New to forums and want Black Cohosh, Cimicifuga Racenisa (Bugbane, snake root). I cannot find it at any of the nurseries in my area.

A friend of mine is looking for samples of fresh black walnut leaves and black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) leaves for a study. You must be absolutely positive on the ID of the plant and be able to provide a picture of the plant when it was actively growing (just in case questions come up). The samples must be at least 50km from Guelph, ON. In exchange I can offer pregnant onion bulbils (Albuca bracteata syn. Ornithogalum caudatum), mother of thousand plantlets (Bryophyllum daigremontianum) or leaf cuttings of the giant butterwort (Pinguicula gigantea). In terms of seeds, I can offer Solanum melongena 'Striped Toga,' Job's tears (Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yeun), or Peter Pepper. If anyone can help, it would be greatly appreciated.

My Granddad used to do this. He was a real master woodsman. I have fond memories of tromping the woods with him and he was a wealth of information that is regretably long lost to our generation. Have you considered online marketing for this? or any of the many independant herbalists who may like a non-cultivated but truely native sorce? I know my Granddad tried growning some natives in his garden one year to increase his supply. The buyer took one look and laughed at it and offered him 1/3 the price. He said he had no idea how they knew, but apparently to the decerning eye, it makes a lot of difference and they are willing to pay for the real thing.

I would get a racing heart rate when I took Black Cohosh and I am allergic to soy, so my doctor suggested ground flax seed and that has helped me tremendously with all of my menopausal issues, plus has lowered my ldl 80 points. I take 4 tbls daily. Flax seed oil is not as beneficial as the seed. It is a phytoestrogen so it's best to check with your doctor if you are estrogen sensitive. When my grandmother was going through menopause in the late 1950's, early 60's, I remember her grinding flax seed everyday and she would comment to my grandfather how it kept her from getting too hot. I was only 5 at the time so I didn't have a clue as to what she meant lol.