Fairy candle – Cimicifuga racemosa
The plant gets its name from the fact that, from a distance, its elongated shape of light-coloured flowers resembles a silver candle. It grows in the north of the American continent, where it was used by the indigenous people to treat snakebites and to facilitate childbirth.
Natural female hormones
Fields of application
The most important ingredients found in black cohosh root are cimicifugin, glycosides, phytosterols, tannins and some essential oil. The ingredients have oestrogen-like properties. For this reason, it is used to treat menopausal symptoms and other female complaints. Black cohosh primarily improves symptoms such as hot flushes, nervousness, tiredness and sweating. It can also be used to treat sleep disorders, irritability, inner restlessness and mood disorders associated with the menopause. The plant is also used to treat menstrual disorders and premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The positive properties of black cohosh are primarily attributed to its binding to oestrogen receptors. More recent observations explain the regulation of body temperature by blocking so-called serotonin and dopamine receptors in the brain. The reliable effect of black cohosh in the areas described makes it a safer alternative to hormone replacement therapy.
Botanical characteristics
The white flowers of black cohosh grow in racemes at the end of the stem. The upper part of the long, erect stem bears large, triple-pinnate, pointed leaves. The medicinal plant is usually collected in the wild in American forests. After the flowering period, in autumn, the root of the plant is dug up – because only this part is used for medicinal purposes.