History of Traditional Use of Black Cohosh

This particular species is Native to the rich woodlands of the Eastern part of the US from Massachusetts all the way west to Indiana and as far south as Missouri and Georgia. It has many common names; Snakeroot, Bugbane, Fairy Candles, Rattletop, depending on where you are. Its medicinal uses are well noted in the literature dating back to the 1800's where you will most likely find with the name, Macrotys after a group of “resins” early chemists isolated from the rhizomes. Native American tribes; including Cherokee, Algonquian, and Iroquois used the plant as an alcohol extract (“in spirits”), to support a healthy inflammatory response in rheumatism, to support bronchial health, to support normal levels of energy, and to support the female reproductive system during the menopausal and perimenopausal years.

Structure Function Claims

Supports the Female reproductive organs.

Supports Normal symptomatic transition into menopause.

Supports the body’s adaptation associated with normal menstrual cycles.

Supports balanced change of life.

Mechanism of Theraputic Action

There are many “active” chemicals in Black Cohosh root including; Phytosterin, the isoflavone formononentin; isoferulic, fukinolic, caffeic, and salicylic acids, sugars, tannins, long chain fatty acids, 15-20% resins including cimicifugin and triterpene glycosides. The triterpine glycosides particularly 27 deoxyacetin, and acetin are the chemicals used to standardize the most effective preparations used in published clinical trials. It is approved by the German Comission E monographs for the following applications; complaints of premenstrual, dysmenorrhoeic, or climacteric origin. In one randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled comparative clinical trial, 80 women with climacteric symptoms received a standardized preparation of Black Cohosh, conjugated estrogens (.625 mg/day) or placebo for 12 weeks. At the end of the treatments patients receiving Black Cohosh had improved compared to both placebo and estrogen. Both physical (measured by the Kupperman index) and psychological (measured by the Hamilton Anxiety Scale) symptoms were significantly improved. More research is needed to fully understand the exact mechanism of activity.

Stoll W. Therapeutikon 1987; 1:23-31.

Felter HW, Lloyd JU. King’s American Dispensatory, 18th edn, 3rd revision vol 1, 1905.

Jarry H, Harnischfeger G, Duker EM. Planta Medica 1985; 51 (4): 316-19

Specific Differentiation of Gaia Herbs Product

The bioactivity profile for Black Cohosh Liquid Phyto-Caps contains an impressive 4mg of the active triterpene glycosides per serving which is more than double the amount available in most preparations. The product is also standardized to all active constituents using Whole Plant Standardization which ensures that it maintains a full spectrum of the phytochemicals found in the herb while maintaining the exact concentration of the scientifically validated marker compounds, the triterpene glycosides. Recently the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (54, 9:3242-53, 2006) reported that 3 of 11 black cohosh supplements purchased between 2002 and 2004 did not contain North American Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa), but instead contained a Chinese Black Cohosh (Actaea spp.) that does not contain the same active compounds. This is one of the many reasons to choose Gaia Herbs who uses SOP’s and strict manufacturing procedures to validate purity and concentration.

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