Black Cohosh, also known as black snakeroot, is an herb made from the plant's roots. This compound lowers blood pressure and cholesterol levels, benefits the cardiovascular and circulatory systems, and is helpful in treating female problems, such as menstrual cramps. Black cohosh's estrogen-like properties make it useful in reducing hot flashes, headache, nervousness, and irritability - symptoms related to menopause. This herb may lessen morning sickness, has been used to induce labor and during the process of childbirth. Black Cohosh is also called 'squawroot' - a name obviously derived from the herbal benefits it provides women. Black Cohosh was used in North American Indian medicine for malaise, gynecological disorders, kidney disorders, malaria, rheumatism, and sore throat. It was also used for colds, cough, constipation, hives, and backache and to induce lactation.

Black Cohosh helps to relieve other hormone-related symptoms that cause discomfort to both menopausal and premenstrual women, including depression, headache, and cramping. The root of this plant can also fight excess water retention by acting as a diuretic, and help inhibit the growth of painful fibroids in the breast and uterus by reducing the amount of estrogen available to these sites. Black Cohosh may prove to be an effective treatment for male infertility in men—one of its components,ferulic acid, protects sperm cells from oxidative damage. Recent preliminary research indicates that black Cohosh may act as an anti-inflammatory, particularly in the joints. This supports the traditional use of black Cohosh to treat arthritis.

Black Cohosh is a popular alternative to estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) in menopausal women. Because it is a phytoestrogen (estrogen found in plants), black Cohosh is thought to work by helping to offset the declining amounts of estrogen in the body during menopause. Health officials in both Britain and Germany have recognized this herb for its ability to mimic estrogen in the body. Unlike some synthetic hormone-replacement medications, black Cohosh is not known to the risk of breast cancer or other hormone-related cancers. Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemes) as a treatment for women experiencing menopausal symptoms. The finding is based on the most comprehensive review of black Cohosh safety data to date and provides welcome news for women seeking alternatives to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) almost exactly one year after the startling revelation by the Women's Health Initiative that long-term, combination HRT can increase a woman's risk of breast cancer, heart attacks, stroke and blood clots. It has been used for centuries to help with conditions that affected women's reproductive organs (including menstrual problems, inflammation of the uterus or ovaries, infertility, threatened miscarriage, and relief of labor pains). Studies have shown that black Cohosh is a root that has estrogenic properties; it supplies estrogenic sterols which are the beginnings for steroid hormones like estrogen, progesterone and tester one. It is said to possess relaxant properties which may affect uterine contractions so that heavy bleeding is decreased. This herb may also contain substances that act as pain relievers and sedatives.