| I have decided to write a series of | | | | Another great site for natural and |
| articles for my Website, about native | | | | herbal remedies is the Plants for a |
| American herbal remedies, if only to | | | | Future online database3. |
| stimulate some conversation about this | | | | They describe the medical uses of skunk |
| fascinating subject. | | | | cabbage as follows: |
| There is so much to explore. There is | | | | "Medicinal Uses |
| such a wealth of knowledge right under | | | | Antispasmodic; Diaphoretic; Diuretic; |
| our noses - it is almost like the | | | | Emetic; Expectorant; Narcotic; |
| rediscovery of Aristotle's works in the | | | | Odontalgic. |
| late middle ages. You can start your | | | | Skunk cabbage was much used by the |
| discovery by checking out an excellent | | | | native North American Indians primarily |
| synopsis in the Cherokee Messenger1. | | | | for its expectorant and antispasmodic |
| The first plant discussed in the | | | | properties to treat bronchitis and |
| Cherokee Messenger is the Skunk Cabbage. | | | | asthmatic conditions, a use that is |
| According to the article, the plant was | | | | still employed in modern herbalism[254]. |
| "Used by the Winnebago and Dakota tribes | | | | The plant should be used with some |
| to stimulate the removal of phlegm in | | | | caution, however, and preferably under |
| asthma. The rootstock was official in | | | | professional supervision. |
| the U.S. Pharmacopoeia from 1820 to 1882 | | | | Handling the fresh leaves can cause skin |
| when it was used in respiratory and | | | | to blister whilst excessive doses of the |
| nervous disorders and in rheumatism and | | | | root can bring on nausea and vomiting, |
| dropsy." | | | | headaches and dizziness[238, 254]. The |
| Go search further and you find a lot of | | | | root is antispasmodic, diaphoretic, |
| scientific and anecdotal information | | | | diuretic, emetic, expectorant and |
| about the plant. "Wildman" Steve Brill | | | | slightly narcotic[4, 21, 46, 165, 222, |
| apparently tries to eat every plant he | | | | 238]. |
| studies. (Shoots and Greens of Early | | | | The rootstock is harvested in late |
| Spring in Eastern North America)2. | | | | autumn or early spring and dried for |
| Here's an excerpt from the book by Steve | | | | later use[238]. It should not be stored |
| Brill: | | | | for a long time because it loses its |
| "FOOD USES: Skunk cabbage leaves are | | | | medicinal virtues[213]. The rootstock |
| marginally edible. Even though the plant | | | | has been used internally in the |
| is very common, it's hardly worth the | | | | treatment of respiratory and nervous |
| effort. It contains calcium oxalate | | | | disorders, including asthma, whooping |
| crystals, which cause the must | | | | cough, catarrh, bronchitis and hay |
| unpleasant burning sensation in your | | | | fever[213, 238]. |
| mouth and tongue. | | | | It is occasionally used to treat |
| Boiling does not dispel this quality. | | | | epilepsy, headaches, vertigo and |
| I've had skunk cabbage leaves in my food | | | | rheumatic problems[254]. Externally, it |
| dryer for a week (Lee Peterson, in his | | | | has been used as a poultice to draw |
| Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants, | | | | splinters and thorns, to heal wounds and |
| claims that only thorough drying will | | | | to treat headaches[254]. The root hairs |
| make skunk cabbage edible), then I | | | | or rootlets have been applied to dental |
| simmered them in a huge pot of chili | | | | cavities to treat toothache[213]. A tea |
| with lots of other vegetables. | | | | made from the root hairs has been used |
| I finally dispelled the calcium oxylate | | | | externally to stop bleeding[213]. An |
| crystals from the skunk cabbage -- | | | | inhalation of the crushed leaves has |
| unfortunately, they went into the chili! | | | | been used in the treatment of |
| I wound up cursing out Peterson for an | | | | headaches[238]. The leaf bases have been |
| hour before the burning and stinging of | | | | applied as a wet dressing to |
| my tongue and mouth, caused by one bite | | | | bruises[213]. |
| of the chili (which I quickly spat out) | | | | Other Uses |
| abated. I then flushed the entire recipe | | | | Cosmetic. |
| down the toilet, and the plumbing's | | | | An infusion of the powdered root has |
| never been the same since. | | | | been used as a wash to 'cure a strong |
| The reason skunk cabbage is even | | | | smell under your arm'[257]." |
| included in this book is to head off | | | | The last bit amused me no end - using |
| readers who've been misinformed about | | | | skunk cabbage as an underarm deodorant |
| its edibility, and who insist on using. | | | | strikes me as a true example of fighting |
| If you're still determined to use this | | | | fire with fire! |
| plant, you can try air drying it for 6 | | | | People have written entire books about |
| months, after which it tastes like paper | | | | skunk cabbage. This article is only an |
| (a vast improvement!) | | | | introduction to a vast and mainly |
| FEATURED RECIPE: The day you bring home | | | | unexplored field. But if it sparks your |
| skunk cabbage is the time to eat dinner | | | | interest enough to take a deeper |
| out. If you find skunk cabbage, leave it | | | | interest in the wonderful all-natural |
| for the skunks!" | | | | remedies available to us throughout the |
| I suppose it was never meant to be used | | | | world, I will consider it a success. |
| as food! | | | | |