Cimicifuga
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
This 1930s encyclopedia article describes Cimicifuga (Cimicifuga racemosa), a wild ranunculaceous plant native to North America and Europe, detailing its root morphology, chemical composition, and traditional medical uses as an antiasthmatic and antipyretic remedy.
Encyclopedia article (1928–1936)
CIMICIFUGA, Cimicifuga, black cohosh, C. racemosa L. (Actaea racemosa L.), a wild plant of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae), distributed in Canada, the USA, and also in Europe (in England). The rhizome with roots is used; it is dark brown, 1–1.5 cm thick, almost cylindrical, slightly flattened, nodular, and branched. A transverse section of the rhizome reveals a central whitish or yellowish-white horny pith. The taste of the rhizome is tart, pungent, and bitter. The odor is unpleasant and slightly stupefying. It is stored as a fine powder or in cut form. The main constituents are traces of alkaloid-like substances, isoferulic acid, traces of salicylic acid, a saccharine substance, etc. Cimicifugin, or macrotin, a resinous extract obtained from the root, is a potent agent used internally in the form of pills in a dose of 0.05–0.1–0.2 several times a day. The maximum single dose is 0.3, daily—1.4. It is used, like the root, against asthma and as an antipyretic. The dose of the root is 0.5–4.0 in the form of a powder or decoction. In the form of fluid extract (Extractum fluidum), 20–40 drops several times a day. For tinnitus, 10 drops 3 times a day.
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Cite this page
“Cimicifuga.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.com/article/cimicifuga/