blue cohosh

Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

Related to blue cohosh: black cohosh, dong quai, pennyroyal

blue cohosh

a perennial herb found in the Midwest and Eastern regions of the United States.

uses This herb is used to treat menopausal symptoms and uterine and ovarian pain, to improve the flow of menstrual blood, and as an antiinflammatory and antirheumatic. It is also a popular remedy in African American ethnic medicine.

contraindications Should not be used for any of these indications since it has caused serious toxicities.

A perennial herb, the roots and rhizomes of which contain alkaloids, anangyrine, baptifoline, cystine, saponins, and resin; it was once used to ease labor and delivery, and for colic, and arthritis; it is now regarded as unsafe in pregnancy, and should not be used in those with cardiovascular disease or hypertension
Toxicity Blue cohosh seeds—‘berries’—are poisonous

blue co·hosh

(blū kō'hosh)

Herbal agent extracted from Caulophyllum thalictroides; long in use, purported value includes tonic in pregnancy and as an anticonvulsant, however, use in pregnant women is contraindicated.
Synonym(s): blue ginseng, papoose root, squaw root (2) , yellow ginseng.

blue cohosh

(ko'hosh?)

A North American herb, Caulophyllum thalictroides, that produces blue berries. It is sometimes used by Native American women to induce labor.

CAUTION!

Maternal use of the herb in late pregnancy has been associated with stroke, heart attack, and congestive heart failure in newborns.

Synonym: squaw root See: black cohosh

Mentioned in ?

References in periodicals archive ?

Evening primrose oil, black cohosh, and blue cohosh may be unsafe

Safety and efficacy of blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) during pregnancy and lactation.

Do any folk remedies or herbals help induce labor?

Profound neonatal congestive heart failure caused by maternal consumption of blue cohosh herbal medication.

Herbal medicinal products during pregnancy? (Short Communication)

Licorice, hops, and blue cohosh did not promote uterine growth.

Medicine for menopause: researchers study herbal remedies for hot flashes

The Indian names for Blue Cohosh are Papoose Root or Squaw Root, which gives an indication of how it was used.

Black Cohosh (Cimifuga racemosa) is no relation to Blue Cohosh but belongs in the buttercup family.

Medicinal herbs

Complications, which were reported by 21% of respondents who used either black or blue cohosh, included transient fetal tachycardia, meconium-stained fluid, and nausea.

Blue cohosh linked to stroke: side effects of some herbs harmful in pregnancy

Aconite, Allspice, Black Snakeroot, Bloodroot, Blue Cohosh, Boxwood, Celandine, Common Poppy, Crotalaria, Crow Poison, Death Camas, Dicentra, False Hellebore, False Jessamine, Fume wort, Hellebore, Hemp, Horse Nettle, Indian Hemp, Indian poke, Jimson weed, Larkspur, Lobelia, Lupines, Marijuana, Monkshood, Moonseed, Night shade, Pink Death, Camas Poison, Darnel, Poison Hemlock, Poison rye grass, Rattleweed, Rock Poppy, Spider Lily, Spotted cowbane, Spotted Water Hemlock, Stagger grass, Staggerweed, Sweet Shrub, Thorn Apple, Varebells, Wild Parsnip, Wolfs-bane, Yellow Jessamine.

The goat barn: Poisonous plants shouldn't be one of them

Blue cohosh contains compounds with cardiotoxic, vasoconstricting, and uterine stimulating activity, Dr.

Herbals in pregnancy: harmful and helpful

She reeled off lists of patients she's treated who have experienced coma, seizures, or even death after ingesting dietary supplements like gamma hydroxy butyrate, kava, digitalis, blue cohosh, tea coumarin, ginkgo, pennyroyal, vitamin A, and germanium.