mice,[3] and has hypoglycaemic and antiinflammatory activity.[4,5]
References
[1] Jarry, H. et al. (1985) Planta Med. 4, 316
[2] Genzzani, E. et al. (1962) Mature 194, 544
[3] Shibata, M. et al. (1980) Yakugaku Zasshi 100, 1143
[4] Benoit, P. S. et al (1976) Lloydia 39, 160
[5] Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients used in Food Drugs and Cosmetics, Albert Y. Leung. Pub. John Wiely & Sons Inc (1980) NY

Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa, Cimicifuga racemosa) behaves as a mixed competitive ligand and partial agonist at the human mu opiate receptor.
Rhyu MR, Lu J, Webster DE, Fabricant DS, Farnsworth NR, Wang ZJ.
Abstract
Black cohosh is a commonly used botanical dietary supplement for the treatment of climacteric complaints. Because the opiate system in the brain is intimately associated with mood, temperature, and sex hormonal levels, the activity of black cohosh extracts at the human mu opiate receptor (hMOR) expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells was investigated. The 100% methanol, 75% ethanol, and 40% 2-propanol extracts of black cohosh effectively displaced the specific binding of [3H]DAMGO to hMOR. Further studies of the clinically used ethanol extract indicated that black cohosh acted as a mixed competitive ligand, displacing 77 +/- 4% [3H]DAMGO to hMOR (Ki = 62.9 microg/mL). Using the [35S]GTPgammaS assay, the action of black cohosh was found to be consistent with an agonist, with an EC50 of 68.8 +/- 7.7 microg/mL. These results demonstrate for the first time that black cohosh contains active principle(s) that activate hMOR, supporting its beneficial role in alleviating menopausal symptoms.
PMID: 17177511 PMCID: PMC2547488 DOI: 10.1021/jf062808u J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Dec 27;54(26):9852-7. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov