Black Cohosh

Revision as of 19:08, 9 March 2009 by Zorkun (talk | contribs)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
style="background:#Template:Taxobox colour;"|Cimicifuga racemosa
File:Cimicifuga racemosa 002.jpg
style="background:#Template:Taxobox colour;" | Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Ranunculaceae
Genus: Cimicifuga
Species: C. racemosa
Binomial name
Cimicifuga racemosa
(L.) Nutt.

WikiDoc Resources for Black Cohosh

Articles

Most recent articles on Black Cohosh

Most cited articles on Black Cohosh

Review articles on Black Cohosh

Articles on Black Cohosh in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ

Media

Powerpoint slides on Black Cohosh

Images of Black Cohosh

Photos of Black Cohosh

Podcasts & MP3s on Black Cohosh

Videos on Black Cohosh

Evidence Based Medicine

Cochrane Collaboration on Black Cohosh

Bandolier on Black Cohosh

TRIP on Black Cohosh

Clinical Trials

Ongoing Trials on Black Cohosh at Clinical Trials.gov

Trial results on Black Cohosh

Clinical Trials on Black Cohosh at Google

Guidelines / Policies / Govt

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Black Cohosh

NICE Guidance on Black Cohosh

NHS PRODIGY Guidance

FDA on Black Cohosh

CDC on Black Cohosh

Books

Books on Black Cohosh

News

Black Cohosh in the news

Be alerted to news on Black Cohosh

News trends on Black Cohosh

Commentary

Blogs on Black Cohosh

Definitions

Definitions of Black Cohosh

Patient Resources / Community

Patient resources on Black Cohosh

Discussion groups on Black Cohosh

Patient Handouts on Black Cohosh

Directions to Hospitals Treating Black Cohosh

Risk calculators and risk factors for Black Cohosh

Healthcare Provider Resources

Symptoms of Black Cohosh

Causes & Risk Factors for Black Cohosh

Diagnostic studies for Black Cohosh

Treatment of Black Cohosh

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

CME Programs on Black Cohosh

International

Black Cohosh en Espanol

Black Cohosh en Francais

Business

Black Cohosh in the Marketplace

Patents on Black Cohosh

Experimental / Informatics

List of terms related to Black Cohosh

Please Take Over This Page and Apply to be Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [1] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.

Cimicifuga racemosa (Black cohosh, Black bugbane or Black snakeroot or Fairy candle; syn. Actaea racemosa) is a member of the family Ranunculaceae, native to eastern North America from the extreme south of Ontario south to central Georgia, and west to Missouri and Arkansas. It grows in a variety of woodland situations, and is often found in small woodland openings.

It is a glabrous herbaceous perennial plant, producing large, compound leaves from an underground rhizome, growing 0.25-0.6 m (7-18 in) tall. The basal leaves are up to 1 m (39 in.) long and broad, tripinnately compound, the leaflets with a coarsely toothed margin. The flowers are produced in late spring and early summer on a tall stem, 0.75-2.5 m (2½–8 ft) tall, in racemes up to 50 cm (20 in) long; they have no petals or sepals, only a tight cluster of 55-110 white stamens 5-10 mm long surrounding the white stigma. The flowers have a distinctly sweet smell. The fruit is a dry follicle 5-10 mm long containing several seeds.

Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides), despite its similar common name, is a plant of another genus.

Herbal use

Black cohosh has been included in herbal compounds or dietary supplements marketed to women as remedies for the symptoms of premenstrual tension, menopause and other gynecological problems. However, a recent study published in Annals of Medicine (December 19, 2006)[2]casts serious doubt on its efficacy. The researchers actually found black cohosh slightly less effective than a placebo and concluded that the herb "shows little potential as an important therapy for relief of vasomotor symptoms."[3] However, that study used a product that contained 5 mgs of the active component a day whereas the current daily recommended dose of the long-used standard Remifemin contains 2 mgs. The American Botanical Council discusses that study. [4]

It was thought that black cohosh contained estrogen-like chemicals, but recent research suggests that it works by binding to serotonin receptors. [5] Native Americans used black cohosh to treat gynecological disorders and other disorders as well, including sore throats, kidney problems, and even depression.

Black cohosh has been used as an abortifacient (see side effects).

Side effects

Black cohosh should not be used during pregnancy or lactation. There is a case report of neurological complications in a post-term baby after labor induction with a mixture of black cohosh and blue cohosh during a home birth.[1] Other cases of adverse outcomes experienced by neonates born to women who reportedly used blue cohosh to induce labor have been published in peer-reviewed journals.[2]

Black cohosh produces endometrial stimulation. Since black cohosh increases blood flow to the pelvic area, its use is not recommended during menses as it may increase or prolong bleeding.[3] Because of the possible estrogenic action, it should be used with caution after six months.[4] Additionally, black cohosh contains tannin, which inhibits iron absorption.[5] This, considered with possible effects of enhancing menstrual bleeding, gives good cause to monitor iron stores when taking black cohosh.

No studies have been published on long-term safety in humans.[6] However concerns arise that, in humans, because of its estrogen-like effects, long-term use may promote metastasis of estrogen-sensitive cancer tissue via stimulation of cells in the endometrium or breast. Black cohosh increased metastasis of cancer to the lungs (but did not cause an increased incidence of breast cancer) in an experiment done on mice (which was never published and the lung tumors were never biopsied, just observed.)NIH.pdf

The liver damage reported in a few individuals using black cohosh has been severe, but large numbers of women have taken the herb for years without reporting adverse health effects.[7] See the NIH link above for thorough discussion of the liver issue. While studies of black cohosh have not proven that the herb causes liver damage, Australia has added a warning to the label of all products containing black cohosh, stating that it may cause harm to the liver of some individuals and should not be used without medical supervision.[8]

Aside from pregnancy complications, increased menstrual bleeding, anemia, and rare but serious hepatic dysfunction, reported direct side-effects also include dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, and occasional gastric discomfort. Additional possible side effects include headaches, seizures, vomiting, sweating, constipation, low blood pressure, slow heartbeats, weight problems.[9]

Garden use

Cimicifuga racemosa grows in dependably moist, fairly heavy soil. It bears tall tapering racemes of white midsummer flowers on wiry black-purple stems, whose mildly unpleasant, medicinal smell at close range gives it the common name 'Bugbane'. The drying seed heads stay handsome in the garden for many weeks. Its burgundy, deeply cut leaves add interest to American gardens, wherever summer heat and drought do not make it die back, which make it a popular garden perennial.

External links

References

  1. Gunn TR, Wright IM: The use of black and blue cohosh in labour. New Zealand Medical Journal 109: 410-411, 1996. [PubMed abstract]
  2. Finkle RS, Zarlengo KM: Blue cohosh and perinatal stroke. New England Journal of Medicine 351: 302-303, 2004; Jones TK, Lawson BM: Profound neonatal congestive heart failure caused by maternal consumption of blue cohosh herbal medication. Journal of Pediatrics 132: 550-552, 1998
  3. http://www.stalkingthewild.com/sh/black_cohosh.html | Black Cohosh / Cimicuga racemosa / Herbal Relief For Women, by Phyllis D. Light, RH, LMT Women experiencing "abnormal uterine bleeding" are excluded from enrollment in a 2006 clinical trial to determine whether black cohosh may reduce menstrual anxiety | http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00120458
  4. The Complete German commission E Monographs recommends a use duration of not longer than 6 months.
  5. http://www.fammed.ouhsc.edu/ocfmr/journal/Herbal/herbal.htm | 1°Care Exchange -- A Reader-Directed Journal from the Oklahoma Center for Family Medicine Research / Volume 1, Number 1 January 1999.
  6. Questions and Answers About Black Cohosh and the Symptoms of Menopause | url=http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/BlackCohosh.asp
  7. Workshop on the Safety of Black Cohosh in Clinical Studies | url=http://nccam.nih.gov/news/pastmeetings/blackcohosh_mtngsumm.pdf#summary
  8. Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration alert | url=http://www.tga.gov.au/cm/blkcohosh.htm
  9. http://www.intellihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSSAN283/8513/31402/346466.html?d=dmtContent | Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)

Template:SIB de:Trauben-Silberkerze


Template:WikiDoc Sources