Plant Study:
Devil's Club
Family Name: Aralia
Family Name: Araliaceae
Latin Name: Oplopanax horridum (Attribution)
(Also Known As): Echinopanax horridum (in Alaska )
Related Species: American ginseng ( Panax quinquefolium ), Asian ginseng ( Panax ginseng ), eleuthero ( Eleutherococcus senticosus , 
formerly Siberien ginseng
Body System Affiliations:
1. Respiratory System
2. Immune System
3. Nervous System
Botanical Description:
Habit: Shrub
Size: 1 - 3 m tall
Arrangement: "Stems thick, crooked, almost unbranched by often entangled, armed with numerous large yellowish spines up to 1 cm long," alternate
Leaves: "Deciduous, large (up to 35 cm across), maple-leaf shaped, with 7-9 sharply pointed and heavily toothed lobes, numerous spines on underside"
Flowers: "Small, whitish, numerous in compact heads arranged in pyramidal terminal clusters"
Fruit: "Bright red, flattened, shiny berries in large, show, pyramidal clusters, not edible by humans"
Bark: Large spines!
Underground Parts: "Rhizomatous, some are partially fallen down stems from previous growth; rooted former stems have remnants of former spines, while true roots have harder central pith and smooth reddish brown bark, somewhat succulent, without any trance of spines." [1, 82]
Ecology:
Habitat: "Moist woods, especially in wet but well-drained seepage sites and along streams, also in avalanche tracks; low to middle elevations (sometimes in alpine forest, and to timberline in the north)"
Range: Found along both sides of Cascades, in northern half of Oregon, throughout Red Cedar forests of Washington, B.C., and Alaska. To western Alberta, and sporadically in Idaho, Montana, and western Wyoming. [1, 82] There are also a few scattered populations in Michigan and Ontario near Lake Superior. [3]
Places/Dates Observed/Description: I noticed a small stand of devils club alone amongst many other understory plants such as swordfern, salal, and Oregon grape, near a large pond/wetland area on a logging road about 15 miles west of Olympia. The surrounding trees were mainly Dougas Fir, Western Red Cedar, and Western Hemlock. I have also seen large stands of devil's club in the Staircase area of the Olympic National Park, near Lake Cushman. In mid-November of 2005, I saw devil's club growing abundantly in two places in northern Washington. One was in the North Cascades National Park near Darrington; all the leaves were dropped so there was not much forewarning to the tall (+/- 4 ft) spiny stems rising up from the snow-covered ground. The other area was near the small town of Sedro-Wooley, on the banks of Sorenson creek. It was enjoying the moist soil and shade from the riparian forest, and grew very densely along the stream bank for about 60 meters on the north east side.
Propagation:
Technique: By seeds: distribute seeds when they are ripe. It can take up to 18 months for the seed to germinate; by cuttings: gather stem cuttings from the horizontal branches between late spring and early summer and replant carefully. [4]
Harvest:
Plant Part: For fresh preparations use the heartwood and bark of both stem roots and true roots; to make dry tincture or tea use just the bark of stem roots and true roots
Season of Harvest: Roots are strongest in late summer and autumn
Method of Harvest: After washing roots, strip off the bark and dry
Ecological Considerations of Harvest: In a small stand, leave the central area untouched, gathering only from the distal sections. Find two independent plants and dig in the middle of them to find the rhizome, as far away from each of them as possible, so as to not harm the plants.
Cultural Considerations of Harvest: Widespread commercialization of use is considered to weaken the plant's medicinal value according to indigenous cultures. Also take into consideration that by using this plant one is utilizing the intellectual knowledge of native cultures without compensation, and that to many native peoples, this plant is highly valued spiritually and considered sacred. [3]
Cautions: Very spiny! Although not toxic, the spines can break off under the skin [2, 127]
Indigenous and Non-Western Use/Significance/Relationships:
Materials/Technology: Fishing lures: WA Klallam, Vancouver Isl Nuu-chah-nulth have used fish lures made by peeling devil's club sticks and cutting them into small pieces; Manhousat Nootka: carved small fish out of devil's club sticks which would be tied to fishhooks and reeled in to snag fish; Ditidaht: two types of lures from devil's club wood: one for attracting codfish to the surface where they could be speared, another with a hook attached to a line and used mainly for black bass; Haida: used stems to hook octopus and black cod [1, 82]
Materials/Technology: Dye: Hesquiat: scraped spines off the bark and boiled it
in water with different berries ( Vaccinum and Lonicera spp.) to make paint and basket dye; Straits Salish and Ditidaht: combined devil's club charcoal with bear grease for ceremonial face painting and for inserting under the skin for a blue tattoo; Dena'ina: made black dye by burning devil's club and mixing ashes with water [1, 82]
Materials/Technology: Deodorant; Lushootseed: pulverized bark [1, 82]
Materials/Technology: Perfume or baby talc: Makah and Cowlitz: dried and pulverized bark [1, 82]
Medicine:
Indigenous Group: Nuxalk
Part Used: Root and stem
Medicinal Actions: Cleansing emetic and purgative [1, 82]
Medicine:
Indigenous Group: Ditidaht, Coast Salish, Cowlitz
Part Used: Stem (after scraping off spines)
Indication: Arthritis or rheumatism
Application: Infusion
Pharmacy: Drink exclusively for several days [1, 82]
Medicine: 
Indigenous Group: Cowichan, Sechelt, Squamish
Part Used: Bark
Indication: Rheumatism and pain
Application: Hot baths and poultice [1, 82]
Medicine:
Indigenous Group: Nlaka'pamux, Secwepemc, Squamish
Parts Used: Inner bark
Application: Infusion [3]
Medicine:
Indigenous Group: Metis
Parts Used: Root
Application: Decoction
Reason/Purpose: Birth control [3]
Medicine:
Indigenous Group: Alutiiq, Carrier, Hanaksiala, Lushootseed, Makah, Secwepemc, Tlingit
Parts Used: Inner bark
Indication: Irregular menstruation, menstrual cramps
Reason/Purpose: Expel afterbirth, regulate menstruation
Body System Affiliations: Reproductive System
Preparation: Decoction [3]
Medicine:
Indigenous Group: Cree, Haida, Halkomelem, Heiltsuk, Metis, Nlaka'pamux, Nuxalk, Sechelt, Secwepemc, Squamish, Stl'atl'imx, Straits Salish, Tsimshia
Parts Used: Inner bark and roots
Indication: Diabetes
Application: Infusion or decoction [3]
Medicine:
Indigenous Group: Alutiiq, Gitxsan, Haida, Nlaka'pamux, Tanaina, Tsimshian, Tlingit, Wet'suwet'en
Parts Used: Inner bark
Indication: Flu
Application: Infusion, alone or in mixtures, raw material chewed [3]
Medicine:
Indigenous Group: Gitxsan, Haida, Haisla, Hanaksiala, Heiltsuk, Kwakwaka'wakw, Nlaka'pamux, Nuxalk, Tanaina, Tlingit, Tsimshian
Parts Used: Inner bark
Indication: Constipation
Application: Infusion or decoction, alone or in mixtures [3]
Medicine:
Indigenous Group: Alutiiq, Gitxsan, Haida, Kwakwaka'wakw, Nuxalk, Oweekeno, Tlingit, Tsimshian
Parts Used: Inner bark
Medical Actions: Analgesic
Indications: Pain
Applications: Decoction, steam bath, mixed with oil and eaten, dried and laid into tooth cavity [3]
Medicine:
Indigenous Group: Alutiiq, Eyak, Gitxsan, Haida, Halkomelem, Hanaksiala, Okanagan, Oweekeno, Nlaka'pamux, Okanagan, Sahaptin, Secwepemc, Squamish, Tagish, Tanaina, Tlingit, Tsimshian, Wet'suwet'en
Parts Used: Inner stem bark, roots
Indications: Respiratory ailments, coughs, colds
Applications: Decoctions, infusions, sweat baths, inner bark chewed, inner bark burned, dampened, and worn around neck [3]
Medicine:
Indigenous Group: Alutiiq, Carrier, Eyak, Gitxsan, Haida, Hanaksiala, Kwakwaka'wakw, Makah, Nlaka'pamux, Nuxalk, Sechelt, Tanaina, Tlingit, Tsimshian, Wet'suwet'en
Parts Used: Inner bark, berries
Indications: Sores, swellings, cuts, boils, burns, external infections
Applications: Infusion, as poultice, berries pounded into paste and applied externally, decoction applied externally, sliver of bark placed in wound preventing infection [3]
Medicine:
Indigenous Group: Gitxsan, Haida, Hanaksiala, Kwakwaka'wakw, Nlaka'pamux, Nuxalk, Squamish, Tanaina, Tlingit
Parts Used: Inner bark or berries
Indications: Stomach trouble/pains, ulcers
Applications: Infusion or decoction from inner bark; paste from berries taken internally [3]
Medicine:
Indigenous Group: Alutiiq, Carrier, Ktunaxa, Gitxsan, Nlaka'pamux, Nuxalk, Oweekeno, Quileute, Sechelt, Tlingit, Tsimshian
Parts Used: Inner bark, roots, bark ash
Medical Actions: Tonic
Applications: Infusion, decoction, raw material chewed [3]
Spiritual Uses:
Indigenous Group: Eyak, Gitxsan, Haida, Haisla, Hanaksiala, Tlingit, Tsimshian, Wet'suwet'en
Parts Used: Wood, bark
Reason/Purpose: Luck
Applications: Used in baths, rubbed on body, chewed [3]
Spiritual Uses:
Indigenous Group: Eyak, Gitxsan, Haida, Haisla, Hanaksiala, Tlingit, Tsimshian, Wet'suwet'en
Parts Used: Inner bark
Reason/Purpose: Personal purification
Application: Infusion added to bath [3]
Spiritual Uses:
Indigenous Group: lutiiq, Ditidaht, Eyak, Gitxsan, Haida, Haisla, Hanaksiala, Nisga'a, Nuu-chah-nulth, Nuxalk, Sekani, Tagish, Tlingit, Tsimshian
Parts Used: Bark and stems, charcoal
Reason/Purpose: Protection, especially against supernatural entities, epidemics, evil influences, love charms, shamans' spells
Application: Amulet, face paint, steeped in bath [3]
Spiritual Uses:
Indigenous Group: Eyak, Gitxsan, Haisla, Hanaksiala, Nuxalk, Sekani, Wet'suwet'en
Parts Used: Inner bark
Reason/Purpose: Purification of house, especially following a death
Application: Burned as fumigant, infusion, kept in special places in home [3]
Western (European-American) Uses/Relationships:
Medicine:
Part Used: Stem root and true root heartwood and bark
Medicinal Actions: Expectorant, respiratory stimulant, metabolic stress modifier, [2, 128] antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial, antimycobacterial [3]
Indications: Chest cold, rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune disorders, adult onset diabetes.
Constituents: Nerolidol, torreyol, dodinene, bulnesol, didecenol, cadenene, and cedrol; araliasides and panaxosides of various natures.[2, 127]
Harvest: As described above in harvest section
Personal Experience:
Materials/Technology: I created protective amulets for myself, my partner, and my roommate, using the root heartwood from offshoots of the main rhizomes. I created a bracelet for my partner created entirely of the plant, bound together by smaller threadlike pieces of the root. For myself and my roommate, I attached a piece of hemp twine to the piece of root, leaving a loop at the end so it can hang from something. I attempted to do this with root threads as well, but became frustrated when they would break or not tie together correctly. I would like to learn to ethically extract resin from trees to use as a binder.
Medicine:
Part Used: Root bark and root heartwood
Site Location: Near old logging road off of Hwy 8 West
Site Description: Owned by Simpson Timber Co. and managed by Diamond Resources; moist soil, surrounding large inundated area, a seasonal or perhaps year-round pond. The area was dominated by trees such as Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar, Western Hemlock, and Big-Leaf Maple, creating a shady habitat. Many swordferns, bracken ferns, Oregon grape, salal and red huckleberry were also present. Also bunchberry and wild ginger grew in the upper reaches of the slope and one or two Carex species resided down towards the water. There was a small stand, independent of any others, about halfway down the slope from the road to the pond, its remaining leaves a pale yellow, and many of them had fallen already. Although there is much human activity in the surrounding area, with loggers clearcutting and hunters taking advantage of the open area, this area seemed relatively untouched in recent seasons. The trees looked to be at least 40 years old by their size, and there were mosses growing on the branches of the maples. There were no trails or human footprints in this area, it was found rather by accident. There are a few old stumps that are partially decomposing, remnants of logging in this area years ago. This site was selected because of its close proximity to my house, as well as the desire to do something positive with the plants in an area so degraded.
Technique: I meditated on my way down to the plant to see if it was appropriate for me to gather some of its roots. Realizing an affirmative feeling, I cleared away some of the soil from the further edges of the stand, and found a rhizome stretching out. I followed this further away from the plants a ways (+/- 2 meters), and pulled out a section of the rhizome about 15" long. I covered the roots back up with soil, silently gave my thanks, and made my way back home.
Processing: I cleaned the roots with warm water, and then stripped off the bark with a pocket knife. I kept the root bark separate from the heartwood of the roots and the smaller root threads.
Application/Preparation/Pharmacy:
Applications: I made a tincture and a cold infusion with the root bark and the thicker heartwood.
Preparation: I made a cold infusion by soaking the root overnight, and then pouring it into a glass container. I made a tincture by putting the root bark and heartwood into a glass container, and then filling it with 40% alcohol, and setting it into a cool, dark place, where I will leave it for at least 3 weeks before use.
Pharmacy: I will use the tincture in the method suggested by Moore, page 127, to use 15-30 drops up to 3 times daily.
Reason/Purpose: I added the cold infusion to a bath one evening when I was feeling particularly stressed out and vulnerable, hoping that it would aid me in luck and protection; I did end up feeling quite a bit better by the time I finished. I would like to use the tincture as a preventative for winter colds, and will consume it when I feel something coming on, particularly if it is respiratory.
References Cited:
• Mackinnon, Andy, and Jim Pojar. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Vancouver, British Columbia: Ministry of Forests and Lone Pine Publishing, 1994, pp. 82.
• Moore, Michael. Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West. Santa Fe, NM: Red Crane Books, Inc, 1993, pp. 125-128.
• Lantz, Trevor C., Swerhun, Kristina, and Turner, Nancy J. Devil's Club (Oplopanax horridus): An Ethnobotanical Review . Herbalgram: The Journal of the American Botanical Council website. Online at www.herbalgram.org/youngliving/herbalgram/articleview.asp?a=2697 ; Issue: 62; pp 33-48; 2004.
• Teachout-Teashon, Debra, Rainy Side Gardeners in the Pacific Northwest: Plant Gallery and Growing Guide - Oplopanax horridum . Online at http://www.rainyside.com/features/plant_gallery/nativeplants/Oplopanax_horridus.html
Natalie Pyrooz - Arts, Environment, and the Child - Fall - 2005
