Black Cohosh - Non-Timber Forest Products

Keywords: History, medicinal uses, physiological actions, preparations,
research reviews, side effects.
Perry, L. 2001. Cimicifuga. PSS 123 garden flowers. Plant and Soil
Science, University of Vermont. http://pss.uvm.edu/pss123/percimic.html.
[Date accessed: September 13, 2004].
Summarizes black cohosh cultivation information. Black cohosh is a
member of the buttercup (Ranunculaceae) family. Plants flower after three
to four years of growth. Leaves are ternately compound, with a dark green
to blackish color. Flowers are long white racemes, with a distinct number
of pistils for each species in the genus. For cultivation, soil should be
moist and acidic. There are few pest and disease problems associated with
cultivated plants. Propagation is done by seed and by division of roots.
Stratified seeds have erratic germination, and roots of mature plants can be
difficult to divide. In the landscape, plants are best suited for woodlands,
borders, and native plantings. Common species and cultivars are listed.
Keywords: Cultivation, flowers, habitat, landscape uses, pests and disease,
propagation, Ranunculaceae family.
Plyler, S.C. 2001–2002. Black cohosh (Cimifuga racemosa). Indian spring
herbal encyclopedia. http://www.indianspringherbs.com/BlackCohosh.
htm. [Date accessed: September 13, 2004].
Provides general information, including nomenclature, history, medicinal
uses, preparations, and dosage. The name cohosh comes from the
Algonquian word for “rough,” which describes the physical characteristics
of the roots. Other common names describe characteristics and properties
of the plant, such as “snakeroot,” denoting its use as an antidote, and
“rattleroot,” which describes the sound of the dried seeds in their pods.
Medicinal properties attributed to black cohosh are antispasmotic,
antitussive, sedative, emmenagogue, astringent, diuretic, and expectorant.
Roots are collected in autumn and made into tinctures with alcohol. The
chemical constituents are not soluble in water.
Keywords: Chemical constituents, common names, dosage, harvest, history,
medicinal uses, nomenclature, preparations.
Sievers, A.F. 1930. Cohosh bugbane. The herb hunters guide. Misc. Publ.
No. 77. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture. Washington,
DC. Hypertext version 8 Apr. 1998. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/
herbhunters/cohoshbugbane.html. [Date accessed: September 13, 2004].
81