When I was a student at the School of Natural Healing many years ago, I had a neighbor knock on my door quite upset because her granddaughter was having premature labor pains and was wondering if there was anything she could do to stop them. I told her about an herb called blue cohosh. I had learned that blue cohosh was used by the Native Americans during labor to help dilate the cervix. It helps stop false labor pains. Although it has been used to start real labor, it will not start it unless it is time. Her granddaughter took the blue cohosh and it stopped the false labor and she went full term with her pregnancy. 

Blue cohosh root has a long history of being used for many female issues including menstrual cramps and painful menstruation, irregular menstrual cycles, labor preparation and to stimulate uterine contractions.

Dr. Christopher lists blue cohosh as an Emmenagogue herb which is an herb that will regulate and bring on suppressed menstruation. Because of this there are cautions in recent publications on blue cohosh that it should only be used at the end of pregnancy.

Dr. Shook wrote the following about Blue Cohosh:

This is a very old Indian remedy. They believed it to be the best parturient in nature, and it was the habit of their women to drink the tea several weeks before labor…this exceedingly valuable Herb is well called “women’s best friend” for the reason that it is much more reliable and far less dangerous in expediting delivery in those cases where labor is slow, very painful, and does not bring about natural delivery. As you well know, these distressing cases are many , and great exhaustion sometimes results from delay, through debility, fatigue, or lack of uterine nervous energy. Blue cohosh in infusion or decoction taken warm will accomplish a particular easy parturition, if given for some hours just previous to the time.

Blue cohosh is very useful for many more issues besides female troubles. It contains antiinflammatory, antibacterial and antispasmodic properties making it useful for various pulmonary, neural, and muscular affections. It is very beneficial in relieving muscle cramps and spasms throughout the whole system. It has been used for rheumatic and joint discomfort and is less commonly known for its use with constipation. 

Blue cohosh is used in combination with other herbs. Dr. Christopher’s Ear and Nerve tincture contains blue cohosh along with black cohosh, blue vervain, skullcap and lobelia in equal parts. The benefits and testimonials of this formula would fill pages containing information of people restoring their hearing, relieving nerve pain, relief from epilepsy and vertigo, M.S. and even tumors.

This useful herb may not be on the top 10 list but its properties and benefits are worth knowing. 

Jo Francks is a Master Herbalist working at the School of Natural Healing.