well as many of us in the PNW knwo this is a nasty but impressive plant.  it just screams pain, and it is in my experience.  but lately i ahve been reading about native fauna/flora and have come across some interesting shit about devils club. 

i have read many things about pain relief, improved milk flow, lowers blood sugar, possible diabetes helpfulls etc...not that that isnt incredibly interesting im here about what richters says:  "It was also used in rituals because it had 'magical' powers and 'protective charm'."  that came right from their catalogue.

i have read that pretty much all parts are used.  but the roots and bark seem to be mentioned more than leaves and inner wood.  and berries supposibly gets rid of head lice if used liek a shampoo.

anyoen have any experience with this?  knowledge or otherwise?  i am HIGHLY interested in medicinal/"magical"  native plants of my area.  but in the past this plant has caused me much pain (from rubbing against it).  so ya there it is.  im hoping aneg.  and/or neuro have some comments on this.

here is some links i have been reading.

http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Oplopanax+horridus&CAN=LATIND
http://www.herbalgram.org/youngliving/herbalgram/articleview.asp?a=2697
http://reference.allrefer.com/wildlife-plants-animals/plants/shrub/oplhor/value-use.html  <--- mentions its use with deer/rous. elk and bears.
http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=3607496
http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org/Content/Articles/2-2NPJ106-108.pdf  <--- more about growing it
http://www.herbalremedies.com/devilsclub.html

for the record i have no desire to harvest the plant.  i respect the environment too much to do so, however i have friends who have it growing next to their golfish/koi ponds, so i dotn mind hackign down a bush or two from there

thanks for any input you may be able to provide

edit-
http://www.ankn.uaf.edu/viereck/viereckdevilsclub.html

mentions a little more about its magical powers.

Quote:

De Laguna states that devil's club was "perhaps the most important medicinal and magical plant" of the Yakutat Tlingit. The shaman as well as the layman chewed the stem bark (scraped of its thorns) for its emetic and purgative effects as well as for a general cure-all. 

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Quote:

The Haida people were still using devil's club for a variety of complaints in 1965. (Justice, cited in Kari) They would mix the dried inner bark with cedar or spruce pitch for a waterproof dressing for wounds. Other groups of people on the Northwest Coast have used the plant for medicine and to obtain supernatural power.

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