black cohosh

noun

1

: a large perennial herb (Actaea racemosa synonym Cimicifuga racemosa) native to moist woodlands of the eastern U.S. and Canada that has ternately compound leaves and clusters of small white flowers

2

or less commonly black cohosh root : the rhizome and roots of the black cohosh used especially to treat symptoms of menopause

also : a preparation or extract of this root used as an herbal remedy

Examples of black cohosh in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There have also been reports of liver damage in people who take black cohosh, but this adverse effect is rare.8 2. —Emmanuella Ogbonna, Health, 7 Jan. 2025

Turmeric, green tea, ashwagandha, G. cambogia, black cohosh and red yeast rice were named in the paper, with nearly 5% of the population taking at least one of these regularly to treat everything from joint pain to stress. —New Atlas, 30 Dec. 2024

Black Cohosh Some evidence shows an herb called black cohosh may help increase estrogen and relieve some of the symptoms of menopause. —Wendy Wisner, Health, 26 Dec. 2024

Today, black cohosh is commonly used to treat menopausal symptoms. —Kirstyn Hill, Pharmd, Mph, Health, 13 Aug. 2024

There have been no relevant drug interactions reported with black cohosh. —Kirstyn Hill, Pharmd, Mph, Health, 13 Aug. 2024

Researchers are unsure about how exactly black cohosh works in this regard. —Kirstyn Hill, Pharmd, Mph, Health, 13 Aug. 2024

Those supplements were turmeric, green tea, ashwagandha, G. cambogia, black cohosh and red yeast rice. —New Atlas, 5 Aug. 2024

Similar Supplements Other herbs, supplements, and foods, including black cohosh, red clover, and soy products, may have hormonal effects. —Beth Thomas, Verywell Health, 7 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

black cohosh

noun

1

: a large perennial herb (Cimicifuga racemosa synonym Actaea racemosa) native to moist woodlands of the eastern U.S. and Canada and having racemes of small white flowers

2

also black cohosh root : the rhizome and roots of the black cohosh used especially to treat menopausal symptoms

also : a preparation or extract of this root used as an herbal remedy

… a year-long study involving 351 women published last month in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that 160 milligrams of black cohosh a day was no more effective than a sugar pill.

—Rita Rubin, USA Today

Note: Black cohosh is also called black snakeroot and bugbane.