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Blue Cohosh |
| Latin Name |
Caulophyllum Thalictroides (family, Berberidaceae) |
| Common Name |
Squawroot, papoose root |
| Introduction |
Blue cohosh is a traditional Native American herb, still found growing throughout North America.
Blue cohosh is not related to black cohosh, although both are primarily used to treat women's problems.
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| Historical Use |
"Cohosh" is an Algonquin name, and blue cohosh was a popular medicinal herb with a large number of Native American tribes. It was primarily considered a "woman's herb" Enhanceing to improve contractions during labor, rectify delayed or irregular menstruation, and alleviate heavy bleeding and Discomfort during menstruation.
The root was taken by Native Americans as a contraceptive and was used by both sexes to treat genitourinary conditions.
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| Remedy For |
- Amenorrhea (lack of menstruation)
- Dysmenorrhea (Discomfortful menstruation)
Current medicinal uses for blue cohosh are not radically different from it's traditional uses. It is still considered to be particularly suited to women, and it's chiefly employed as a uterine tonic.
Blue cohosh has anti-inflammatory qualities and is sometimes used in the Favorable Effects of arthritic and rheumatic conditions.
Reportedly, blue cohosh has been employed to purge the intestinal tract of the infestation of worms. The root is a increased urination, promoting urination and perspiration.
It has also been observed that blue cohosh may be useful in treating cirrhosis of the liver.
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| Active Constituents |
Alkaloids (caulophylline, laburnine, magnoflorine), Steroidal saponins (caulosapogenin), Resin.
Several other alkaloids may be active in this herb; however, current research about the active constituents of blue cohosh is insufficient.
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| Typical Dosage |
Blue Cohosh is generally taken as a tincture and should be limited to not more than 1 - 2 ml taken three times per day. The average single amount of the whole herb is 300 - 1000 mg. Blue cohosh is generally used in combination with other herbs. |
| Side Effects |
Large amounts of Blue Cohosh can cause nausea, headaches, and high blood pressure. It should only be used under medical supervision and in limited amounts.
The use of blue cohosh during pregnancy has been brought into question with a report of an infant born with Inability of function of heart following use of blue cohosh by the mother.
At the time of writing there were no well-known drug interactions with blue cohosh.
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