> Supplement Index > Black Cohosh / Cimicifuga racemosa > Black Cohosh General Information Black Cohosh Uses & Scientific Evidence For Black Cohosh Dosage Information Black Cohosh Safety & Interaction Information Buy Black Cohosh Supplements and Products - - - - - - - - - - - - Back to Top - - - - - - - - - - - - Black Cohosh General Information Originally found in the northeastern United States, Black Cohosh is a tall perennial herb that Native Americans used for women’s health problems, arthritis, fatigue, and snakebite. The colonists rapidly adopted the herb for similar uses, and by the 19th century, Black Cohosh was widely used as a treatment for menstrual cramps. In Europe it was used for women’s problems, arthritis, and high blood pressure. Black Cohosh is a plant that produces effects similar to estrogen; however, there is no evidence that it works like estrogen. - - - - - - - - - - - - Back to Top - - - - - - - - - - - - Black Cohosh Uses & Scientific Evidence For Germany’s Commission E recommends using Black Cohosh for treating menopause, dysmenorrhea, and PMS. Clinical results show improvement in hot flashes, sweating, headache, vertigo, heart palpitations, tinnitus, nervousness, irritability, sleep disturbance, anxiety, vaginal dryness, and depression. As a treatment for menopause, medical studies reported Black Cohosh to be more effective than estrogen in relieving symptoms and in normalizing the appearance of vaginal cells under microscopic evaluation. In treating PMS and dysmenorrhea though, Black Cohosh was mildly effective (if at all). - - - - - - - - - - - - Back to Top - - - - - - - - - - - - Black Cohosh Dosage Information The recommended dosage is 1 or 2 tablets 2 times a day of a standardized extract, manufactured to contain 1 mg of 27-deoxyacteine per tablet. Black Cohosh can take 4 to 6 weeks to produce the full benefits. Do not confuse it with Blue Cohosh, which is potentially more dangerous because the chemicals in it are toxic to the heart. - - - - - - - - - - - - Back to Top - - - - - - - - - - - - Black Cohosh Safety & Interaction Information Black Cohosh rarely has side effects other than occasional mild gastrointestinal distress. Unlike estrogen, it is not known if Black Cohosh does not stimulate breast cancer cells like estrogen does; therefore, safety in women with previous breast cancer is not certain. Due to the potential hormonal activity, Black Cohosh is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women, or for adolescents. - - - - - - - - - - - - Back to Top - - - - - - - - - - - Buy Black Cohosh Supplements and Products Below