Glass specimen jar and dish containing black snakeroot or cohosh root (cimicifuga racemosa) used by the Penobscot Indigenous people

Black snakeroot or black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) is a plant native to North America. It is not known who and how exactly collected these samples, but it is recorded that they were used by the Penobscot. The Penobscot (Pαnawάhpskewi) are an Indigenous people in North America from the Northeastern Woodlands region. Today they are a federally recognized nation in the Unites States and part of the Wabanaki Alliance whose nations historically spoke Algonquian languages.

Black snakeroot has been used in traditional North American Indigenous medicine for various purposes such as relieving menstrual cramps, alleviating menopause symptoms or treating kidney related illnesses. It was also traditionally used in parts of the Northeast to stimulate labour and manage the termination of pregnancies. Today, the root is widely available as a dietary supplement in the form of capsules, liquids or teas. It is not recommended for use by people who have liver problems, or who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Black snakeroot or black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) is a plant native to North America. This glass bottle contains roots of the plant. It is not known who and how exactly collected these samples, but it is recorded that they were used by the Penobscot. The Penobscot (Pαnawάhpskewi) are an Indigenous people in North America from the Northeastern Woodlands region. Today they are a federally recognized nation in the Unites States and part of the Wabanaki Alliance whose nations historically spoke Algonquian languages.

Black snakeroot has been used in traditional North American Indigenous medicine for various purposes such as relieving menstrual cramps, alleviating menopause symptoms or treating kidney related illnesses. It was also traditionally used in parts of the Northeast to stimulate labour and manage the termination of pregnancies. Today, the root is widely available as a dietary supplement in the form of capsules, liquids or teas. It is not recommended for use by people who have liver problems, or who are pregnant or breastfeeding.