Blue Cohosh Extract – A Tonic For Women
Also known as beechdrops, blue ginseng, papoose root or squaw root, blue cohosh extract is a perennial herb that belongs to the family berberidaceae.
The plant blooms with yellowish flowers and bears blue fruits when mature. It grows up to three feet tall, and thrives in the wild of eastern North America.
In 1913, it was introduced by Peter Smith, an Indian Herb Expert, into medicine. Today, this plant has been cultivated for use in many herbal and homeopathic remedies for treatment of many health conditions.
Health Benefits
It has been believed to be used by Indians since hundreds of years ago for treatment for dropsy colic, rheumatism, sore throat, cramps, hysterics, epilepsy, PMS, and inflammation of the uterus.
Blue cohosh extract has been popular for problems exclusive to women. It has gained reputation as emmenagogue or menstrual flow stimulant, antispasmodic, diuretic, expectorant, diaphoretic and partturifacient or inducer of labor.
Because of these, the herb has become popular around the world as one of the herbal medicines for women disorders.
Like black cohosh and raspberry leaves, it offers stimulating and relaxing properties to facilitate childbirth. It also helps produce regular contractions interspersed with a good relaxation period.
Drinking warm water with powdered blue cohosh roots two weeks before the expected delivery help induce relatively painless labor. The antispasmodic properties also help prevent miscarriage by helping the uterus hold the growing baby.
When used with cramp bark or black haw, blue cohosh extract is more effective in lowering the risk of miscarriage and at the same time acts as relaxant to the nervous system.
Side Effects
Given these findings, blue cohosh liquid extract, powder, dried roots or capsules can be harmful if not used properly. Also, modern herbalists found out that the herb can also irritate mucous membranes or skin especially when it is powdered.
Before taking this herbal supplement, it is strongly advised to consult health care professionals first especially if you are pregnant or on prescription medication.
However, with proper supervision, blue cohash herbal remedies could help many women with gynecological problems.
