Devil's Walkingstick (Aralia spinosa LINN.) Click on graphic for larger image

Angelica Tree

Botanical: Aralia spinosa
Family: N.O. Araliaceae

• Description
• Constituents
• Medicinal Action and Uses

The bark is used officially (is thin and ashcoloured), but other parts of the plant possess medical properties- odour fragrant and peculiar, slightly bitter taste.

---Constituents---Aralia spinosa contains a glucoside Araliin.

---Medicinal Action and Uses---Fresh bark causes/vomiting and purging, but dried is a stimulating alterative. A tincture made from the bark is used for rheumatism, skin diseases and syphilis. The berries in tincture form, lull pain in decayed teeth and in other parts of the body, violent colic and rheumatism, useful in cholera when a cathartic is required in the following compound: 1 drachm compound powdered Jalap, 1 drachm Aralia spinosa, 2 drachms compound rhubarb powder or infused in 1/2, pint boiling water and when cold taken in tablespoonful doses every half-hour. This does not produce choleric discharges. Also a powerful sialogogue and valuable in diseases where mouth and throat get dry, and for sore throat; will relieve difficult breathing and produce moisture if given in very small doses of the powder. The bark, root, and berries can all be utilized.

See also:
BAMBOO BRIER
AMERICAN DWARF ELDER
SPIKENARD, AMERICAN
SPIKENARD, CALIORNIAN
SARSAPARILLA AMERICAN
SARSAPARILLA CARACAO
SARSAPARILLA JAMAICA
SARSAPARILLA INDIAN
SARSAPARILLA WILD

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