Black Cohosh

At a glance

Origin / distribution: US(Amerindian), US, Canada, US(Appalachia), US(NY), NO, SE

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Alterative, Bite(Snake), Bronchitis, Cancer(Tongue)

Science studied: ACETIC-ACID, ACTEIN, BUTYRIC-ACID, CALCIUM

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Ranunculaceae

Scientific name: Cimicifuga racemosa

Common names: Black Cohosh, Black Snakeroot, black bugbane, black cohosh, black snakeroot, klaseormedrue

History

The source record documents this plant in Elsewhere, US(Amerindian), US, Canada, US(Appalachia), US(NY), NO, SE.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Alterative
• Bite(Snake)
• Bronchitis
• Cancer(Tongue)
• Chorea
• Dysmenorrhea
• Emmenagogue
• Female

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• Elsewhere
• US(Amerindian)
• US
• Canada
• US(Appalachia)
• US(NY)
• NO
• SE

Documented cultural uses

• Alterative
• Bite(Snake)
• Bronchitis
• Cancer(Tongue)
• Chorea
• Dysmenorrhea
• Emmenagogue
• Female
• Malaise
• Malaria
• Medicine
• Nerves

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Alterative · Elsewhere · "
• Bite(Snake) · US(Amerindian) · "
• Bronchitis · US · "
• Cancer(Tongue) · Canada · "
• Chorea · Elsewhere · "
• Dysmenorrhea · US(Appalachia) · "
• Emmenagogue · Elsewhere · "
• Female · US(Amerindian) · "
• Malaise · US(Amerindian) · "
• Malaria · US(Amerindian) · "
• Medicine · US(Appalachia) · "
• Nerves · US · "
• Rheumatism · US(Amerindian) · "
• Rheumatism · US(Appalachia) · "
• Sedative · Elsewhere · "
• Sore(Throat) · US(Appalachia) · "
• Sudorific · US(Amerindian) · "
• Uterus · US · "
• Yellow Fever · US · "
• Kidney · US(Amerindian) · "
• Tonic · Elsewhere · "
• Bite(Snake) · US · "
• Itch · US · "
• Parturition · US(Appalachia) · "

3 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Exercise-associated and metabolic effects of Cimicifuga racemosa extract Ze 450 in a high-fat diet model in female rats. · 2026 source ↗
• From Myotubes to Skeletal Muscle: <i>Cimicifuga racemosa</i> Extract Ze 450 Preserves Muscle Mass and Affects Skeletal Muscle Energy Metabolism Under Conditions of Metabolic Stress. · 2026 source ↗
• Pilot Investigation on the Metabolic Effects of <i>Cimicifuga racemosa</i> Extract Ze 450 and Voluntary Physical Activity in Female Rats. · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• ACETIC-ACID
• ACTEIN
• BUTYRIC-ACID
• CALCIUM
• CHROMIUM
• CIMIGOSIDE
• COBALT
• 27-DESOXYACETYLACTEOL
• FAT
• FORMIC-ACID
• FORMONONETIN
• IRON
• ISOFERULIC-ACID
• N-METHYL-CYTISINE
• OLEIC-ACID
• PALMITIC-ACID

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases · CC0

GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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