Cimicifuga racemosa

From Permawiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Cimicifuga racemosa
Light:Part Shade
Moisture:Mesic
Hardiness:4
Soil pH:5.6-8.4
Height:5'
Width:2'
Blooms:Mid Summer-Mid Fall
Open Woods Forest
Native to:
Edible Rating:PFAF Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating:PFAF Medicinal Rating
Tea:Yes
Poisonous

Cimicifuga racemosa (common name: black cohosh)

Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[1]. Only just cover the seed. It germinates in 1 - 12 months or even longer at 15°c[2]. The seed does not store well and soon loses its viability[3], stored seed may germinate better if given 6 - 8 weeks warm stratification at 15°c and then 8 weeks cold stratification[2]. Prick out the young seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a frame for their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer[K].

Division in spring or autumn[1]. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer or following spring.

Cultivation: Prefers a moist humus rich soil and some shade[1][4][3]. Grows well in dappled shade[5][6][7]. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[1] and tolerates drier soils[8].

Plants are hardy to at least -20°c[9].

A very ornamental species[8]. The flowers have an unusual, slightly unpleasant smell[10] which is thought to repel insects[11]. Plants grow and flower well in Britain, though they seldom if ever ripen their seed[12].

A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes[13].

Range: Eastern N. America - Massachusetts to Ontario, south to Georgia and Tennessee.

Habitat: Moist or dry shady rich woods[12][14][15][16].

Edibility: Leaves - cooked[17]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Medicinal: Black cohosh is a traditional remedy of the North American Indians where it was used mainly to treat women's problems, especially painful periods and problems associated with the menopause[18]. A popular and widely used herbal remedy, it is effective in the treatment of a range of diseases[12].

The root is alterative, antidote, antirheumatic, antispasmodic, astringent, cardiotonic, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, hypnotic, sedative, tonic and vasodilator[12][19][20][21][22][23][15][16]. It is harvested in the autumn as the leaves die down, then cut into pieces and dried[12]. The root is toxic in overdose, it should be used with caution and be completely avoided by pregnant women[16]. See also the notes above on toxicity.

The medically active ingredients are not soluble in water so a tincture of the root is normally used[16]. It is used in the treatment of rheumatism, as a sedative and an emmenagogue[11]. It is traditionally important in the treatment of women's complaints, acting specifically on the uterus it eases uterine cramps and has been used to help in childbirth[16][24]. Research has shown that the root has oestrogenic activity and is thought to reduce levels of pituitary luteinizing hormone, thereby decreasing the ovaries production of progesterone[16][18]. The root is also hypoglycaemic, sedative and anti-inflammatory[16]. Used in conjunction with St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) it is 78% effective in treating hot flushes and other menopausal problems[18]. An extract of the root has been shown to strengthen the male reproductive organ in rats[16]. The root contains salicylic acid, which makes it of value in the treatment of various rheumatic problems - it is particularly effective in the acute stage of rheumatoid arthritis, sciatica and chorea[24]. Its sedative action makes it useful for treating a range of other complaints including tinnitus and high blood pressure[18].

The roots are used to make a homeopathic remedy[25]. This is used mainly for women, especially during pregnancy[25].

Usage: Both the growing and the dried plant can be used to repel bugs and fleas[26].

Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.

Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Mid Fall

Flower Type: Hermaphrodite

Known Hazards: The plant is poisonous in large doses[19]. Large doses irritate nerve centres and may cause abortion[24].

Links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bird, Alfred. Growing from Seed Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan, 1990.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
  4. ↑ Sanders, Thomas. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge, 1926.
  5. ↑ Knight, F. P.. Plants for Shade. Royal Horticultural Society, 1980.
  6. ↑ Brown, George. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland.
  7. ↑ RHS. The Garden Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society, 1987.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
  9. ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
  10. ↑ Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Weiner, Michael. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books, 1980.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
  13. ↑ Hatfield, Audrey. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd, 1974.
  14. ↑ Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Emboden, William. Narcotic Plants. Studio Vista, 1979.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 16.7 Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
  17. ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Chiej, Roberto. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald, 1984.
  20. ↑ Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
  21. ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
  22. ↑ Schery. Robert. Plants for Man. Prentice Hall, 1972.
  23. ↑ Mills, Simon. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Stuart, Malcolm. The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism. Orbis Publishing, 1979.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Castro, Miranda. The Complete Homeopathy Handbook. Macmillan, 1990.
  26. ↑ Coventry, B. Wild Flowers of Kashmir. Raithby, Lawrence and Co, 1923.


Retrieved from "https://old.permawiki.org/w/index.php?title=Cimicifuga_racemosa&oldid=24619"