Black Cohosh – An Aphrodisiac for Women

Low sex drive among women may be caused by several conditions – mental as well as physical. It may be the result of acute or chronic gynecological ailments or lack of right nutrition which prevent the sex hormones and organs from functioning at their optimum level. Stress, depression or side effects of certain medication may also make women less interested in sex. Black cohosh has long been regarded as a miracle herb for women which works to make the body healthy and ready for sex in several ways.

About black cohosh

This is a tall, perennial plant of the buttercup family. Botanically known as Actaea racemosa and previously as Cimicifuga racemosa, it is native to eastern North America and grows well in upland woods and hillsides where there is adequate moisture. Locally the plant is also known as snakeroot, rattleroot, bugbane, bugwort and squawroot.

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How black cohosh works as an aphrodisiac

The primary reason why black cohosh is regarded as a potent aphrodisiac for women may lie in the fact that it contains chemical compounds which mimic the effect of estrogen, the primary sex hormone found in women’s bodies. Studies have found two types of estrogen receptors in the herb as well as a compound known as fukinolic acid which was shown to have  estrogenic activity in vitro. A fall in the level of natural estrogen may lead to low libido, lack of vaginal lubrication and inability to attain orgasm among women. Taking extracts or herbal preparations of black cohosh may help to elevate the level of estrogen in the body and thus treat such problems of sexual arousal as well as help a woman to enjoy sex.

Black cohosh was widely used in traditional Native American medicine as a treatment of menstrual disorders. In fact the herb was popular among early European settlers in America as a panacea for female disorders and figured prominently in Lydia Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound, a patent medicine of the nineteenth century for menstrual distress and nervous tension. This reputation of black cohosh may in fact be based on sound science. If the hormones in a woman’s body are not in correct balance, she may be subject to excessive bleeding, scanty or absence of bleeding, Pre-Menstrual Syndrome and menstrual cramps. By alleviating such gynecological irregularities, black cohosh may help in promoting reproductive health which is crucial for sexual energy and pleasure.

The possibility that black cohosh may help to regulate the level of estrogen in the body has led many women in modern times to try it as a herbal remedy for menopausal symptoms. Menopause is a time of fluctuating hormones in the body which may lead to distressing conditions like hot flashes, headaches, mood swings, joint pains and loss of sex drive. The natural estrogen-like compounds in black cohosh may offer relief from menopausal symptoms and make physical conditions more conducive to enjoyment of sex.

According to some sources, black cohosh may also have an effect on the nervous system of the body, thus stimulating sex hormones as well as sex organs among men as well as women and heightening sexual arousal.

Besides being used as an aphrodisiac, black cohosh has several other therapeutic benefits. It has historically been used in the treatment of rheumatic conditions and osteoarthritis besides being considered as an anti-tussive and expectorant.

Using black cohosh

The root and rhizome of black cohosh are believed to contain most of the plant’s beneficial properties and are thus used in medicinal preparations. Traditionally the roots of black cohosh have used in the form of a herbal tea. To make this, one teaspoon of the dried and powdered root is simmered in one cup of boiling water for around fifteen minutes. One teaspoon of this decoction may then be taken with one cup water three times a day. An alcohol tincture from the fresh roots of black cohosh is prepared with 40-60% ethanol. Herbalists recommend 10-40 drops of standardized tincture three times a day. Black cohosh root extract are also widely available in the form of capsules, of which one of the most popular is Remifemin. Among the Native Americans, the juice of the black cohosh plant has been used to repel insects and even made into a salve to treat snakebites.

Side effects of using black cohosh

In a few cases of black cohosh use, adverse reactions like gastric irritation and nausea have been noted. Overdosing on the herb may however lead to vomiting, dizziness, headaches, breathlessness, hot flashes and even seizures.

Black cohosh is contraindicated among pregnant and breastfeeding women due to the herb’s effect on hormones. Moreover there have been insufficient studies on the safety of the herb for women in these conditions as well as for children. In folk medicine black cohosh was believed to be used by women in the last stages of pregnancy to induce easy labor and childbirth. However women should not consider using the herb on their own without medical supervision since it may stimulate uterine contractions and lead to a miscarriage.

Patients with liver conditions should also avoid preparations of black cohosh. Among other people who are advised to refrain from using the herb are those suffering from hormone-sensitive conditions like cancer of the breast, ovaries or uterus, prostate, endometriosis and uterine fibroids, people who have known allergies to plants of the buttercup family, people who may be allergic to aspirin or salicylates since the plant contains small amounts of salicylic acid as well as people with a history of blood clots, strokes, seizures and high blood pressure.

Since black cohosh may act  like the hormone estrogen, it may interfere with the action of hormone replacement therapy as well as oral contraceptives. Yet another possibility of adverse drug interaction while using black cohosh may be in the case of the chemotherapy drug cisplastin.

Modern scientific studies have not been able to prove for certain that black cohosh does indeed help women’s bodies to feel and make love better. However the very fact that the herb is being chosen as the subject of an ever larger number of studies is an indication that its traditional reputation as a medicine and aphrodisiac may have something to it.