Historically, Indigenous people of North America, such as the Penobscot, Winnebago, and Dakota, utilized black cohosh for various purposes, such as the treatment of cough, cold, constipation, fatigue and rheumatism, malaria, kidney malfunctioning, and even to increase breast milk production.[1]
How was black cohosh used by indigenous North Americans?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Indigenous people in North America (including the Penobscot, Winnebago, and Dakota) historically used black cohosh to treat a variety of ailments such as coughs, colds, constipation, fatigue, rheumatism, malaria, and kidney issues, as well as to promote breast milk production.