Devil's Club

Introduction

Devil's club is a close cousin of ginseng that is native to the Pacific Northwest. The thorny plant has a long history of medicinal use among Native American peoples, particularly the Tlingit, Skagit and Kwaikiutil. It is so widely used for such a variety of complaints that it is sometimes referred to as the Tlingit aspirin. The plant has also been used to create natural ďfencesÍ because of the thorns that cover its stems and the edges of its leaves. While devil's club is not a well-known herb, it is gaining in popularity as current research uncovers phytochemical constituents that have antiviral, antifungal, antibiotic and antibacterial properties. It has also suggested that devilÍs club may help control blood sugar in diabetics, and * in a reversal of the usual state of events * Chinese medical institutions are examining its use among the indigenous populations of the West to see if it may offer medical benefits to their own patients who are ďmore likely to follow a course of medicine that involves drinking tea than taking pillsÍ.The likelihood of increasing popularity has raised numerous issues about the unregulated harvesting of devil's club, and the damage it could do to the delicate ecosystems of the Northwest. Because the plant has a limited native range and is slow growing, there are concerns that over-harvesting could upset the ecological balance.

Constituents

nerolidol, torreyol, dodinene, busnesol, dodecenol, cadene, and cerdrol, sesquiterpene (equinopanacene) and a sesquiterpene alcohol (equinopanacol), oplopandiolThis is a partial list, as research continues to discover new constituents in devil's club. In addition, it may differ from other reports which are based on research conducted on other species of opolonax indigenous to Japan and other countries.

Parts Used

Usually the root bark, and sometimes the stems and leaf.

Typical Preparations

As a tea, the poultice of leaves and stems, and in capsules and liquid extracts.

Summary

Devil's club has a long history of traditional use among certain indigenous tribes which is being confirmed by modern research. Specifically, the antibacterial and antimicrobial constituents may be helpful in fighting tuberculosis and diabetes. The acetylenes found in the inner bark of devil's club are effective against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium, making devilÍs club a promising new possibility for treating a wide variety of conditions.The plant also is often used as an analgesic in traditional medicine, with the uses ranging from chewing the bark and stems to relieve toothache to soaking the entire body in devilÍs club tea for treatment of arthritis or rheumatism.

Precautions

The berries are poisonous, and the stems and leaves should not be eaten after the thorns on the plant have hardened. Those diagnosed with diabetes should see their medical practitioners regularly while using devilÍs club, as it may change the way that insulin works in the body.

(Note: Devil's club is not a ginseng, and in the U.S. it is now illegal to market it with those names.)

Back to Herbs Index