Evidence supporting the use of: Cohosh
For the health condition: Afterbirth Pain
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Cohosh (referring to both Black Cohosh, Actaea racemosa, and Blue Cohosh, Caulophyllum thalictroides) has a long history of traditional use among Indigenous peoples of North America and in Western herbal medicine for supporting women’s reproductive health, including afterbirth (postpartum) pain. Traditional texts and ethnobotanical records indicate that both forms of cohosh were used historically to ease uterine cramping, promote uterine involution, and relieve afterbirth pain following delivery. However, while these uses are well documented in traditional and folk medicine sources, there is limited modern clinical research to validate these specific effects. Most scientific studies on cohosh focus on its use for menopausal symptoms, not postpartum pain. The evidence for efficacy in treating afterbirth pain is therefore primarily based on traditional practices rather than robust scientific validation. Some pharmacological studies suggest that compounds in cohosh may have antispasmodic or uterotonic activities, which could theoretically influence uterine pain, but these findings have not been substantiated in human clinical trials for afterbirth pain. Thus, although cohosh is indeed used traditionally for afterbirth pain, the quality and quantity of scientific evidence supporting this use are weak.
Other ingredients used for Afterbirth Pain
ashwagandhablack cohosh
chamomile
turmeric
fennel
ginger
ginseng
lavender
licorice root
parsley
rhodiola
xanthium (cockleburs)
shen-chu
mugwort
anise
punarnava
caesalpinia crista
boxthorne
goldenrod
yarrow
myrrh
siler root
fern
trichosanthes
queen of the meadow
arnica
Avens
Agrimony
Achyranthes
Alchemilla
Aletris
Anserina
Aerva lanata
American Liverleaf
Aquilegia formosa
Ashoka
Abuta
Amor seco
Arisaema
Blue Cohosh
Bai Ji
Baliospermum
Black-Eyed Susan
Balsam
Bishop's Weed
Butea monosperma
Bethroot
Comfrey
Cohosh
Calendula
Calotropis gigantea
Capillary Artemisia
Cinquefoil
Cyathula
Cynodon dactylon
Castor Oil
Chrysophanics
Didymocarpus
Dragon's Blood
Davilla rugosa
Erigeron
Eupolyphaga sinensis
Eupatorium
Little ironweed
Other health conditions supported by Cohosh
Afterbirth PainAmenorrhea
Breasts (swelling and tenderness)
Dysmenorrhea
Endometriosis
Estrogen (low)
Fibroids (uterine)
Hot Flashes
Menopause
Menstrual Irregularity
Menstruation (scant)
PMS (general)
PMS Type A
PMS Type D
PMS Type H
PMS Type P
PMS Type S
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Vaginal Dryness
Vaginitis