Herb
Blue Cohosh
A traditional women's-health root, historically used to help bring on delayed menstruation... not a home remedy for pregnancy or labor.
🛑 RemedyRank warns against this
Has caused heart failure and stroke in newborns when taken to bring on labour.
This page exists so the reasons are written down plainly, not because the practice is recommended. Nothing is sold here. If a doctor has prescribed something for a diagnosed condition, follow their guidance — that is a decision between you and them, and it is a different thing from trying this at home.
⤢📊 How it ranks (our editor score) — 39/100Tap to see the breakdown
👶 Safe for children?
This remedy carries age-related cautions. Please read them before giving it to a child, and check with your pediatrician or pharmacist first.
- Can raise blood pressure and constrict blood vessels; not for children, and not appropriate for unsupervised self-use for any purpose.
🌱 What it is
Blue cohosh is a woodland root native to eastern North America, named for the deep blue color of its berries in fall. It has a long history in traditional women's-health practice, particularly around menstrual cycles, but it is a strong, fast-acting herb whose risks are serious enough that it calls for professional guidance rather than self-use.
📜 Where it comes from
Blue cohosh is a woodland root native to eastern North America and was used by several Native American nations, including the Cherokee and Iroquois, in traditional women's health practice, particularly to help bring on delayed menstruation. Nineteenth-century American eclectic physicians adopted it into their botanical practice for similar purposes. Its traditional use around labor and pregnancy has always carried real risk, and it was never considered a simple household remedy even within the traditions that used it.
🥗 Nutrition
Per 1 cup brewed tea / 1 tsp root · about 3 calories
- Alkaloids and saponins
- Antioxidants
- Negligible macronutrients
Source: Nutrition estimate (per typical serving)
🥄 How to use it
Only under the direct guidance of a qualified herbalist or healthcare provider familiar with its real risks; not appropriate for self-dosing.
How much: Not appropriate for home self-dosing; any use should be directed and supervised by a qualified provider.
Why it works: Relaxes uterine muscles and soothes the nerves.
Show full details & how to prepare it
Blue cohosh has a long history in traditional women's-health practice, most notoriously as a folk method some have used to try to bring on labor. Modern evidence shows this use carries real danger... case reports link it to serious cardiovascular problems in newborns... and its uterine-stimulating action is potent and unpredictable outside clinical supervision. This entry is included so the plant is documented honestly, not as an endorsement: RemedyRank does not recommend blue cohosh for pregnancy, labor, or any form of unsupervised self-use. Delayed or absent periods are commonly evaluated by a doctor to find the underlying cause, rather than treated with a potent herbA plant, or part of one, used for flavor, food, or gentle health support. More → taken alone at home.
Ways to prepare it
⚠️ Cautions
- A genuinely toxic, potent uterine stimulant... this herb is NOT a safe home remedy to bring on or speed up labor, and must never be used in pregnancy for that or any other purpose; it has been linked to serious heart and blood-vessel effects in newborns when used this way.
📚 Learn more
🌿 Deeper natural detail
🩺 The conventional view
💬 Ask Remy about Blue Cohosh
📚 Resource confidence
Based on mentions in health references
Your vote is saved. Source endorsement totals come from books and studies (+7 per book, +5 per article). You can change your vote anytime from this device.
💬 Comments & experiences
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