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kadakuda
The Great"Green".......East
Registered: 05/21/04
Posts: 7,048
Loc: Asia
Last seen: 6 years, 3 months
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Devils Club- Oplopanax horridus
#3067164 - 08/29/04 10:28 PM (19 years, 7 months ago) |
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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.
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.
sometime this week im going to collect some and [repare it for a rainy day. ill try and get in touch with one of the indian bands and see if they would mind sharing any info they might have on it. although they often do not like doing so with the general public, but we shall see.
-------------------- The seeds you won't sow are the plants you dont grow.
Edited by kadakuda (08/30/04 01:08 AM)
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kadakuda
The Great"Green".......East
Registered: 05/21/04
Posts: 7,048
Loc: Asia
Last seen: 6 years, 3 months
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Re: Devils Club- Oplopanax horridus [Re: kadakuda]
#3067778 - 08/30/04 01:27 AM (19 years, 7 months ago) |
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some more stuff. This site brings forward the possibilities of inhalations as well as oral ingestion. i would have never thought such a pain causing plant could be so usefull. still have not found a whole lot on the spritual aspects of it, but medicinally it is magnificant, Clinical applications Anti-arthritic -It has traditionally been used by many Native bands for the treatment of arthritis, both by oral ingestion and in the form of poultices, ointments and washes. Antiseptic - The root bark burned to a white ash was applied to open sores and would to prevent infection and reduce inflammation Blood cleanser, laxative, stomachic and spring tonic. It is effective for constipation and skin afflictions due to poor liver function. Lung tonic and antimicrobial - Tuberculosis, pneumonia, bronchitis and other chest infections are treated by oral ingestion of the root bark and by inhalation of the steam or smoke from the boiled or burned plant. Post-parturition tonic and regenerative, providing strength and sustenance to the new mother and to aid in re-establishing the normal menstrual rhythm. Anti-galactogogue - The Lummi band bind the root bark over the breasts to reduce milk flow. Anti-parasitic - used as a strong decoction to wash the hair in cases of lice and nits. from: http://www.gaiagarden.com/art/mm_pacific_north_west_herbs.html
-------------------- The seeds you won't sow are the plants you dont grow.
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kadakuda
The Great"Green".......East
Registered: 05/21/04
Posts: 7,048
Loc: Asia
Last seen: 6 years, 3 months
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Re: Devils Club- Oplopanax horridus [Re: kadakuda]
#3079466 - 09/01/04 07:28 PM (19 years, 7 months ago) |
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bump. hasnt anybody heard or know anything about its medicinal/sacred properties? i havnt been able to get in touch with any of the bands around here.
-------------------- The seeds you won't sow are the plants you dont grow.
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Aneglakya
mephiticconjurator
Registered: 03/17/02
Posts: 4,461
Last seen: 13 years, 10 months
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Re: Devils Club- Oplopanax horridus [Re: kadakuda]
#3079599 - 09/01/04 07:59 PM (19 years, 7 months ago) |
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I think one of my books, psychedelics encyclopedia (a few books by this title actually), may have some info on this.. I'll see what I can dig up.
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whiterasta
Day careobserver
Registered: 04/09/02
Posts: 1,780
Loc: Oregon
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Re: Devils Club- Oplopanax horridus [Re: kadakuda]
#3079878 - 09/01/04 08:50 PM (19 years, 7 months ago) |
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I run though these and nettles in spring and allow the stinging hairs to hit my knees. This gives me great relief from arthritis for the rest of summer.Interesting stuff about the rest of the plant bt not a lot of hard info on constituants.At any rate I can atest to the positive efect the stinging hairs have on my achy knees WR
-------------------- To old for this place
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Aneglakya
mephiticconjurator
Registered: 03/17/02
Posts: 4,461
Last seen: 13 years, 10 months
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Re: Devils Club- Oplopanax horridus [Re: whiterasta]
#3080123 - 09/01/04 09:28 PM (19 years, 7 months ago) |
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The hairs of urtica (stinging nettle) contain histamine, acetycholine, and serotonin. When they are disturbed a small amount of this "poison" is released from a well in the leaf and injected out the tip of the needle/hair.
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kadakuda
The Great"Green".......East
Registered: 05/21/04
Posts: 7,048
Loc: Asia
Last seen: 6 years, 3 months
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Re: Devils Club- Oplopanax horridus [Re: whiterasta]
#3080333 - 09/01/04 10:11 PM (19 years, 7 months ago) |
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ya thats exactly what ive being reading. hte first nations would rub this on places of discomfort (joints seem to be the main area). this really is getting to be quite interesting for me. i have opted to collect wild seeds in a couple weeks when the berries are dried up, and plant them at my pond (a far easier ground medium to dig them up than at my friends ponds).
i have also noticed over the years that stinging nettle has helped. its itchy like no tomarow, but when im hiking my knees rarely give me trouble. its funny how the simplist things can work, and yet doctors and pills have not managed to fix the pain. god damn i love plants.
anyway, Aneg. do you happen to have any info on that book? i go to the library in search of most my info, so any info would be stupendous
-------------------- The seeds you won't sow are the plants you dont grow.
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Aneglakya
mephiticconjurator
Registered: 03/17/02
Posts: 4,461
Last seen: 13 years, 10 months
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Re: Devils Club- Oplopanax horridus [Re: kadakuda]
#3082008 - 09/02/04 09:36 AM (19 years, 7 months ago) |
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I'm sorry but the book refered to a different plant. Perhaps I will delve deeper into the deep dark realms of my infinite library.. if you don't hear back from me in the next hour, send help !!!
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kadakuda
The Great"Green".......East
Registered: 05/21/04
Posts: 7,048
Loc: Asia
Last seen: 6 years, 3 months
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Re: Devils Club- Oplopanax horridus [Re: Aneglakya]
#3082861 - 09/02/04 01:17 PM (19 years, 7 months ago) |
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haha. well i have found about all i can on the net, so im going to check out what the library has to offer. thanks for the help.
-------------------- The seeds you won't sow are the plants you dont grow.
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Lazerouth
Drunkard
Registered: 10/15/00
Posts: 1,091
Loc: England
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Re: Devils Club- Oplopanax horridus [Re: Aneglakya]
#3089250 - 09/03/04 08:29 PM (19 years, 7 months ago) |
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Stinging nettle makes good soup. I eat it when I'm broke.
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kadakuda
The Great"Green".......East
Registered: 05/21/04
Posts: 7,048
Loc: Asia
Last seen: 6 years, 3 months
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Re: Devils Club- Oplopanax horridus [Re: Lazerouth]
#3089461 - 09/03/04 09:43 PM (19 years, 7 months ago) |
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hehe it is good, and good for you. one of the better bush foods when backpacking. salads on the other hand...mixed with alcohol, can cause much pain.
-------------------- The seeds you won't sow are the plants you dont grow.
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