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White cohosh
White cohosh

Background

White cohosh appears to be a substance with no reliable evidence to support its use, yet with documented toxicity. It should not be confused with black cohosh, used for symptoms of menopause, nor with blue cohosh, a substance used as a uterine stimulant and antispasmodic (6). White cohosh is also known as baneberry but it should not be confused with European baneberry.

People use this for...

Orally, white cohosh has been used to stimulate menstruation and to treat other female disorders. White cohosh is also used orally for colds and cough, urogenital disorders, stomach disorders, reviving those near death, as a purgative, in childbirth, and for curing itching.

Safety Safety definitions

Likely Unsafe ...when used orally. The entire plant is toxic (6).

Likely Unsafe ...when used orally due to toxicity (6); avoid using.

Effectiveness Effectiveness definitions

There is insufficient reliable information available about the effectiveness of white cohosh.

Natural Medicines rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.

Dosing & administration

    Adverse effects

    General: Orally, white cohosh can cause gastrointestinal (GI) irritation (19), acute stomach cramping, headache, tachycardia, vomiting, delirium, and circulatory failure (6).
    Topically, the application of white cohosh can lead to inflammation and skin blistering (6).

    Interactions with pharmaceuticals

    None known.

    Interactions with herbs & supplements

    None known.

    Interactions with foods

    None known.

    Interactions with lab tests

    None known.

    Interactions with diseases

    GASTROINTESTINAL (GI) CONDITIONS: White cohosh can irritate the GI tract. Avoid using in individuals with infectious or inflammatory GI conditions (19).

    Mechanism of action

    The constituent protoanemonin is believed to cause irritant effects (6). The fruit and berries are especially toxic. They contain toxic glycosides and an essential oil (6).

    References

    6The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
    19Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
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    This monograph was last reviewed on 15/01/2021 23:12:52 and last updated on 21/12/2012 19:58:12. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
    Natural Medicines disclaims any responsibility related to medical consequences of using any medical product. Effort is made to ensure that the information contained in this monograph is accurate at the time it was published. Consumers and medical professionals who consult this monograph are cautioned that any medical or product related decision is the sole responsibility of the consumer and/or the health care professional. A legal License Agreement sets limitations on downloading, storing, or printing content from this Database. No reproduction of this monograph or any content from this Database is permitted without written permission from the publisher. It is unlawful to download, store, or distribute content from this site.
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