Background
- Blue cohosh has been used for hundreds of years primarily to help women in the area of childbirth. It was used as a medicinal herb by Native American women to facilitate labor. Today, the herb is most commonly used to stimulate labor and to ease the effects of childbirth.
- Modern herbalists often recommend blue cohosh as an emmenagogue to induce menstruation, and as a uterine stimulant and antispasmodic. It is also frequently employed as a diuretic to eliminate excess fluids, as an expectorant to treat congestion, and as a diaphoretic to eliminate toxins by inducing sweating. Traditional herbalists will often combine blue cohosh and black cohosh to effect a more balanced treatment for nerves and to enhance the herbs' antispasmodic effects. Blue cohosh is combined with other herbs to promote their effects in treating bronchitis, nervous disorders, urinary tract ailments, and rheumatism. Blue cohosh is also thought to help pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, erratic menstruation, and retained placenta. In addition, the herb is also believed to relieve ovarian neuralgia (nerve pain).
- Although blue cohosh has been indicated for many conditions, all indications lack sufficient scientific data to support their efficacy and safety at this time. More research is needed in these areas before firm conclusions can be drawn.
References
Natural Standard developed the above evidence-based information based on a thorough systematic review of the available scientific articles. For comprehensive information about alternative and complementary therapies on the professional level, go to . Selected references are listed below.
- Baillie N, Rasmussen P. Black and blue cohosh in labour. N.Z.Med.J. 1-24-1997;110(1036):20-21.
View Abstract - Edmunds J. Blue cohosh and newborn myocardial infarction? Midwifery Today Int.Midwife. 1999;(52):34-35.
View Abstract - Finkel RS, Zarlengo KM. Blue cohosh and perinatal stroke. N.Engl.J.Med. 7-15-2004;351(3):302-303.
View Abstract - Ganzera M, Dharmaratne HR, Nanayakkara NP, et al. Determination of saponins and alkaloids in Caulophyllum thalictroides (blue cohosh) by high-performance liquid chromatography and evaporative light scattering detection. Phytochem.Anal. 2003;14(1):1-7.
View Abstract - Gunn TR, Wright IM. The use of black and blue cohosh in labour. N.Z.Med.J. 10-25-1996;109(1032):410-411.
View Abstract - Jhoo JW, Sang S, He K, et al. Characterization of the triterpene saponins of the roots and rhizomes of blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides). J.Agric.Food Chem. 2001;49(12):5969-5974.
View Abstract - Jones TK, Lawson BM. Profound neonatal congestive heart failure caused by maternal consumption of blue cohosh herbal medication. J.Pediatr. 1998;132(3 Pt 1):550-552.
View Abstract - Kennelly EJ, Flynn TJ, Mazzola EP, et al. Detecting potential teratogenic alkaloids from blue cohosh rhizomes using an in vitro rat embryo culture. J.Nat.Prod. 1999;62(10):1385-1389.
View Abstract - Lin LT, Liu LT, Chiang LC, et al. In vitro anti-hepatoma activity of fifteen natural medicines from Canada. Phytother Res 2002;16(5):440-444.
View Abstract - Low DT. Blue cohosh and neonatal myocardial toxicity. Journal of the American Herbalists Guild 2001;2(2):9-10.
- McFarlin BL, Gibson MH, O'Rear J, et al. A national survey of herbal preparation use by nurse-midwives for labor stimulation. Review of the literature and recommendations for practice. J.Nurse Midwifery 1999;44(3):205-216.
View Abstract - Rao RB, Hoffman RS. Nicotinic toxicity from tincture of blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) used as an abortifacient. Vet.Hum.Toxicol. 2002;44(4):221-222.
View Abstract - Reichert R. Neonatal congestive heart failure associated with maternal use of blue cohosh. Quarterly Review of Natural Medicine 1998;Winter:265-267.
- Scott CC, Chen KK. The pharmacological action of n-methylcytisine. The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapuetics 1943;79:334-339.