But is safe? Pregnant women should use black cohosh with caution during pregnancy, according to a review of studies published in the Canadian Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. Some experts believe that the herb can be downright dangerous, especially when used in combination with other herbal labor aids like blue cohosh.
Some midwives in the United States use black cohosh as a way to relax the uterus and stimulate contractions. According to the National Institutes of Health, black cohosh is a member of the buttercup family.
The formal name of black cohosh is Actaea racemosa. Black cohosh is used for controlling menopausal symptoms. For this reason, it does seem to influence the female hormone system. The short answer here is no. There are no herbs that are safe for a woman to use on her own at home to induce labor. To encourage labor to start naturally at home, you can talk to your doctor about stripping your membranes in their office as you approach your due date.
Today, the use of black cohosh relies on its purported efficacy in the treatment of menopausal symptoms, primarily hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and depression. Because the herb is often used by women and because of its potential use during pregnancy, the authors conducted a systemic review of the literature on the efficacy of black cohosh for a number of indications as well as for its safety during pregnancy and lactation. This article is one in a series, with others focusing on the use of ginkgo Ginkgo biloba , St.
John's wort Hypericum perforatum , and echinacea Echinacea spp. The common and Latin names of the herb were used as keywords, along with pregnancy, lactation, and breastfeeding.
The grades for evidence of efficacy and the levels of evidence for harm are presented in the article's accompanying tables. Also included are the herb's constituents, toxicology, pharmacology, and potential drug interactions. The authors report that 'strong scientific evidence' exists for the use of black cohosh to treat menopausal symptoms and that 'good scientific evidence' supports the use of black cohosh combined with other herbs to treat arthritis.
The level of evidence on the herb's use during pregnancy is limited to theoretical evidence a survey of midwives in the United States and to in vitro evidence.
Most healthy pregnancies last between 38 and 42 weeks, with the average length of a pregnancy being right around 40 weeks. Technically, a fetus over 37 weeks of gestational age is considered full term from a medical perspective, and as a result, many women try to induce labor in late pregnancy. There are medications and medical techniques that can induce labor, but some midwives also recommend certain herbs, including black cohosh.
Consult your medical practitioner before using black cohosh to induce labor. Black cohosh supposedly acts as a uterine tonic, similar to red raspberry leaf tea. According to herbalists and alternative health care practitioners, it helps to prepare the uterus for contracting and stimulates labor. Learn about these safety tips below! But if you do wish to use it, do so only under medical supervision. Disclaimer: The information given in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
We urge readers to seek the advice of a physician regarding the usage of cohosh for labour induction. Sign in. Forgot your password? Get help. Create an account. Password recovery. FirstCry Parenting. Sabiha Anjum Obstetrician and Gynaecologist. In This Article. What Is Cohosh?
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