Blue cohosh
Caulophyllum thalictroides
Photo credit: Eric Hunt
This plant carries serious safety risks. All information is for educational reference only.
Safety information
Toxicity: Serious. Nicotinic toxicity documented (case: tachycardia, diaphoresis, vomiting, fasciculations after use as abortifacient); in vitro teratogenic, embryotoxic, oxytotoxic; neonatal case reports of perinatal stroke, MI/heart failure, multi-organ hypoxic injury after intrapartum use.
Contraindications: Pregnancy (any stage), labor, lactation, cardiac disease, children. Reviewers advise it not be available OTC and used only under medical supervision.
Interactions: Additive with nicotinic/cardiac agents; oxytocics.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Contraindicated in pregnancy (any stage), labor and lactation.
Evidence level
Reported in folk medicine sources; not clinically validated. Folk and historical sources have not been validated by clinical research.
Preparations
This plant carries serious safety risks. All information is for educational reference only.
historical/tincture use only — described, NOT instructed · root/rhizome
Part used: root/rhizome
Traditional use: stimulate labor/menstruation, antispasmodic ('squaw root'/'papoose root')(Folk and historical sources have not been validated by clinical research.)
Proposed mechanism: methylcytisine (nicotinic) and other alkaloids/glycosides
Dosage note (descriptive only): NO how-to whatsoever
Reference only — not a dosage instruction
Associated conditions
Nutritional notes
n/a
Healing traditions
Sources (2)
- Rao & Hoffman, J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 2002 (PubMed 12136970)
- Dugoua et al. 2008 (PubMed 18204101)