ABOUT THE MEDICAL AND EROTIC HERB BLACK COHOSH

The offered female products contain black cohosh as one ingredient. Here are some facts about this herbal medicine.


About the plant

Black cohosh has several names: Actaea racemosa, black cohosh, black bugbane, black snakeroot or fairy candle.

The total botannical classification of the plant is: Kingdom: Plantae, Division: Magnoliophyta, Class: Magnoliopsida, Order: Ranunculales, Family: Ranunculaceae, Genus: Actaea, Species: C. racemosa

The plant is perennial. The main part of the plant is a short horizontal stalk hidden in the ground (rizome) from which large, compound leaves grow up. The leaves may themselves look like stalks with tripartite leaves on.

The plant flowers in late spring or early summer with small flowers on a tall stalk comming up from the rizome that branches in the end. The flowers sit along the end branches of the stalk. The flowers are without petals or sepals, consisting only of a tight cluster of 55-110 white pollen producing stamens 5-10 mm long that are surrounding the white stigma.

The preparation of the herb for use

Mostly the rizome is used, often called "root". A common preparation is Ramifemin containing 1 mg of extract contained in a 20 mg tablet, and the dose of this is commonly two tablets daily, that is 2 mg daily of extract. The herb will usually give maximal effect within 2-4 weeks. The herb is also found as tinctures of that have to be blended out to give similar doses of the working compounds.


The health and erotic benefits of black cohosh

Black cohosh increases the blood flow to and in the pelvic area. Since effective blood flow in this area promote sexual functions and sexual feelings, the herb can stimulate sexual reflexes and the feelings in the intimate zones.

Black cohosh have a long traditional use as a remedy for alleviating premenstrual symptoms, symptoms during menopause and as a general gynechological remedy.

The herb also seem to be beneficial against some age-related disorders, like osteopororis.

The herb also may alleviate rheumatic problems, and especially problems in the joints.

Black cohosh also have a long traditional use against sore throut, kidney problems and depression.

Black cohosh contains compounds resambling the neurotransmitter and hormone serotonin that can bind to receptors of this compound.

The plant also contain triterpene glycosides (cycloartanes) that have been shown to reduce cytokine-induced bone loss (osteoporosis) by blocking osteoclastogenesis in vitro and in vivo models, Osteoclasts are cells breaking down bone structure.


Posible side effects

Black cohosh is generally concidered as a safe herb in ordinarily used doses. Whether there will be sode-effects of this herb, depend on the dose, as with other drugs or supplement of any type. By using serious products as prescribed, side effects will not occur. In most products black cohosh is blended with other herbs with much of the same effect, but with different side effects. Therefore the good effect of the preparation is a combined effect. In the blendings the concentration of of the individual ingrediensts like black cohosh are held so low that side effects are avoided.

Since black cohosh promotes blood flow in the pelvic region, in may cause excessive bleeding during menstruation.

Pregnant or lactating women should not use the herb without consulting a physician, since the herb have an effect upon the sex hormone ballance. Women with breast cancer should not use the herb without consulatation first, since there may be an effect upon the spreading of that cancer, but there is no indication that the herb causes cancer.

Reported direct side-effects in high enough concentrations include dizziness, headaches, seizures, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, sweating, constipation, low blood pressure, slow heartbeats and weight problems. However, the reporrted side effects have not been serious.

A picture of balck cohish taken from Wikipedia org, and therefore is free to reuse.