Is a black&blue cohosh tincture effective when used at 32 weeks pregnant?
On One Hand: Proposed UsesBlue cohosh is a virulent herb native to the Southern United States. It’s not related to the less toxic black cohosh, which is sometimes used in combination with blue cohosh. The tincture has been employed by midwives to stop uterine contractions early in pregnancy as well as to stimulate uterine contractions upon a woman’s due date.On the Other: Dangerous EffectsBlue cohosh limits blood flow to the heart, and there have been reported incidents of pregnant women succumbing to heart failure during labor. According to healthlibrary.epnet.com, there’s a documented case of “profound heart failure in a child born to a mother who used blue cohosh to induce labor.” Taken in prescribed doses, blue cohosh has also been shown to cause liver and thyroid damage.Bottom LineBlue and black cohosh tincture should not be used during a pregnancy anytime before week 36, and then only if prescribed and monitored by a doctor or midwife, according to midwivesconnection.com. Since i
