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Black Cohosh
Cimicifuga racemosa
Ranunculaceae
Citations
Names : Black Snakeroot, Bugbane, Rattleroot, Rattleweed, Squawroot.
Habitat : USA and Canada.
Collection : The roots are unearthed with the rhizome in autumn after
the fruits have ripened. They should be cut lengthwise and dried
carefully.
Part Used : Root and rhizome; dried, not fresh.
Constituents : o Triterpene glycosides, including actein, cimigoside,
cimifugine (=macrotin),
racemoside
o Isoflavones such as formononetin
o Isoferulic acid
o Miscellaneous; volatile oil, tannin.
Actions : Emmenagogue, anti-spasmodic, alterative, nervine, hypotensive.
Indications : Black Cohosh is a most valuable herb that has a powerful
action as a relaxant and a normalizer of the female reproductive system.
It may be used beneficially in cases of painful or delayed menstruation.
Ovarian cramps or cramping pain in the womb will be relieved by Black
Cohosh. It is very active in the treatment of rheumatic pains, but also
in rheumatoid arthritis, osteo-arthritis, in muscular and neurological
pain. It finds use in sciatica and neuralgia. As a relaxing nervine it
may be used in many situations where such an agent is needed. It has
been found beneficial in cases of tinnitus. Because of the wealth of
accrued experience, it is worth quoting from Kings American
Dispensatory:
Kings This is a very active, powerful, and useful remedy, and appears to
fulfil a great number of indications. It possesses an undoubted
influence over the nervous system. In small doses the appetite and
digestion are improved, and larger amounts augment the secretions of the
gastro-intestinal tract. Excretions from the skin and kldneys are
increased by it, the peculiar earthy odor of the drug being imparted to
the urine; the secretions of the bronchial mucous surfaces are also
augmented under its administration. The heart-beat is slowed and given
increased power by it, while arterial tension is elevated.
Upon the reproductive organs it exerts a specific influence, promoting
the menstrual discharge, and by its power of increasing contractility of
the unstriped fibres of the uterus, it acts as an efficient parturient.
The venereal propensity in man is said to be stimulated by Cimicifuga.
Few of our remedies have acquired as great a reputation in the treatment
of rheumatism and neuralgia. Indeed, few cases of rheumatism, or
conditions depending upon a rheumatic basis, will present, which will
not be influenced for the better by Cimicifuga. Rheumatism of the heart,
diaphragm, psoas muscles, lumbago stiff neck in fact all cases
characterized by that kind of pain known as "rheumatic" dull,
tensive intermittent, as if dependent upon a contracted state of
muscular fibre, soreness in muscular tissue, especially over the abdomen
and in the extensor and flexor muscles of the extremities, all yield
readily to it.
Muscular pain of a rheumatoid character, when not amounting to a true
rheumatic attack, and other rheumatoid pains when acute and not of
spinal origin such as gastralgia, enteralgia, tenesmic vesical pains,
pleurodynia, pain in the mediastina orbits or ears, are relieved by
Cimicifuga. In diseases of the ear the drug is indicated when the
condition is aggravated by rheumatic association, or in neuralgia of the
parts with stiffness in the faucial and pharyngeal muscles. In eye
strain, giving rise to headache, and associated with a sensation of
stiffness in the ocular muscles, or a bruised feeling in the muscles of
the frontal region, it will give marked benefit. In doses of 1 fluid
drachm of the tincture, repeated every hour, it has effected thorough
cures of acute conjunctivitis, without the aid of any local application.
Cimicifuga plays a very important part in the therapeutics of
gynaecology. It is a remedy for atony of the reproductive tract. In the
painful conditions incident to imperfect menstruation, its remedial
action is fully displayed. By its special affinity for the female
reproductive organs, it is an efficient agent for the restoratlon of
suppressed menses. It is even a better remedy in that variety of
amenorrhoea termed absentio mesium. In dysmenorrhoea it is surpassed by
no other drug, being of greatest utility in irritative and congestive
conditions of the uterus and appendages, characterized by tensive,
dragging pains, resembling the pains of rheumatism. If the patient be
despondent and chilly, combine Cimicifuga with Pulsatilla, especially in
anemic subjects. It is a good remedy for the reflex side-aches of the
unmarred woman; also for mastitis and mastodynia. It should be
remembered in rheumatism of the uterus, and in uterine leucorrhoea, with
a flabby condition of the viscus, its effects are decided. When there is
a disordered action or lack of functional power in the uterus, giving
rise to sterility, Cimicifuga often corrects the impaired condition and
cures. Reflex mammary pains during gestation are met by it, and in
rheumatic subjects it promptly relieves such ovarian troubles as
ovaralgia and neuralgia, the pain being of an aching character.
Orchialgia and aching sensations of the prostate are conditions calling
for Cimicifuga , and as a tonic it is not without good effects in
spermatorrhoea.
Cimicifuga has proved a better agent in obstetrical practice than ergot.
It produces natural intermittent uterine contractions, whereas ergot
produces constant contractions, thereby endangering the life of the
child, or rupture of the uterus. Where the pains are inefficient,
feeble, or irregular, Cimicifuga will stimulate to normal action. It is
an excellent partus praeparator if given for several weeks before
confinement. It is a diagnostic agent to differentiate between spurious
and true labor pains, the latter being increased, while the former are
dissipated under its use. It is the best and safest agent known for the
relief of after-pains, and is effectual in allaying the general
excitement of the nervous system after labor.
Cimicifuga exerts, a powerful influence over the nervous system, and has
long been favorably known as a remedy for chorea. It may be used alone
or with Valeriana, equal parts. It is, particularly useful here when
associated with amenorrhoea, or when the menstrual function fails to act
for the first time. Its action is slow, but its effects, are permanent.
It has been used successfully as an antispasmodlc in hysteria, epilepsy
when due to menstrual failures, asthma and kindred affections,
periodical convulsions, nervous excitability, pertussis, delirium
tremens and many other spasmodic affections.
For headache, whether congestive or from cold, neuralgia, dysmenorrhoea,
or from la grippe, it is promptly curative. As a palliative agent in
phthisis pulmonalis, good results are obtained, in that it lessens
cough, soothes the pain, especially the aching under the scapulae,
lessens secretions and allays nervous irritability. Fevers, intermittant
and remittent have been benefited by it; well-marked antiperiodic and
tonic virtues having been observed in the drug. In the exanthemata, it
is a valuable agent, controlling pain, especially the terrible bone
aches of smallpox, rendering the disease much milder. In scarlatina and
measles, it relieves the headache and the backache preceding the
eruptions. It is stated that it has been used in the south with some
success as a prophylactic against variola. Cimicifuga exerts a tonic
influence over both the serous and mucous tissues of the system, and
will be found a superior remedy in the majority of chronic diseases of
these parts. In all cases where acidity of the stomach is present, this
should first be removed, or some mild alkaline preparation be
administered in conjunction with the remedy, before any beneficial
change will ensue. As a remedy for pain, Cimicifuga is a very prompt
agent, often relieving in a few hours, painful conditions that have
existed for a long time
The saturated tincture of the root is recommended as a valuable
embrocation in all cases where a stimulant, tonic, anodyne, and
alterative combined is required, as in all cases of inflammation of the
nerves, tic-dolloureux, periodic cephalic pain, inflammation of the
spine, ovarian inflammation, spasms of the broad ligaments, rheumatism,
crick in the back or side, inflammation of the eyes, old ulcers, etc.
Preparations of Cimicifuga, to be of any medicinal value, must be
prepared from recently dried roots.
Preparations & Dosage : Decoction: pour a cup of water onto l/2-l
teaspoonfuls of the dried root and bring to boil. Let it simmer for
l0-l5 minutes. This should be drunk three times a day.
Tincture: take 2-4 ml of the tincture three times a day.
As a partus accelerator, it may be substituted for, and should be
preferred to, ergot; 1/2 drachm of the powdered root may be given in
warm water every 15 or 20 minutes, until the expulsive action of the
uterus is induced, and which it seldom fails to bring on speedily and
powerfully. In acute troubles, as acute muscular rheumatism, and in
false pains, and as an oxytocic, Webster prefers the strong decoction of
the recent root in tablespoonful doses. The fluid extract of black
cohosh may be used in all cases where the article is indicated; its dose
is from 1/2 fluid drachm to 2 fluid drachms. The ordinary dose for its
specific effects is a teaspoonful of a mixture of from 10 drops to 1
drachm of Cimicifuga tincture in 4 ounces of water, the larger or
smaller dose being determined by the condition of the patient.
The herbalist by David Hoffman, (c)1993 David Hoffman, Hopkins
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