Plant Study.... so far.....
Genevieve Becker
Wild Ginger
Family Names: Pipevine (3: internet), and Birthwort
Latin family name: Aristolochiaceae
Latin Name: Asarum caudatum
Common Names: Canada Snakeroot
Related Species:Asarum hartwegii, Asarum canadense
Botanical Description:
Habit: Low growing aromatic, evergreen perennial (2: 317)
Size:
Arrangement: Grows on long leaf petioles 2-7 in. from ground. (internet)
Leaves: Heart shaped that arise directly form creeping root stalk (1:270) Two leaves at each node 4-10 cm long, to 15 cm wide. Leaf stalks and veins finely hairy. (2: 317)
Flowers: Purplish-brown to greenish-yellow, solitary, bell-shaped flowers with 3 flaring lobes that taper to long points. Often concealed by leaves. (2: 317)
Fruits: Fleshy capsules, dispersed by ants…..(internet)
Underground parts: Trailing steam with extensive rhizomes.
Ecology:
Habitat: Shaded moist forest, low to middle elevations.
Range: British Columbia to Central California from Coast range to Montana
Native Where:
Ecological Relationships: Communities for Wild Ginger, Redwood forest, Yellow Pine forest. Presumably it needs the complex biosphere of old-growth forests, with deadfall, rotting logs, and creeping fungus. (1: 270)
Harvest:
Plant Part: Leaves and roots
Season of Harvest: Fall for roots, spring or summer for leaves
Method of Harvest: Gather leaves and dry loosely in a paper bag
Ecological Considerations of Harvest: When harvesting leaves be careful not to break up the roots unless planning to use them.
Western Uses:
Medicine:
Parts Used: Leaves and Roots
Medicinal Actions: Makes you sweat (diaphoretic), from skin, tear glands, sinuses, mouth, and stomach. It will stimulate thinning secretions of the uterus. Will help sweat anything. Root tincture aids digestion.
(1: 271)
Indications: If any part of you is dry. Used for a slow onset, crampy, or clotty period, hot dry headache, hot dry bronchial cough, chicken pox, measles, and some forms of indigestion (colic for babies).
(1: 271)
Applications: Tincture, tea (1: 271)
Preparations: Dry cut root in 60% alcohol for tincture, dry leaves for tea.
Pharmacy: 20-50 drops of tincture, up to three times a day for adults.“A few drops of tincture for kids and babies will help some colic, particularly belly gurgles and demon farts” (1: 271)
Constituents: Resin and volatile oils, with asarin, asarone (probably b-), and methyl-eugenol.
Personal Experience:
Medicine:
Parts Used: Leaves and root.
Medicinal actions: Secretion from sinuses.
Indications: Stuffy nose.
Harvest:
Sight Location: Evergreen woods.
Sight Description: A less common spot in the forest where maples are dominant but there are also mixed mature Cedar and Douglas fir, and Grand fir. Dominant undergrowth- sword fern, patch of wild ginger found under many big leaf maple leaves, most leaves where partially chewed but root was abundant.
Processing: Dried two small roots and two leaves in a coconut bowl a few feet from a space heater for a few days.
Application: Tea.
Preparation: Ground a two teaspoons of dried roots and leaves in a coffee grinder, steeped plant in hot water.
Pharmacy: Breathed the steam of tea for 10 minuets with a towel draped over my head and bowl of tea.
Reason: Will use to help clear sinuses and head cold.
Cautions: Wild ginger is not abundant in the Evergreen woods. Occasional patches are found, but extreme care should be taken in harvesting (so not to over harvest).
Cautions:
Physical:Too much can make you Nauseous. Its stimulation of uterine mucosa makes it not advisable during pregnancy. (1:269-271) Asaric asid (4: internet)
Ecological: It is more sustainable to harvest the leaves over the rhizome.
When harvesting leaves try not to up root the whole plant. This plant grows in the
Forest and is in threat from over harvesting.
Reverences Cited:
Moore, Michael. Medicinal Plant of the Pacific West
Mackinnon, Andy, and Jim Pojar. Plant of the Pacific Northwest Coast
Internet www.laspilitas.com/plants/98.htm
Internet www. wsdot.wa.gov/environment/culres/ethbot/a-c/Asarum.htm
--------Genevieve Becker----Arts Environment and the Child----Fall 2005---------
