Improve Health and Wellness With Herbal Black Cohosh

Black cohosh is a tall perennial plant that is part of the buttercup family. It can be found growing in eastern and central areas of the United States. The juice of this plant can be used as an insect repellant. It can also be made into a salve and applied to snake bites. The dried roots and underground stems, rhizomes, are the parts of black cohosh used medicinally. These are available in health food stores, some drug stores, and online. One can find this herb in a tea, capsule, tablet, or liquid extract forms. As of now, the active compound is believed to be 26-deoxyactein.

Black cohosh was introduced in 1831 by a Dr. Young. This nutrient was used as a cardiac tonic for a fatty heart, bronchitis, hysteria, and female problems. Black cohosh was called snakeroot by Native Americans and used as a traditional folk remedy, due to its ability to help with snakebites. This nutrient was used by the Algonquin Indians to treat menstrual symptoms, childbirth, and female complaints.

Recent research supports the use of black cohosh for high blood pressure and heart problems. This is because it equalizes circulation and also helps with asthma and bronchial complaints. Its use as an antidote for snakebites and to treat menstrual and menopausal complaints has been supported by scientific research since then.

Black cohosh has been found to be a beneficial alternative to hormone therapy after numerous studies on its use for perimenopause and postmenopause. One study, which involved 110 menopausal women, was treated with black cohosh. Symptoms such as depression and hot flashes were reduced significantly. It is thought that this is due to the fact that black cohosh reduces the secretion of lutenizing hormone. This lutenizing hormone is linked to hot flashes, drying and thinning of the vaginal walls, night sweats, and other menopausal symptoms.

Black cohosh has been used for many other ailments since its first use. Among these include excess mucus, yellow fever, spinal meningitis, nervousness, epilepsy, and hormone imbalance. This nutrient is also used to treat all types of inflammation. The use of black cohosh for nervous conditions, irritability, TB, pleurisy, and tinnitus is supported by much research.

The root of black cohosh is used to provide alterative, antispasmodic, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, nervine, and oxytocic properties. The primary nutrients found in black cohosh include calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, silicon, sodium, sulfur, vitamins A, B1, B2, C, K, F, and zinc.

Primarily, black cohosh is beneficial in treating asthma, insect and snake bites, bronchitis, childbirth pain, diarrhea, epilepsy, estrogen deficiency, fevers, hormone imbalance, hot flashes, inflammation, lung disorders, malaria, menopausal symptoms, menstrual symptoms, spinal meningitis, bee stings, tuberculosis and whooping cough.

Additionally, black cohosh can be very helpful in treating arthritis, lower back pain, blood impurities, high blood pressure, cholera, convulsions, coughs, uterine cramps, gastric disorders, headaches, heart problems, insomnia, kidney problems, liver disorders, nervous conditions, neuralgia, pain, rheumatism, skin conditions, smallpox, and uterine problems. For more information of the beneficial effects provided by black cohosh, please contact a representative from your local health food store.

*Statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Black cohosh is not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease. Always consult with your professional health care provider before changing any medication or adding Vitamins to medications.