| The Women's Herb |
| Location: [not yet installed] |
| A perennial, Blue Cohosh, is a
prominent plant in this ravine in Spring and early Summer. It is Caulophyllum thalictroides, a
member of the Berberidaceae or Barberry Family. Blue Cohosh has aided in female aliments since the time Native Americans were the sole inhabitants of America. Other common names for this plant are Squawroot, Blueberry Root, and Papoose Root. This plant can be found in parts of Ohio, southeast to Georgia and as far west as Nebraska. Blue Cohosh can be found deep in the woods, growing in the shade of other trees. It grows an average of 1-3 feet tall. When the plant is young, it appears to have a bluish-green color, which is why it received the common name of Blue Cohosh. The small, yellow or burgundy-green (ours) flowers appear during April and have six petals. The fruits from the flowers are then produced in autumn, and look like pea-sized deep blue berries. Caution: Blue Cohosh berries are poisonous! Native American women used Blue Cohosh for a number of things, mostly to ease childbirth, to promote rapid recovery from childbirth, and to reduce the discomfort of menstrual cramps. To facilitate childbirth the herb was taken 1-3 weeks before the women were due to give birth. When taken in early months of pregnancy the herb can cause abortion! Now, Blue Cohosh is not recommended for pregnant women because it also damages the heart. Blue Cohosh has also been used to treat seizures, bronchitis, and as an anti-inflammatory. -- Jody Kuhn
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