Black Cohosh - Non-Timber Forest Products

Lyke, J. 2001. Summary of the conservation status of Cimicifuga ssp.
(Cimicifuga rubifolia, C. americana, C. racemosa). http://www.nps.gov/
plants/medicinal/pubs/2001appendixf.htm. [Date accessed: September
13, 2004].
Summarizes the conservation status of black cohosh, with references.
Demand for black cohosh has steadily increased in the world herb
market, with an estimated 97 percent of the supply from wildcrafting. The
distribution and abundance of wild populations were estimated, but no
formal tracking was in progress. An estimated 366,000 pounds of dried
roots were collected from 1997 to 1999; at 25 roots per pound, this meant a
total of 9.2 million plants. Permit sales, conservation status, and proposed
government regulations are discussed.
Keywords: Conservation, distribution, harvest, market demand, permits,
regulatory status, wildcrafting.
Macht, D.I.; Cook, H.M. 1932. A pharmacological note on Cimicifuga.
Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association. 21(4): 324-330.
Provides a historical account of black cohosh medicinal uses.
Keywords: History, physiological actions.
Mahady, G.B. 2003. What is the evidence for supplement use for
menopausal symptoms? Bethesda, MD: NIH conference on dietary
supplement use in the elderly. http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/
pubs/elderly.14jan03.abst.mahady.pdf. [Date accessed: September 13,
2004].
Discusses the safety of black cohosh as a treatment for menopausal
symptoms. Although black cohosh has been shown to be effective for
reducing hot flashes and vaginal dryness in healthy individuals, it has
not been shown to be effective for individuals taking tamoxifen for the
treatment of breast cancer. The article describes a one-year research trial
in progress at the University of Illinois at, Chicago, National Institutes of
Health Center for Botanical Dietary Supplement Research in Womens’s
Health.
Keywords: Cancer, clinical studies, medicinal uses.
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