A small but growing number of women who want relief without estrogen's side effects are discovering the benefits of black cohosh. The herbal therapy provides the same relief estrogen does, with no known serious side effects. Plant Description Black cohosh is made from the roots of a member of the buttercup family. The tall, flowering plant grows in forests of the United States and Canada. Black cohosh also is called black snakeroot, bugbane, bugwort, and squawroot.
Black cohosh contains several other substances including starch and sugars.
Available Forms Black cohosh is available in several forms. The most familiar are capsules and tablets. Black cohosh is also available as a liquid tincture that can be mixed in water and as a dried root that's simmered in water to make a drink similar to tea. Although black cohosh's comeback in the United States is relatively new, European women have used it for more than 40 years. Scientists in Europe and the United States have conducted several studies that prove the botanical treatment helps women while producing few side effects.