Medicinal Plants : Symplocarpus foetidus

Name

Skunk Cabbage

Biological Name

Symplocarpus foetidus
Araceae

Other Names

Skunk Cabbage, Skunkweed, meadow cabbage, collard, stinking poke, fetid hellebore, polecat weed, swamp cabbage

Parts Used

Root and rhizome

Active Compounds

Essential oil

5-hydroxytryptamine

Resins

Remedies For

Anti-spasmodic, diaphoretic, expectorant, sudorific, pectoral, stimulant

Skunk Cabbage may be used for the treatment of tense or spasmodic condition in the lungs. Relaxes and eases irritable coughs. It may be used in asthma, bronchitis and whooping cough. As a diaphoretic it aids the body during fevers.

Jethro Kloss suggests the following applications for this herb: tuberculosis, chronic catarrh, all bronchial and lung infections, whooping cough, spasmodic asthma, hay fever, pleurisy, chronic rheumatism, nervous troubles, dysentery, spasms, convulsions, dropsy, hysteria, epilepsy, and to relieve pain of external tumors and sores when applied as an ointment.

Combinations : For the treatment of asthmatic conditions it may be used with Grindelia, Pill-bearing Spurge and Lobelia.

Description

No information available.

Dosage

Traditionally Skunk Cabbage has been used as a powder to 8 parts honey. Of this, l/2-1 teaspoonful would be taken three times a day. To make a tea, use l/2 teaspoonful of the herb and make it into either an infusion or a decoction.

Tincture: take l/2-l ml of the tincture three times a day.

Safety

No information available. Some herbs are known to react with your medication. Please consult your physician before starting on any herb.