Botanical:  Cimicifuga racemosa (also known as Actaea racemosa)
Family:   Ranunculaceae (buttercup/peony)
Other common names:  Black Cohosh, Black Snake Root, Rattle Root, Rattleweed, Bugwort, Cohosh, Richweed

Bugbane is famous for its beneficial effects on women's health.  It is said to provide relief from menstrual problems (including PMS) and is considered indispensable as a natural way to ease menopausal discomforts.  Bugbane is a wonderful natural sedative that relaxes the entire body relieves aches and pains and alleviates anxiety and depression.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Herbal Extracts Plus is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

History:
Bugbane is a stately perennial that is native to North America. It grows from three to nine feet in height in open woods and on the edges of dense woods from Canada to Georgia in the east, and as far west as Missouri.  The botanical genus, Cimicifuga, is derived from Latin, meaning "bug repellent," and the strong odor emitted from Bugbane has, in fact, made it an effective insect repellent or "bane of bugs" over the centuries.  One of its common names, Cohosh, comes to us from an Algonquian word meaning "rough," a reference to the root's texture.  It is odd that a plant with prominent white flowers should be named "black" (as in other common names, Black Cohosh and Black Snake Root) and is often a point of confusion; the "black" refers to the dark color of the roots, which are used in herbal medicine. Bugbane (or Black Cohosh) is not related to Blue Cohosh.  Native Americans used Bugbane for menstrual cramps and the pains of childbirth, and they also made a topical poultice from it to remedy snakebites. The early colonists used it for yellow fever, malaria, fevers, bronchitis, dropsy (edema), uterine problems and nervous disorders.  By the nineteenth century, Bugbane was also considered helpful in the treatment of rheumatism, and many of the earliest patent medicines contained high concentrations of Bugbane.  It was the main ingredient in Lydia Pinkham's Vegetable Compound, an over-the-counter remedy that was promoted in the early nineteenth century for relieving stress and nervous tension in women.  Bugbane has become the best selling herb in the world for treating menstrual problems and "female complaints," and it is a "women's health" best seller in Germany, the United States and Australia.  Bugbane contains several ingredients, including triterpene glycosides (e.g., acetin and 27-deoxyactein) and isoflavones (e.g., formononetin), and other constituents include aromatic acids, tannins, resins, fatty acids, starches and sugars.

Beneficial Uses:
Bugbane has been a traditional and long-time treatment for women's health issues, mostly by balancing hormone levels.  It is used for stress-related problems associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS), including headaches and depressed mood.  It has also been a remedy for dysmenorrhea (difficult or painful menstruation) that will induce menstruation, relieve menstrual cramps and regulate its flow. When used at the end of pregnancy, Bugbane is said to be a uterine stimulant that will promote labor and facilitate delivery.

Long known as a tried-and-true remedy for "women's complaints," Bugbane is still considered a wonderful support for menopause-related problems. The herb is said to offset the decline of estrogen with herbal phytoestrogens that mimic the hormone's effects and lessen hot flashes, blurred vision, vaginal dryness, headaches, dizziness and other hormone-related symptoms.  It has been known to be a good substitute for estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), as it maintains the therapeutic response to ERT when ERT is gradually withdrawn.  An additional benefit is its lack of bad side effects that frequently accompany synthetic hormones, i.e., breast malignancy, etc. 

There is some research that claims Bugbane may even prevent malignant growths in the breast by keeping the body's own estrogen from stimulating breast cells.  A study, published in the International Journal of Cancer, April 1, 2007, provided preliminary evidence that an herbal medicine including Bugbane (as Black Cohosh), used to help women cope with menopausal symptoms, may reduce breast cancer risk.  In the study, women who reported taking Bugbane were at sixty one percent lower risk of breast cancer, the researchers found.   Studies have shown that the herb can block cell growth, and it is also an antioxidant with anti-estrogenic effects as well.   The researchers added that additional research must be undertaken before it can be established that Bugbane, or some compound found in Bugbane, is, in fact, a breast cancer chemopreventive agent.

Bugbane is believed to balance the hormone levels in both men and women, and one of its constituents, ferulic acid, is said to increase the viability of sperm cells by protecting their cell walls from oxidation caused by environmental toxins; consequently, use of the herb may help to promote fertility.

One of the primary uses of Bugbane has been as a relaxant and mild sedative.  It is considered a "nervine," a tonic that helps to calm the entire central nervous system.  As such, it has been thought to be effective in treating anxiety, nervous tension and hysteria.

Bugbane is said to nourish the respiratory system. It helps to relax bronchial tubes, soothe sore throats and quells the urge to cough. It also works to break up mucus and phlegm deposits, and herbalists have used it to treat persistent coughs in cases of asthma, bronchitis and whooping cough.

Used as an anti-inflammatory, Bugbane is thought to be beneficial for easing the pain associated with neuralgia and for relieving the inflammation, swelling, and soreness that is typical of rheumatism.

Bugbane has been said to slightly lower the heart rate, while increasing the force of the pulse, and it may have mild cardiac tonic effects, especially on fatty hearts.

As an antispasmodic, Bugbane is believed to be helpful in relieving muscle spasms, cramps and St. Vitus Dance.

Bugbane is thought to stimulate the secretions of the liver, kidneys, spleen and lymphatic system.

Recommended Dosage:
Take one (1) capsules, two (2) times each day with water at mealtimes.

Contraindications:
Bugbane Herbal Supplement is not recommended for nursing mothers, and it should not be used during pregnancy, as it may provoke miscarriage. When labor is imminent, it may be used, but only under the supervision of a physician. This product should not be used excessively (many times the recommended dosage), as it may irritate the nervous system and cause nausea and symptoms of poisoning. Very large doses of this herb may cause abdominal pain, headaches, and/or dizziness. Those with known heart conditions should avoid this product, as large doses may cause low blood pressure. Speak to a physician before combining it with any other medications, as it may interfere with the efficacy of birth control pills and blood pressure medication. It should not be combined with tranquilizers, as Bugbane has a sedative effect.  There are some reports that indicate Bugbane (as Black Cohosh) may be associated with liver disorders, but not fully substantiated.  Discontinue use and consult a healthcare practitioner if you have a liver disorder or develop symptoms of liver trouble, such as abdominal pain, dark urine or jaundice.

Capsule Size:
We use only 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose, Certified Kosher, size "00" capsules for all of our encapsulated products. Each capsule contains approximately 600 mgs of powdered herb material.

Ingredients: 100% Bugbane (sold as Black Cohosh) Standardized Extract (2.5% Triterpene Glycosides) - Our products contain 100% pure plant-based/natural materials using no fillers, grains, yeast, sugars, binders, excipients, starches, or synthetic materials.

* ORDERING INFORMATION *
Bugbane (sold as Black Cohosh) Standardized Extract (2.5% Triterpene Glycosides) Item # H-1800 (capsules)/B-1800 (bulk)				Click to enlarge
30 capsules	$11.49		600 capsules	$155.76
60 capsules	$20.59		1/4 lb. Powder	$18.05
90 capsules	$27.49		1/2 lb. Powder	$31.11
360 capsules	$102.00		1 lb. Powder	$57.21
If purchasing Bulk powder, please click here.