Black Cohosh - Non-Timber Forest Products

Surveys the use of herbal preparations by midwives during childbirth.
Black cohosh was used to stimulate labor, alone or in combination, by 45
percent of the respondents. Issues related to herbal use during childbirth are
discussed, with a brief summary of black cohosh uses.
Keywords: Medicinal uses, preparations, surveys.
McGraw, J.B.; Bailey, B.; Sanders, S. 2003. Conservation status of
medicinal plants in international trade. Award No. 1434—HQ–97–RU–
01563. Morgantown, WV: West Virginia University. 48 p. [Technical
report produced for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service].
Reports on the use of habitat suitability models to predict potential habitat
for goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) and black cohosh. Factors that limit
the abundance of the plants include slow recovery after harvest, limited
reproduction, and increasing harvest due to market demand. Habitat
suitability models were developed based on ecological characteristics of
both known populations and confirmed areas of absence. Natural areas
in north central West Virginia were evaluated as potential habitat, using
variables such as land cover/use, elevation, terrain shape, slope, planiform
curviture (convex or concave areas), profile curvature, aspect, topography,
relative moisture index, solar insolation, and distance to streams. Goldenseal
showed a high level of habitat specificity, whereas black cohosh was less
restricted and more abundant. However, slow vegetative reproduction and
limited seed dispersal have made black cohosh populations susceptible to
depletion from the harvest of rhizomes for medicinal purposes. Results of
interviews with herb dealers are presented, providing insight into general
market trends in the medicinal botanical industry.
Keywords: Conservation, ecology, habitat, harvest, market.
McKenna, D.J.; Jones, K.; Humphrey, S.; Hughes, K. 2001. Black
cohosh: efficacy, safety, and use in clinical and preclinical applications.
Alternative Therapies. 7(3): 93-100.
Reviews and summarizes research conducted on Remifemin ® , a
commercial black cohosh product. Includes botanical data, classification
and nomenclature, history and traditional uses, chemical constituents,
therapeutic applications, preclinical studies, clinical studies, dosage,
safety, side effects, drug interactions, precautions, a thorough discussion of
pharmacological actions throughout the body, and extensive references.
Keywords: Chemical constituents, drug interactions, dosage, history,
physiological actions, Remifemin ® , research reviews, safety, side effects.
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