Cimicifuga racemosa (Actaea racemosa ) - Black Cohosh
"CONSTITUENTS: Macrotin, a resinoid volatile oil, tannic acid, gallic acid, gum, starch, fat, sugar.
PREPARATIONS: Extractum Cimicifugae Fluidum, Fluid Extract of Cimicifuga. Dose: five to thirty minims. Tinctura Cimicifugae, Tincture of Cimicifuga. Dose: one-half to one dram. Specific Med. Macrotys. Dose: one-tenth to ten minims.
Therapy: In the premonitory stage of acute fevers, or of acute inflammatory troubles of whatever character, a common symptom is a general tired feeling with aching of the muscles. In these cases there is usually a chill or chilliness, with more or less fever with the aching. One drop of the tincture of cimicifuga every hour will relieve this aching in from six to twelve hours. If given with aconite for the fever and belladonna for the rigors, the time may be reduced to three or four hours. When indicated, its influence upon the nervous system will probably abridge many of the other symptoms.
Through its influence upon the vasomotor centers and upon the nerve ganglia, it has a beneficial influence upon the heart. In rheumatic carditis or pericarditis it is a sovereign remedy acting directly in the line of its physiological influence. In neuralgia of the heart—angina pectoris and functional irregularity of the heart from exalted nerve influence, either alone or combined with gelsemium, it is prompt and reliable, and should be by no means neglected. ...
It will be found indicated in rheumatic neuralgia, in sciatica, in muscular rheumatism of the chest walls, in achings of the deep muscles of the back, in myalgia, in severe colds, in neuralgia from cold, in rheumatic headache, and in neuralgia of the ovaries; also with women in the intense muscular aching preceding the menses.
Cimicifuga operates directly upon the reproductive functions. In the female it is valuable as above indicated, in dysmenorrhea of a congestive character always, and in amenorrhea. In these cases aconite will aid its action greatly, if the condition be induced by sudden cold; and pulsatilla will do likewise if the conditions be caused by nervous shock or functional irregularity extending over a longer period. Helonias may be given with it, if there be weight and dragging in the lower abdominal region. If leucorrhea be present with the above indications, it is especially valuable. It is valuable to promote uterine contractions, and in subinvolution. In the aggravating rheumatic pains of parturition, or of the later stages of pregnancy, which deceive by closely simulating those of labor in some ladies of rheumatic diathesis, this is positive and prompt.
In hysterical conditions of the menstrual epoch, in hypochondriasis or melancholia at these times, with congestive dysmenorrhea with the above indications, it is specific. In puerperal hysteria with great nervous excitement and the above conditions, or with excitable mania or incipient puerperal insanity, it is a most efficient remedy, having a desirable sedative influence on the nerves of the womb ...
The agent has been advised in the treatment of smallpox. One of the old writers claimed that he used it persistently through an entire epidemic, and the results caused him to entertain the highest confidence in this remedy. He believed he had aborted the disease in many cases, in forty-eight hours. If given with the appearance of the premonitory symptoms, the disease was so abridged, that no eruptions appeared. He usually gave it in the form of a decoction, in conjunction with equal parts of asclepias, and a small quantity of ginger. He gave enough of the remedy, to induce the physiological influence, such as aching in the muscles and pain in the head. The agent should have a further trial in this disease, as others have claimed to obtain results similar to those quoted above, and the influence of the remedy should be confirmed or disproved.
In the male it is valuable in gonorrhea, with aching, in the bladder and across the kidneys. We prescribe it oftener than any other agent in these cases. It soothes the nervous irritability and materially assists in relieving the active inflammation. We usually find indications for aconite in the acute cases, or gelsemium where there is irritation with a tendency to spasmodic stricture, or hydrangea where there are sharp, cutting pains in urination; and these properly combined have been our "sure cure" treatment for many years, with mild injections of zinc sulphate, hydrastine, or hydrogen peroxide, all warm, or of warm water alone. It is valuable also in orchitis with its own indications. In spermatorrhea with irritability and considerable sexual weakness and plethora, it will cure when other agents fail, if given in half-dram doses after meals."
(Finley Ellingwood: The American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy, 1915)