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