Herb of the Day: Black Cohosh

Black Cohosh is native to North America and has a long history of use among Indigenous peoples. Herbalists primarily use it for women's health issues, but it has many other uses as well. Herbalist Matthew Wood has described Black Cohosh as an "herbal chiropractor" and says it is excellent for helping with alignment issues. Herbalists use it in teas, tinctures, and other herbal preparations.

Traditional herbal uses of Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa)

• Asthma
• Circulation
• Coughs
• Ear pain
• Hormonal support & natural induction
• Labor support
• Menopause
• Menstrual cramps
• Muscle spasms
• Nerve and muscle pain
• More! 

Studies have also examined Black Cohosh and high blood pressure. 

TriLight Health and Black Cohosh

We use Black Cohosh in Start Up and Hear No Evil

Start Up is our herbal labor induction blend. It contains herbs that herbalists and midwives have traditionally used for inducing labor and supporting childbirth. Start Up is midwife-approved and a standard item many midwives keep on hand. This is a great product to talk to your midwife or OB/GYN about towards the end of pregnancy! 

"Midwife recommended- As a midwife, I need options to help women give birth. StartUp is my go-to formula for postdates or for any situation where the baby needs to come sooner rather than later. It seems to work very well for my clients." ~Veronica

Start Up is included in our Pregnancy Essentials Kit alongside five other products. This kit contains everything expecting moms need from first trimester through delivery- including an herbal prenatal vitamin! 

Hear No Evil is unlike any other formula on the market. It is our fast-acting ear drop for earache relief. Unlike our other products, this is a topical product only- do not take it internally. A couple of drops in the ear is all you need. Many customers report needing to use it only once or twice and say they've been able to avoid antibiotics for an ear infection with this product. It's a must-have for lots of moms! 

"A lifesaver! - From a mama of six, these are an absolute must-have and something I always have on hand. Great product!!" Elsa

Hear No Evil is included in our Earache Relief Wellness Kit. This kit also features our #1 and #3 best sellers- Lympha Rub and Scout Out. Both have a wide range of uses beyond earaches, so you can get the most out of this kit! 

The Earache Relief Wellness Kit is one of our Specials of the Week right now, and it's 20% off! Find our Weekly Specials here every week. 

Note: Black Cohosh should be avoided earlier in pregnancy as it stimulates uterine contractions- hence its use in Start Up. In large doses, it can cause nervous system dysregulation, headaches, and dizziness. Typical herbal medicinal doses are extremely unlikely to cause this and may actually help with headaches and the nervous system! Those who are more sensitive may want to start with smaller doses just to be sure.

Blue Cohosh vs Black Cohosh

Blue Cohosh, as you might imagine, is extremely similar to Black Cohosh. They are almost always used in tandem. We use both types in both of our products listed above. Blue has more properties related to nervous system support. It also relaxes the uterus more and has stronger pain-relieving properties than Black Cohosh. Blue is more often used on its own in overall women's health blends; we use it in Female Formula.

These two plants actually belong to different families: Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) belongs to the Berberidaceae family, while Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa or Cimicifuga racemosa) belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. 

Learn More

Herb of the Month: Blue Cohosh
Herbal Earache Relief
Pregnancy and Herbs