B
E translation, because the two versions differ. “No health hazards or side effects are known in
conjunction with the proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages. An intake of very
high dosages of the drug (5 g) or an extract (12 g) leads to vomiting, headache, dizziness, limb
pain, and lowered blood pressure.” He’s sanitizing or whitewashing if not ignoring the mild side
effects reported in two of the five German studies cited above. He refers to the gastric side effects
as adverse effects as distinct from side effects. I detect a whitewash of the cohosh, perhaps well
deserved and scientifically accurate. Stay tuned.
Extracts (Black Cohosh) — Estrogenic and hypotensive effects reported (AHP). Resin hypotensive
(1 mg/kg). Triterpenes hypocholesterolemic. Formononetin binds to estrogen receptor sites, induc-
ing an estrogen-like activity in the body (SKY). Alcoholic extracts decrease luteinizing hormone
secretions in menopausal women (SKY). Cimicifugin antispasmodic and sedative (PED) but rapidly
converted to an inactive compound when the fresh root is bruised or cut. Formononetin may act
as estradiol antagonist (binding to the receptor but not producing an effect) rather than an agonist
(binding to and activating the receptor), hence not affecting LH secretion (MAB). Studies of 13
American populations of black cohosh refute the presence of formononetin.
BLACK CUMIN (Nigella sativa L.) ++
The prophet Muhammad reportedly recommended black cumin as a “cure-all” to his associates in
Arabia 1400 years ago. It remains one of the most famous medicinal herbs in the Muslim world.
Activities (Black Cumin) — Abortifacient (f; BIB; DEP; KAP); Amebicide (1; MPI); Analgesic (1;
HAD); Anesthetic (1; HAD); Antiamphetamine (f; MPI); Antibacterial (1; ABS; HAD; HHB; WOI);
Antibilious (f; BIB; EFS); Anticancer (1; ABS); Antidote, Hg (f; SKJ); Antihistaminic (1; HAD; HHB;
WOI); Antioxidant (1; HAD); Antioxytocic (1; ABS); Antiseptic (1; ABS; WOI); Antispasmodic (1;
HAD; HHB; WOI); Antiviral (1; HAD); Aperitif (f; BIB; HAD); Bronchodilator (1; HAD); Candidicide
(1; ABS); Cardiodepressant (1; MPI); Carminative (1; HHB; MAD; SKJ; SUW; WOI); Chemopreventive
(1; ABS); Choleretic (1; HHB); Cholicomimetic (1; MPI); CNS-Depressant (1; MPI); Contraceptive (f;
HAD); Cyclooxygenase-Inhibitor (1; ABS); Digestive (f; BIB); Diaphoretic (f; BIB); Digestive (f; DEP);
Diuretic (f; BIB; EFS; HHB; MAD; SUW; WOI); Emmenagogue (f; BIB; EFS; MAD; SUW; WOI);
Fungicide (1; ABS; MPI); Hepatoprotective (1; HAD); Hypotensive (1; ABS; MPI); Hypouricemic (1;
HHB); Immunostimulant (1; HAD); Insecticide (1; MPI); Insectifuge (1; WOI); Lactagogue (1; BIB;
DEP; EFS; HAD; HHB; MAD; SUW; WOI); Laxative (f; BIB; EFS); 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor (1;
ABS); Pediculicide (f; DEP); Phagocytotic (1; HAD); Protisticide (1; MPI); Respirastimulant (1; ABS;
HAD); Secretagogue (f; DEP); Stimulant (f; EFS); Stomachic (f; DEP; EFS); Taenicide (1; MPI); Tonic
(f; EFS); Toxic (1; HHB); Uterocontractant (f; KAP); Vermifuge (f; BIB; HAD; KAP; MAD).
Indications (Black Cumin) — Achylia (f; MAD); Allergy (f; HAD); Ameba (1; MPI); Amenorrhea
(f; KAP); Anorexia (1; BIB; HAD); Arthrosis (1; HAD); Ascites (f; BIB); Asthma (1; HAD; HHB;
MAD; SKJ; WOI); Bacteria (1; ABS; HAD; HHB; WOI); Biliousness (f; KAP); Bite (f; HAD);
Bronchosis (1; HAD; HHB; WOI); Bronchospasm (1; WOI); Cachexia (f; SKJ); Callus (f; BIB;
JLH); Cancer (1; ABS; BIB; HAD); Cancer, abdomen (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, colon (1; FNF; JLH);
Cancer, eye (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, liver (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, nose (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, uterus
(1; FNF; JLH); Candida (1; ABS); Catarrh (f; DEP; HHB); Childbirth (f; SUW); Cholera (1; MPI);
Cold (f; DEP); Colic (f; BIB); Constipation (f; SKJ); Corn (f; BIB; JLH); Cough (1; SKJ; WOI);
Cramp (1; HAD; HHB; MAD; WOI); Dermatosis (f; HAD; SUW; WOI); Diabetes (1; HAD);
Diarrhea (f; MAD); Dysentery (f; HHB; SKJ); Dysmenorrhea (f; DEP; KAP); Dyspepsia (f; BIB);
Eczema (f; DEP); Emaciation (f; SKJ); Enterosis (f; BIB; MAD); Eruption (f; BIB); Escherichia
(1; KAP; MPI); Fever (1; BIB; MAD; SUW; WOI); Flu (f; BIB); Fungus (1; ABS; HAD; MPI);
Gas (1; HHB; MAD; SKJ; SUW; WOI); Gout (1; HHB); Headache (f; BIB); Hemorrhoid (f; BIB);
Hepatosis (f; BIB; JLH; MAD); High Blood Pressure (1; ABS; MPI); High Cholesterol (1; HAD);