Actaea racemosa
<p><i><b>Actaea racemosa</b></i> (<b>black cohosh</b>, <b>black bugbane</b>, <b>black snakeroot</b>, <b>fairy candle</b>; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synonym%28taxonomy%29" title="Synonym (taxonomy)">syn.</a> <i>Cimicifuga racemosa</i>) is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species" title="Species">species</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowering_plant" title="Flowering plant">flowering plant</a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family%28biology%29" title="Family (biology)">family</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranunculaceae" title="Ranunculaceae">Ranunculaceae</a>. </p>
<p>
It is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_plant" title="Native plant">native</a> to eastern North America from the extreme south of Ontario to central Georgia, and west to Missouri and Arkansas. </p>
<p>
It grows in a variety of woodland habitats, and is often found in small woodland
openings. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root" title="Root">roots</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhizome" title="Rhizome">rhizomes</a> have long been used medicinally by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_peoples_of_the_Americas" title="Indigenous peoples of the Americas">Native Americans</a>. </p>
<p>
Extracts from these plant materials are thought to possess <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analgesic" title="Analgesic">analgesic</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedative" title="Sedative">sedative</a>,
and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-inflammatory" title="Anti-inflammatory">anti-inflammatory</a> properties. </p>
<p>
Today, black cohosh preparations (tinctures or tablets of dried materials) are used mainly to treat symptoms associated with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menopause" title="Menopause">menopause</a>.</p>