Blue Cohosh

Caulophyllum thalictroides

June H. McDermott

Other Names

• Papoose Root
• Squawroot

Habitat

• USA

Parts Used

• root
• rhizome

Constituents

• Alkaloids

• scaulophylline (=methylcystisine)
• anagyrine
• baptifoline
• magnoflorine

• Saponins

• caulosaponin

Historical uses

• rheumatism
• dropsy
• colic
• sore throat
• inflammation of the uterus
• Indian squaws employed a decoction of the root for 2-3 weeks prior to labor to facilitate child-birth

Later Uses

• antispasmodic
• emmenagogue
• parturfacient
• diuretic
• diaphoretic
• expectorant

Contemporary uses

• Uterine stimulant
• Inducer of menstruation
• Antispasmodic
• Diuretic

Indications

• Uterine tonic

• improves tone - e.g. threat of miscarriage

• Anti-spasmodic

• ease false labor pains
• dysmenorrhea

• Emmenagogue

• bring on delayed or suppressed menstruation

• Deficient contractions in parturition

• ensures easy delivery

• Antispasmodic

• colic
• asthma
• nervous cough

• Diuresis

• (action by “sustaining pelvic nerves”)

Doses

• Decoction or Infusion

• 1 oz root to 1 pint of boiling water and boil for 1/2 hour
• 2-4 fluid oz tid - qid

• Tincture

• 3 oz of finely powdered root to 1 part EtOH, soak for 2 weeks, shake well and filter
• Dose: 1/2 - 2 tsp

Caution

• high blood pressure
• heart disease
• diabetes
• glaucoma
• history of stroke
• Should only be used at term to induce labor and only under medical supervision

Clinical Use

• Unripe cervix

• Evening primrose oil - 3 capsules daily for up to a week, may ripen cervix
• Black Cohosh tincture, 10 drops under the tongue hourly; effect in 3-4 hours; continue until cervix is fully soft and ripe
• Nipple stimulation - will also stimulate labor; may need to continue for hours

• Initiating Labor

• Visualizations
• Homeopathic Caulophyllum 200x
• Castor Oil (external and internal)
• Blue Cohosh tincture, 3-8 gtts in a glass of warm water every 30 min for several hours until contractions are regular

• Stalled labor

• Relaxation
• Calcium lactate or warm milk
• Wine or beer or jovial company to promote relaxation
• Finger pressure or acupuncture
• Blue Cohosh root - 10-20 gtts of tincture in a small glass or water, repeated hourly

For information on references, please contact June H. Mcdermott, MS, MBA, FASHP.