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AYURVEDIC HERB SUPPLEMENTS

Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)

Bittersweet, hot emmenagogue that stimulates and nourishes the uterus, while relaxing the nervous system.
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Table of Contents

How Does This Ayurvedic Herb Supplement Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Blue cohosh is a bitter woodland plant in the same plant family as barberry, goldenseal, and oregon grape root. However, unlike barberry it is more pungent and acrid. It is also has a sweet taste, a sign of its building estrogenic nature. The word 'cohosh' is Algonquin for rough. It should not be confused with black cohosh.

Blue Cohosh root both stimulates and nourishes the uterus. It's warm, pungent nature dilates vessels and stimulates circulation, useful in amenorrhea. It's estrogenic nature directly tonifies the uterus and supports healthy blood flow. It is an effective uterine stimulant used in weakness, spasm, cold, and damp. Do not use in estrogen dominance.

Its oxytocic effect enhances labor contractions, and it has been used to induce labor. It's abortive effective is contraindicated in pregnancy. Despite it's use to induce laber, it is a muscle-relaxant. Blue cohosh is primarily uterine stimulant, secondarily antispasmodic nervous system relaxant.

As a diuretic, it clears metabolic toxins from the blood. This detoxification effect, together with its circulatory stimulating qualities, is useful in rheumatoid arthritis.

Comparisons

Blue cohosh is stimulating, while black cohosh is relaxing. Blue cohosh is drying, while Dong Quai is moistening. Where Blue Cohosh is hot & irritating, mugwort is cooling.

Images of Blue Cohosh

Ayurveda Blue Cohosh Whole Plant Large

Metabolic Nature of Blue Cohosh

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

Find Out More

DRY

ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DRY

HOT

ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot is identified by increased body temperature, metabolism, or inflammation.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOT

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

Find Out More

BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Bitter taste has cholagogue action - it is cold, clear, light, and stimulating. It increases digestive enzymes and is laxative, and drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BITTER

PUNGENT

ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PUNGENT

SWEET

ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SWEET

DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Pitta aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Wet & cold. When out of balance becomes congested, stagnant, and overweight. Loving, trusting, and patient.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

AGGRAVATES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot and oily with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body. Vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

Other

Subtaste:
Acrid

STRONG ACRID

Acrid taste is a combination of bitter and pungent tastes. Example include radish, turnip, and coffee.

SEE ALL 'ACRID' FOODS / HERBS

Affinity:
Kidney Bladder Urinary, Reproductive Health
Family:
Berberidaceae

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Blue Cohosh
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Cleanse & Detox:
Internal Detoxicant

INTERNAL-DETOXICANT

Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system.

SEE ALL 'INTERNAL-DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS

Mind, Stress & Sleep:
Nerve Relaxant Grounding

NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING

Encourages feelings of stability and heaviness. Makes you feel settled, mentally relaxed. Mildly sedates the nervous system to ease stress. Can bring a spacey or anxious person back to earth. Reduces agitation, irritation, stress and racing thoughts.

SEE ALL 'NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING' FOODS / HERBS

,
Analgesic

ANALGESIC

Pain reliever, reduces pain without eliminating sensation. Also known as anodyne.

SEE ALL 'ANALGESIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Anxiolytic

ANXIOLYTIC

Herbs that help people suffering from anxiety or panic. They promote a state of calm and often improve sleep. Most anxiolytic herbs are also nervines.

SEE ALL 'ANXIOLYTIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Nervine

NERVINE

Balances the nervous system. They can help with stress, memory, early alzheimer's, and even chronic pain. Often they are aromatic in nature.

SEE ALL 'NERVINE' FOODS / HERBS

Skin Care & Beauty:
Diaphoretic

DIAPHORETIC

An herb that induces sweating, often by dilating blood vessels close to the skin.

SEE ALL 'DIAPHORETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Immune System:
Antirheumatic

ANTIRHEUMATIC

Antirheumatic herbs help to ease and prevent arthritis and rheumatism. Many are also anti-inflammatory, analgesic, detoxicants and blood thinners. Antirheumatic herbs deal with problems involving the painful, stiff, swollen joints, and fatigue.

SEE ALL 'ANTIRHEUMATIC' FOODS / HERBS

Heart & Circulation:
Reduces Secretions

REDUCES-SECRETIONS

Stops discharges & secretions (examples include sweat, vaginal discharge, diarrhea, urinary, nasal, etc). Commonly astringent or cooling remedies.

SEE ALL 'REDUCES-SECRETIONS' FOODS / HERBS

,
Vasodilator

VASODILATOR

A vasodilator is an herb that widens the blood vessels by the relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls, thereby increasing circulation systemically or to a local area.

SEE ALL 'VASODILATOR' FOODS / HERBS

Kidney & Urinary:
Diuretic

DIURETIC

Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.

SEE ALL 'DIURETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Reproductive Health:
Emmenagogue

EMMENAGOGUE

Herbs which stimulate menstruation. Emmenagogues are used for scanty menstruation, to relieve menstrual pain, and improve blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus.

SEE ALL 'EMMENAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Estrogenic

ESTROGENIC

Increases estrogen, helpful in menopause. Estrogen is anabolic and increases muscle growth, bone density, and moisture.

SEE ALL 'ESTROGENIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Oxytocic

OXYTOCIC

Oxytocin stimulates uterine contractions, and prepares the uterus for labor. It has a vasoconstricting effect. Emotionally, it is tribal.

SEE ALL 'OXYTOCIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Stimulant Parturient

STIMULANT-PARTURIENT

Used to induce labor when labor is stalled due to weak or ineffective contractions. Includes both stimulants and oxytocic parturients.

SEE ALL 'STIMULANT-PARTURIENT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Uterine Stimulant

UTERINE-STIMULANT

Causes contractions in the uterus often by stimulating production of oxytocin. These herbs are contraindicated during pregnancy.

SEE ALL 'UTERINE-STIMULANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Uterine Tonic

UTERINE-TONIC

An herb that tonifies and strengthens the uterus. Helpful for menstrual difficulties and fertility. Often herbs that increase ojas, but also circulation to reproductive system.

SEE ALL 'UTERINE-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Bone & Joint:
Antiarthritic

ANTIARTHRITIC

Herbs that ease arthritic pain and promote joint health.

SEE ALL 'ANTIARTHRITIC' FOODS / HERBS

Strength, Muscle Health:
Muscle Relaxant

MUSCLE-RELAXANT

Herbs that relax muscles. Helpful for chronic pain or tension as well as healing from physical trauma.

SEE ALL 'MUSCLE-RELAXANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Antispasmodic

ANTISPASMODIC

Herbs that reduce or inhibit muscle spasms or cramping, such as in asthma, menstruation, heart palpitations, migraine, or IBS.

SEE ALL 'ANTISPASMODIC' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:
Berberine

BERBERINE

A bitter compound having strong chologogue, alterative, and anti-microbial properties. Lowers dopamine.

SEE ALL 'BERBERINE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Steroidal Saponins

STEROIDAL-SAPONINS

Steroidal saponins closely resemble human hormones such as estrogen and cortisol, and have a hormonal activity in the body.

SEE ALL 'STEROIDAL-SAPONINS' FOODS / HERBS

, Tannins

Foods with a Similar Nature to Blue Cohosh

  • Mustard Seed

    Mustard Seed has these Actions in Common

    Antirheumatic, Diuretic, Muscle-relaxant, Analgesic, Antispasmodic, Emmenagogue, Vasodilator, Antiarthritic, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard

    Mustard has these Actions in Common

    Antirheumatic, Diuretic, Muscle-relaxant, Analgesic, Antispasmodic, Emmenagogue, Vasodilator, Antiarthritic, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard Powder

    Mustard Powder has these Actions in Common

    Antiarthritic, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Antirheumatic, Diuretic, Muscle-relaxant, Analgesic, Antispasmodic, Emmenagogue, Vasodilator

    LEARN MORE

  • Sage

    Sage has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Estrogenic, Reduces-secretions, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulant-parturient, Emmenagogue, Nervine, Uterine-stimulant

    LEARN MORE

  • Chamomile

    Chamomile has these Actions in Common

    Anxiolytic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Analgesic, Diaphoretic, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Emmenagogue, Vasodilator

    LEARN MORE

  • Nutmeg

    Nutmeg has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Emmenagogue, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Antispasmodic, Internal-detoxicant, Nervine, Anxiolytic, Muscle-relaxant

    LEARN MORE

  • Cloves

    Cloves has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Diaphoretic, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Internal-detoxicant, Vasodilator, Anxiolytic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding

    LEARN MORE

  • Fenugreek

    Fenugreek has these Actions in Common

    Uterine-stimulant, Emmenagogue, Nervine, Diaphoretic, Estrogenic, Oxytocic, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Rosemary

    Rosemary has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Internal-detoxicant, Vasodilator, Diaphoretic, Muscle-relaxant, Analgesic, Emmenagogue, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Lavender

    Lavender has these Actions in Common

    Vasodilator, Antispasmodic, Nervine, Anxiolytic, Stimulant-parturient, Analgesic, Muscle-relaxant

    LEARN MORE

  • Celery Seed

    Celery Seed has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Nervine, Antiarthritic, Diuretic, Vasodilator, Antispasmodic, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Blue Cohosh

  • Motherwort

    Motherwort has these Actions in Common

    Anxiolytic, Uterine-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Estrogenic, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Analgesic, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Stimulant-parturient

    LEARN MORE

  • Dong Quai

    Dong Quai has these Actions in Common

    Stimulant-parturient, Uterine-stimulant, Analgesic, Uterine-tonic, Antispasmodic, Vasodilator, Emmenagogue, Estrogenic, Internal-detoxicant, Muscle-relaxant, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Yogaraj Guggulu

    Yogaraj Guggulu has these Actions in Common

    Emmenagogue, Internal-detoxicant, Muscle-relaxant, Analgesic, Nervine, Antiarthritic, Vasodilator, Antirheumatic, Antispasmodic, Anxiolytic

    LEARN MORE

  • Mugwort

    Mugwort has these Actions in Common

    Nervine, Oxytocic, Analgesic, Reduces-secretions, Antispasmodic, Uterine-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

    Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Internal-detoxicant, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Antispasmodic, Nervine, Anxiolytic, Vasodilator, Diaphoretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Sit in the Sauna

    Sit in the Sauna has these Actions in Common

    Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Analgesic, Vasodilator, Antiarthritic, Antispasmodic, Anxiolytic, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Encourage a Sweat / Sweat Therapy

    Encourage a Sweat / Sweat Therapy has these Actions in Common

    Anxiolytic, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Analgesic, Vasodilator, Antiarthritic, Antispasmodic

    LEARN MORE

  • Pennyroyal

    Pennyroyal has these Actions in Common

    Emmenagogue, Muscle-relaxant, Nervine, Oxytocic, Analgesic, Vasodilator, Antispasmodic, Diaphoretic, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Black Cohosh

    Black Cohosh has these Actions in Common

    Anxiolytic, Diaphoretic, Estrogenic, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nervine, Analgesic, Uterine-tonic, Antispasmodic

    LEARN MORE

  • Yarrow

    Yarrow has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Vasodilator, Antispasmodic, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Estrogenic, Internal-detoxicant, Oxytocic, Uterine-stimulant

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

Guidelines - Preparation & Dose

1 dropper full 2x/day or as directed by your practitioner.
See guidelines for tinctures?

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Blue Cohosh may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any herb supplement for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Blue Cohosh may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Note this is not a complete list of all possible contraindications. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

Herb Drug Interaction Risk

Here are some potential herb drug interactions with Blue Cohosh. Please see your health care provider for more information.

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