Black Cohosh Supply Under Threat.

New Research Backed to Secure Wild Stock

The American Herbal Products Association Foundation has announced funding for a multi-year research project aimed at securing the commercial supply of black cohosh (Actaea racemosa), a native North American forest herb that remains almost entirely wild-harvested.

The project, led by researchers at North Carolina State University, will focus on establishing best practices for seed germination and seedling management at commercial scale. Wild black cohosh populations have faced sustained pressure from overharvesting for decades, and the herb's slow growth cycle has made sustainable cultivation difficult to establish.

For practitioners working with black cohosh in menopausal and gynaecological formulations, this is welcome news. Supply volatility affects prescription reliability, and a shift toward cultivated stock would bring greater consistency in quality and availability and with any luck, more stable pricing for practitioners.

The project is open for contributions from those with a commercial or clinical interest in the herb's future.

Source: American Herbal Products Association — https://www.ahpa.org/