Black Cohosh to Induce Labor

Black cohosh is a perennial plant that is grown in Native America. This herb, which belongs to the buttercup family, is said to be used as a herbal supplement to treat various ailments, including menstrual cramps, arthritis, menopause problems, indigestion, etc, for several years. Apart from these, black cohosh is also said to be useful to induce labor in women who have gone beyond their delivery term. Though most midwives support the use of black cohosh, it is important that one gains appropriate and detailed information on black cohosh before consuming it.

Black Cohosh Tincture to Induce Labor

Nowadays, when a woman goes beyond her gestation term, or when some complications arise in pregnancy, the most common alternative that is found to bring the child out of the womb is conducting a cesarean section. Sometimes, pain medications are also administered to induce labor. Though these methods are effective, they can be dangerous in certain cases. Hence, a safer alternative to this is the use of black cohosh which has been used for this very purpose by midwives for many years. It is said that the leaves and stem of this plant contains estrogen like compounds called phytoestrogen that leads to the production of oxytocin which ripens the cervix and stimulates the uterus, thus strengthening the contractions and stimulating labor.

Ideal Black Cohosh Dosage

Though cohosh is considered to be an effective way of inducing labor, it is important that you talk to your doctor or midwife about the dosage you should take to induce labor. This is because excessive intake of black cohosh is not advisable as it can cause harm to the mother as well as to the baby. Hence, consult a doctor who can give correct advice about the amount of black cohosh that you need to take to induce labor.

One extremely crucial thing that you should remember is that black cohosh can never be taken before the 37th week of gestation, as doing this can lead to premature delivery which may not be good for the baby. The initial black cohosh dosage should not be more than five drops which should be taken by mixing it with tea or water. This solution should be taken twice everyday, starting from the 37th week of pregnancy. If you do not find any cervical change in a week's time, the dosage should increased by ten drops, which should also be consumed daily. Apart from this, there are also some black cohosh capsules which are also effective ways of inducing labor. You can consume these tablets three times in a day for the initial few days, increasing the dosage after some days. However, make sure that the tablets you are taking, do not contain more than 500mg of black cohosh in them. When the health practitioner or midwife ensures that it is safe to bring the baby out, keeping 15 drops of black cohosh tincture under the tongue every hour will help to induce labor.

Some Cautions

Even though black cohosh is a herb that is widely used to induce labor, its effectiveness is not something that is scientifically proven. Hence, there are chances that some kind of problems may occur to the mother or the child after the delivery. There have been cases where prolonged bleeding as well as postpartum hemorrhage have been connected to the use of black cohosh. Hence, one should not take this herb without consulting one's gynecologist, as most of these cases have occurred due to overdose of black cohosh. Sometimes, excess consumption of black cohosh can also lead to severe uterine contractions which may become the reason for miscarriage. Some people take black cohosh with the combination of blue cohosh, which is another herb that induces labor, because it is considered to be effective. However, there have been cases where this combination has caused neurological problems in the baby.

Apart from this, women who are suffering from uterine fibroids or breast cancer should not be given black cohosh because it may cause certain hormonal changes which may not be good for their health. There are also certain side effects attached to the intake of blwhich include indigestion, weight gain, vomiting, low blood pressure, headache and nausea. Some of the severe side effects of black cohosh include liver damage, seizures, visual disturbances and irregular heartbeats. Also, people who have an allergy towards aspirin should not take black cohosh because they have a common component 'salicylic acid' which may give rise to further side effects.

There is a debate on usage of black cohosh without any specific side effects, because not much research has been done on this subject. The only alternative here is that one should try some other method to induce labor or be extra careful while taking this particular herb. Consulting a doctor or a midwife can reduce the chances of risk pertaining to the intake of black cohosh.