Oplopanax horridus = Devil.'’s club./= Alaskan ginseng./= Echinopanax horridus/= Fatsia horrida/= Panax horridum
Oplopanax horridus derived
from 2 Greek words: hoplon = weapon and panakos = panacea.
The First Nation in
BC used Devil's claws as teas or poultices or in steaming to treat Tb., in the
proving there is a hint of the possible Tubercular miasm with the sensations of
being trapped, the need
for space and being
better in open air. Further provers experienced a dry ticking cough that was
intermittent and there was blood in the sputum (hints towards Tb.).
Skin symptoms a red
rash - the First Nation used Devil's club for measles - and a vesicular
eruption that resembled Herpes zoster eruptions.
The spines of Devil's
club break easily and in bed themselves causing infection: local heat,
inflammation, pain, and redness, eventually a pimple is formed with a
green/whitish head that eventually
erupts. The provers
did not experience such symptoms but while preparing the plant material got
stung by the plant 3x and observed the symptoms reported. The infection is
supposed to be caused by Staphylococcus sp. If this plant is capable in causing
such infection by definition -Like cures like- it might be able to cure
Staphylococcus sp. infections.
Botanical Features: Deciduous shrub, 1-6 m high, heavily armed with
yellowish, needle-like, brittle spines up to 2 cm long.
Native range: Western North America.
Habitat: Moist woods, near streams; most abundant in old growth conifer
forests.
Leaves spirally arranged, simple, maple-shaped palmately lobed with 5-13
lobes, 20-40 cm across.
Flowers small, whitish, in dense, upright, conical-shaped, terminal
clusters to 18 cm long.
Fruit a shiny, flattened, bright red, berry-like drupe in upright,
terminal clusters, inedible.
Entire plant has been described as having a ‘primordial’ appearance.
Medicinal Uses
‘Devil’s club is probably the most important spiritual and medicinal
plant to most indigenous peoples who live within its range. Different parts of
this plant are used by over 38 linguistic
groups for over 34 categories of physical ailment, as well as many
spiritual applications. . . . Phytochemical research has revealed that this
plant has antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial and
anti-mycobacterial properties, and these are undoubtedly related to its
widespread use in traditional medicine.
‘. . . Among all of the traditional medicinal uses of devil’s club, its
most widespread is for the treatment of external and internal infections,
including tuberculosis. The efficacy of many of the treatments
is undoubtedly related to devil’s club’s significant antibacterial,
anti-mycobacterial being active against bacteria in the genus Mycobacterium,
antifungal and antiviral properties. Devil’s club is also
commonly used by many cultural groups to treat arthritis, rheumatism,
respiratory ailments and as an emetic and purgative. It is also used as an aid
in childbirth, post-partum, for internal haemorrhaging,
as an analgesic, to treat stomachand digestive tract ailments, broken
bones, fever, dandruff, lice, headaches and as a treatment for cancer. Several
parts of the shrub, including inner bark, inner bark ash, whole stems, roots,
berries and leaves, are used in a variety of ways to effect these treatments.
However, the most common type of preparation is as an infusion or decoction of
the stem inner bark.
‘. . . Western herbalists report that the roots of devil’s club and to a
lesser extent the inner stem bark are a strong respiratory stimulant and
expectorant and recommend their use for rheumatoid arthritis
and other autoimmune conditions, as well as to treat eczema, sores and a
number of internal and external infections.
Devil’s club is also commonly recommended for the treatment of type II
adult onset diabetes, a use of devil’s club that is also extensive in
indigenous communities. . . . Since devil’s club is still widely
and increasingly, used as a treatment for late onset type II diabetes
and is listed in a recent review of anti-diabetic plants, additional research
and more rigorous clinical trials are required to validate and
characterise or to disprove hypoglycaemic properties in devil’s club.’
[Lantz 2004]
Spiritual Uses
‘In addition to ethnographic accounts of medicinal uses, there are also
numerous sources that describe spiritual applications of devil’s club. These
include purification and cleansing; protection against supernatural entities,
epidemics and evil influences; acquisition of luck; to combat witchcraft; as
ceremonial and protective face paint; and in rituals by shamans and others to
attain supernatural powers.
‘Two of the most widespread spiritual uses are bathing with a devil’s
club inner bark solution for personal protection and purification, and its use,
particularly the spiny or de-spined aerial stems, as an amulet for protection
against a variety of external influences. External and internal cleansing involving
the use of devil’s club was, and is, of paramount importance to many of the
cultural groups
throughout devil’s club’s range. The inner stem bark of devil’s club has
also often been used in solution to wash down fishing boats, fishnets and to
purify a house after an illness or death, and, as charcoal, to prepare
protective face paint for ceremonial dancers. John Thomas explained that
amongst the Ditidaht, and many other neighbouring groups, devil’s club is
considered sacred and “along
with red ochre paint is considered to be a link between the ordinary, or
profane world, and the supernatural, or spirit world.” ’ [Lantz 2004]
Proving Lucy De Pieri [Canada], 9 provers [8 females, 1 male; 2
placebo], C 30; 2007.
Mind: Positiveness. A total of 7 out of 9 provers
experienced an increased sense of confidence, calmness, of being able to easily
work throw situations that in the past would cause anxiety and irritability.
Provers also reported an increased feeling of wellbeing, and being able to
relax easily and relax others.
Delusions: Body is weightless; being a fish, having fish eyes; lost in
the wood; belonging to the opposite sex; stabbed in the back; carrying a heavy
weight; being in a different world.
Wanting to give up responsibilities [2 provers].
Will-power strong or sensation of having two wills [2 provers].
Dreams: Danger, being unprotected, being vulnerable; danger to others;
flood, large areas of water.
Vertigo: & redness eyes, involuntary closing of
eyes, > cold application; & hunger; & sensation of heat in nape of
neck, > cold washing.
In room, > open air; & nausea, < indoors/in car;
Head: Ache above eyebrows, < heat/smell of
food/walking; > cold, dry applications/lying down/pressure/+ desire to pull
hair from back of head.
Dull pain occiput, ext. forehead, > alcohol/sleep;
Nose: Congestion nose on waking [3 provers].
Throat: “As if empty”.
Sensitive, < cold air/cold drinks/dryness/smoke/swallowing/touch;
Stomach: Bursting pain stomach < walking, >
lying down.
Rectum: Constipation, stool remains long in rectum
without urging.
Bladder: “As if distended”.
Limbs: Pain knees, stitching on first movement, <
cold, > lying down, covering.
Generals: Desires: asparagus/cold beer/white
bread/butter/coffee [2 provers]/garlic/honey/raw mushrooms/prawns/salami/sweets
[3 provers];
Sexual desire increased in menopausal and post-menopausal women [3
provers]; orgasm reached easier.
Sensations:
Brain as if loose, < motion.
Dust in eyes.
Hot steam out of ears.
Lips “As if chapped, dry” [while not].
Tongue underneath numb, “As if burned”
Hips and thighs unbending as if steel rods.
Coldness in bones.
[Lucy De Pieri]
‘Dullness was a common sensation that the provers experienced, so it is
not surprising that there was a need for stimulants. Provers had craving for
beer and coffee even if they didn’t usually drink coffee, or had aversion for
coffee prior to the proving. Depleted, drained together with vertigo or being
light-headed was often experienced before breakfast or a meal. Note the
language of water by using the term “drained”. The sensations were resolved
with eating. Other sensations were pinching, pulsating, cramping, like a pin
prick, sore, stinging, dryness or dust in eyes, brain loose and moving back and
forth, bitterness, tingling, as if burned, numbness, something stuck, rawness,
tickling and chilly.’
Positive: Calm;
Negativ: Oplopanax horridus
needs protection/a theme during the proving.
1. Deep sense of
calmness (no need for company, some want to be alone at peace), 2. Dullness or depression
(less vitality/crave company).
Effort, struggle and
limitations were experienced/once a “head of steam was built up” it was
possible to proceed. Another aspect is that the task continued despite the
effort, the struggle and the limitations, hence it was a double task and
mastered.
I have to make an
effort to concentrate. Want to be free with no responsibilities.
Concentrating brings
me back to what I need to do for the day and my inner state is fighting with
the idea of having to do chores things. I want to let my mind go to another
world and let it stay here for a while and leave everyone else out.
OVERwhelmed
at the thought of laundry, homework, journaling, ANYTHING. Just very lethargic
Feeling I am going against the flow. Hard, tiresome, looked at the long road
ahead, but you have to make it all the way. Have to take a deep breath and keep
going. Weighty, carry a burden.
Dullness was a common
sensation and a need for stimulants (craving beer/coffee).
Depleted, drained
(note the language of water) together with vertigo or being lightheaded was
often experienced before breakfast or a meal and > eating.
Difficult
concentration/slowness and difficulties in decision making and a deep sense of
calmness evolving into a sense of dullness/ennui/depression. Probably one of
the most popular symptoms experienced was the deep sense of confidence and the
“can do” attitude that came with it.
Physical symptoms:
nausea/loss of appetite/stomach problems/weight gain/constipation/vertigo and
lightheadedness/sudden flashes of heat that resembled the typical menopausal
hot flashes.
Strong affinity for
mucus membranes with a number of symptoms + dryness and with swelling, with
pain in the extremities and in the kidneys.
Other sensations:
pinching, pulsating, cramping, like a pin prick, sore, stinging, dryness or
dust in eyes, brain loose and moving back and forth, bitterness, tingling, „As
if burned“, numbness, something stuck, rawness, tickling, chilly.
>: cool water/cold
dry applications/movement/out of doors/lying
down/pressure/eating/stretching/warmth;
<: cold/dry
air/smell of food/open air/heat;
Desires:
coffee/garlic/prawns/asparagus/white bread/salami/sweet/crackers/mushrooms;
Potentially cured
symptoms:
Nose stopped running
during hay fever
My allergies don't
bother me anymore
My allergies are
pretty much gone although everything is blossoming outside. Especially the
Japanese plum tree in
front of my window always made me sneeze and made my eyes itchy
On my way home I
wasn't bothered by any trees or flying pollen
Hay fever symptoms
really much better
I had a touch of
itchy eyes when I woke up but nothing like I normally have at this time of
year. Now my eyes
don’t itch anymore
Had runny and stuffy
nose before start of proving, it disappeared after taking remedy
Ganglion disappeared
Oplopanax horridus
grows in moist but well drained soils. It is often found along streams in
British Columbia, where it's huge leaves shade the water. The salmon, an icon
in BC, spawns in such shady areas before dying. A study from the University of
British Columbia with the use of radioactive traces placed on the salmon was
able to find nutrients from the decomposing salmons in the local vegetation. As
bears eat salmon and Devil’s club berries, such traces of the radioactive
salmon were
found inland. This
interesting finding was also experienced in the proving.
One of the prover
talked about water, as seeing water in front of her, to the extent that she is
looking with fish eyes! She was in the water. Note the provers at this stage
did not know the substance. The theme of water and fish was so strong that
during the extraction meeting some of the provers were convinced that the
substance of either salmon or a stingy jellyfish!
The theme of water
and fish was also found in dreams, where there is also the struggle of the
salmon as it swim up stream. However, the water was not always benevolent,
dreams of heavy flooding were also experienced.
Thinking about that
green water a lot. It’s like green phosphoressence and I see it in front of my
eyes/in my head a lot since taking the remedy. It’s s fun, happy to see that.
Felt like I have fish
eyes.
Dreamt last night
about a flood of a river. Lots of lots of water and swift and deep moving
river. Lots of green around (trees, etc) despite gray skies. Reminded of the
sense of the fish fighting on the line and greenish water.
The theme of water,
swelling and dryness was also experienced in the body. As well as increased in
thirst and an increase of urination despite being thirst-less
Extremities
I tripped on a stair
that petered out from a full stair to no stair, although it was marked
yellow. Because I had
my hands all full I couldn’t stop the fall with my hands and fell on my L side.
My right ankle is totally sprained and swell to double its size.
I’ve definitely
noticed an increase in thirst today, having put back at least 7 glasses of
water between 17 h. and 22 h. (in 5 hours)
Once the Oplopanax
horridus is burned it produces a black ash that mixed with bear fat was used by
First Nation warriors for war markings. War marking has the function of scaring
the enemy away by making the warrior more fearsome and perhaps giving more the
warrior more confidence.
The theme of violence
and of protection is clearly seen in several dreams.
The concept of
protection is not limited to individuals but it extends to the protection First
Nation traditions,
of people's health,
of plants and the whole planet and is experienced in very vivid dreams.
Sexuality
Repertory: [Lucy De Pieri]
Mind: Desires
acceptance
Anxious when
something is expected of him/Fear to become obese/of insanity
desires to remain in
bed - morning
cheerful - evening
Concentration
active/difficult
Confident
Content
< Conversation/<
company/aversion to company, desires solitude/desires company/enjoys company
Delusions - being
alone/body looks ugly/body = weightless/standing on bubbles/concentration
difficult bubbles/ energy moving into opening heart/with swoosh lung/having
fish eyes/fish fighting on the line or hook thrashing about/fish fighting in
green water/being a fish/is forsaken/is loast in the wood/hard to pull myself
down to earth/belonging to the opposite sex/stabbed in the back/water in front
of my eyes/carry a heavy weight/being in a different world
Disappointed with
sadness
Postnasal catarrh
Feeling of easy
Just wants to enjoy
life
Ennui
Foolish behavior
Spontaneous feeling
of harmony
Hhatred of persons
who offended him
„As if heavy“
Feels helpless
Injustice is
unsupporteble
Intolerance
Irratable (during
pain)
Silly laughing
Makes mistakes
writing (wrong words/wrong letters)/typing
> Music
Positive
Suprised
Easier to meet
responsibilities (wants to give up responsibilities)
Thoughts go rapid
Tranquility - „As if
drinking chamomile tea“/after energetic day/morning on waking/not bother by
little problems/settled, centered and grounded
> Weeping (from
music)
„As if had 2 wills“
Strong will power
Vertigo: Afternoon
+ red, discolored eye
> cold application/+ hunger/+ closing the eye involuntarily (> cold
application)
During chill upwards
from back
Excited feeling
„As if heat in neck“
(> cold application)
< Motion of head
With nausea - in
afternoon/in evening (> open air/< indoors/< in car
In a room > open
air/afternoon
Vertigo: during
chill from back upwards
Head: Energy
increased from mouth to crown chakra
Heat flashes r./“As
if internal heat“ and cool to touch
Heavy, dull, pain
„A if brain loose“
(< motion)
+ involuntarily closing
the eye/+ by pain in eyeball, „As if muscles stretched“ (> cold
application/> pressure/in bones/dull (< after eating/< heat)/<
exertion/> eating/ext. l. ear/ext.
forehead/above eyebrows (> cold dry applications/> pressure/>
lying down/< heat/< walking/< smell of food/desires to pull hair from
back of head/ext. eyebrows/above eyebrows/in forehead in morning/dull in
occiput (ext. forehead > sleep/> alcohol)/intermittent pulsating
(afternoon/night)/> rest/< wine
Eyes:
Agglutinated in afternoon,
Red > cold
application
Dry in morning
Heavy (afternoon/+
nausea, concentration difficult)
Heat flashes r.
Irritated
Itching + sneezing,
nose discharges
Lacrhamtion (with
sneezing)
Pain - burning >
pressure/“As from dust“/in r. eyebrow
„As if tired“
Ears: Heat flashes/“As
if hot steam is coming out“
Pain ext. head
Nose:
Congested sinuses
Catarrh - followed by
complaints of Frontal sinuses/postnasal
Congested nose upon
waking
Discharges clear -
upon waking upon/sneezing on afternoon/crusts, scabs, inside, bloody, r.,
morning/dripping at noon/green in morning/yellow clear/yellow green >
evening/posterior nares dripping
Dry - + burning
pain/inside
Pain -
burning/stinging
Sneezing - morning/+
itchy eyes, nose discharges
Face: „As if
lips chapped“ (upper lip morning)
Red (> cold
washing)
„As if lips are dry)
but are not/Lips dry licks them frequently
Eruption - blotchy,
red (chin/cheeks)/on cheeks < heat/on chin (< heat)/vesicles on lower lip
Flashes of heat in r.
cheek
Pain - r. jaw >
motion
Rough skin l.
Tingling „As if are
chapped“
Mouth: Tongue
white [„As if burned“ (underneath)/“As if burned“]
Numb tongue/swollen,
cannot whistle
Odor - putrid
Taste - bitter in
morning
Ulcers - canker sore,
small, corner of lips
Teeth: front
teeth numb/sensitive tender, brushing (< r.)
Throat: „As if
something alive“ drawing moisture for its own devices
Dry - after
midnight/on waking/< swallowing
„As if empty“
Disposition to hawk
(clearing mucus in throat and mouth)
crusts, green, adherent, streaked with blood
Pain - „As if raw“
< swallowing (> food/in center/ext. head/ext. sinuses)/“As from swollen
glands“
Sensitive -< cold
air/< dryness/< smoke/< cold drinks/< swallowing/< touch
Swelling - of
esophagus gland > eating/> warm drinks/swelling painless
Tickling + tendency
to hawk
External throat: itching
Neck: „As if
hot internally“ and cool to touch
Pain . sore
(> movement)/sore ext. l. shoulder
Stiff - difficult to
move at first, then moves/painful (r./internal heat increase/ext. to pelvic
region/sore r.)
Swelling l.
Stomach: „As if
something alive“
Appetite -
diminished (thirst increased)/increased (+ „As if stomach full/for starchy
foods)
Distended with
restless sleep (> lying l. side)
Heartburn +
distension, disturbed sleep
Heavy < breakfast
Pain, bursting pain
< walking/> lying down
Burning in evening
Nausea in
forenoon/with vomiting
Oppression +
oppression of chest
< Solid food
Thirst increased
>
Vomiting/vomiting until stomach is empty (> walking)/
Abdomen: Pain -
during digestion (> stretching/> lying down)/in intestines (+ pain in
lumbar region)
Distended with
weakness/at noon
Pain cramping +
fullness of bladder,
Rectum: Diarrhea
with weakness
Constipation - =
incomplete, unsatisfactory, stools/stool remains long in the rectum with no
urging
Stool: Pieces
small (throughout the day)/hard
Kidneys: Pain -
sore r. in morning/l. sore
Urine
Bladder: „As if
distended“/“As if full“ with thirstlessness
Urination frequent
with thirstlessness
Female genitalia:
leukorrhea (afternoon/evening)
Sexual desire - with
headache/increased in menopausal woman/increased in post menopausal woma like
ovulation
orgasm reached,
easier
returns - after the
regular menstrual cycle has ceased
Respiration: Impeded,
obstructed - from oppression of chest
Cough: Breathing
deficient
<: Exertion/Expiration;
Dry - morning/<
afternoon/on waking/tickling from low down trachea
From dryness in
trachea
Loose
Tickling - air
impurities/< dry air/< exertion/< smoke
Expectoration: copious/hawked
up mucus, green, streaked with blood/yellow/morning (clear/gray/greenish)/sticky/tenacious
(gray in morning)/clear in daytime/thin in daytime
Chest: Catarrh
- abundant, from chest/< milk
Congested with mucous
of lungs
Oppressed - + by
oppressed stomach/with difficult respiration
Back:
complaints of (between/r.) scapulae
„As if internal heat“
and cool to touch
Injuries in cervical
region
Pain -
morning/aching/biting/burning > movement/dorsal region (stitching pain „As
from needles“/under r. scapula walking/aching/dull/ext. stomach/“As if steel
rod“ in hips ext. thighs/intermittent/in lumbar region [hips (sore above/>
heat/> lying down)/sore ext. to hip]
In sacrum
(biting/burning deep seated)/sore, < walking downhill/sore > rest/painful
stiffness [in sacral region (> movement)]
Spasms in sacrum
region < standing from sitting
Stiff - dorsal region
morning (ext. sacral region r.)
Extremities: Hands
and toes cold with vertigo
Spasmodic contracted
muscles and tendons in feet
Cramping - in arch of
l. foot (at night/> stretching)/in l. thigh (ext. l. hip)
In third finger red
spot itchy/scratchy
Eruptions - vesicles
on base of thumb
Ganglion on r. back
of hand
Inflamed in hip joint
R foot numb [with
paraesthesia (> walking)]
Lame - ankle after
sprain/l. foot after sprain (< pressure/> stretching/< touch)
Solid nodule on
foot/wrist (< pressure)
Ankles swollen after
sprain
Pain - in feet - arch
spasmodic at night/aching/r. sore/in hips [ext to thighs (unrelenting/“As frim
steel rod“/r. sore (> heat/> lying)/knees (evening/< cold/>
covering/> lying down/lying on painful side/stitching < first
movement)/in legs [sore ext. pelvic bone/“As after a long walk“/l./l. sciatic
(> stretching/like electrical shock)/pinching under l. buttocks]/pulsating
in knee joint/sore
[r. (shoulder)/intermittent/foot
cannot hurry]/in thighs l. cramping
Paraesthesia in l.
leg, after sitting crossed-legged
Pulling legs
„As if pulsating“/„As
if pinching“ under l. armpit
Sprain in foot heals
very slowly
Sensitive to pressure
Stiff [l. leg (sudden
16 h. > rubbing)/r. shoulder]
Swollen second
fingers in distal joints < pressure
Throbbing medial in .
knew > walking
Swollen feet painful
> lifting
Sleep: deep
unrefreshing
Desires to sleep in
afternoon,
Heavy in afternoon
Falling asleep
difficult
Light - much tossing
around
Position changed
frequently
Prolonged
Refreshing (in post
menopausal women/despite short sleep)
Short in afternoon
Sleepy - morning/and
restless/during pain
Stupor - drowsy
Tired despite good
sleep
Waking -
difficult/too late/“As having slept one's fill“
Unrefreshing,
prolonged sleep/indisposed to rising
Yawning in forenoon
Dreams:
<(<(<( viele )>)>)>
Chill: lasting
all day/internal „As if coldness in the bones“/desires warmth, but cannot get
warm
Fever:
afternoon
Internal heat (+
stiff neck and head pain)
desires to be
covered, wants to hold cold pillow on head and face
Skin: „As if
lips are chapped“
Red r./after
scratching
„As if dry“ [skin
(< after washing)/lips]/rough
Ganglia on r. back of
hand
Eruption - blisters
of lower lip/red blotches/painful boil, watery discharge with pressure/red rash
with itching/rash irritated by cold water/after washing/burning rash/rash <
heat/scaly red
Sensitive to touch
with red swelling
Rough below nose
Tingling „As if lips
are chapped“
Generals: desires
open air, > wind
Boiling sensation in
blood,
Cold feeling in bones
Energy drawn away
from me/excess of energy (+ heat/morning)/good
Exertion physical
<: desires sleep desires in afternoon
Faint - in closed
(> open air)/+ nausea (morning/with heavy eyes with difficult
concentration)/with (intermittent) vertigo
Food and drinks:
Desires: asparagus/cold beer/white bread/butter/coffee/crackers/honey/garlic
(at night)/raw mushroom/prawns/salami/sweets/sweet soda drink;
„As if heavy“ >
breakfast
„As if hot“
internally
Laboratory test: low
blood glucose
> music
Pain - achy body/all
over body
Desires physical
activities in open air
Stiff
Body sluggish
Tired from dreaming
Vibrations „As if
fluttering“ - with anxiety/> food
Weak in morning (+
nausea)/afternoon/evening/“As if forced down“ = ceiling of vitality
Weary - sudden/before
lunch desires to ly down/in morning > breakfast
Weather - > rainy
weather/< cold weather/< hot weather
Weight loss
Vergleich: Siehe:
Apiales
Wirkung: Antimycobacterial (Staphylococcus aureus/Bacillus subtilis/Pseudomonas
aeruginosa/Escherichia coli/Mycobacterium tuberculosis and avium)/antifungal
activity (Candida albicans), anti-microbial effects on upper and lower
respiratory tract
Allerlei: N. America
Phytologie: Inner back of the stems used arthritis/ulcers/diabetes/digestive track
Fischgift?
Rheumatism
and stomach trouble.
Roots
and stems were used as a cleansing emetic/purgative. In steam baths for
rheuma/stomach trouble.
Colds
and rheuma
Tb.
(of the bone)/menses (after childbirth).
Breastfeeding
problems/to stop the flow of milk
Head
lice
Berries
were rubbed on the scalp against lice and dandruff/makes hair shiny
Fever
Upper
respiratory problems
Boils
and infections (as a poultice for swollen glands, boils, and other infections).
Protection
from spirits in form of a face paint
Measles
Tea
made from the inner bark is drunk by many people today for diabetes.
Vorwort/Suchen Zeichen/Abkürzungen Impressum