Black Cohosh Plant

Black Cohosh Leaf

Black Cohosh Flowers.

Common Names
Cohosh bugbane, battle weed, black cohosh, black snakeroot, blueberry, blue ginseng, bugbane, cohosh, columbine-leaved leontice, cordate rattle-top, heart-leaved snakeroot, meadow rue leontice, papoose root, rattle root, rattlesnake root, rattle-top, rattle weed, richweed, squaw root, yellow ginseng.

Description
A perennial shrub that grows to 8 feet in height. Each of the leaf stems holds 2,3, or 5 leaflets. The plant is topped with a slender spike of small, white flowers. The rhizome or root is knotted. Before 1998, Actaea racemosa was classified as Cimicifuga racemosa so much of the literature is found under that name.

Flowering Period
June to August

Habitat
Rich, open woods.

Harvest
Rhizomes and roots in the fall.

Uses
The roots and rhizomes are considered valuable in treating chronic rheumatism. The plant is also used as an expectorant, astrigent, emmenagogue, and bitter tonic. A tea made from the root is used to treat sore throat. It is also becoming very popular in treating menopausal symptoms.