Family Name: Ranunculaceae
Botanical Name(s): Cimicifuga Racemosa
Popular Name(s): Black snakeroot, bugbane, squawroot, bugwort,
rattleroot, rattleweed, rattlesnale's root, richweed, Black Cohosh,
Cimicifuga, Sheng Ma, Chinese black Cohosh
Parts Used: Root
Habitat: Black Cohosh is a shrub-like plant native to the
eastern deciduous forests of North America, ranging from southern
Ontario to Georgia, north to Wisconsin and West to Arkansas.
Description: Black Cohosh is a stately perennial, 3-8 feet tall,
topped by a long plume of white flowers (June-September). The leaves are
large and pinnate compound; the leaflets are irregularly shaped with
toothed edges.
Uses: Black Cohosh is also used to relieve menstrual cramps and
the mood swings of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The primary traditional
use of black cohosh has been as a relaxant, sedative and antispasmodic.
