Blue Cohosh Root and Powder Profile

Also known as

Caulophylum thalictroides, blue ginseng, yellow ginseng, papoose root, squawroot. Not to be confused with black cohosh, an unrelated plant.

Introduction

Blue cohosh is a woodland plant in the same family as barberry, goldenseal, and Oregon grape root, native to the eastern United States and Canada. The word cohosh is from Algonquian and means rough, which refers to the root. The stem is bluish, which is where the rest of the name comes from.

Constituents

Alkaloids: scaulophylline (methylcytisine), anagyrine, baptifoline; and magnoflorine. Also contains a unique saponin, caulosaponin, its primary active ingredient.

Parts Used

Dried root.

Typical Preparations

Most frequently used as a tincture. Traditionally combined with goldenseal. May also be used as an extract, capsule or tea.

Summary

Precautions

Blue Cohosh is a useful herb that should be used with care. If you are pregnant or wishing to use it as a birth control method, it must only be administered by an experienced practitioner. Infants should never be given blue cohosh, or be nursed for 12 hours after their mothers or breastfeeding surrogates have taken blue cohosh. Do not use if there is high blood pressure or heart disease.