It’s been valued as a medicinal plant for thousands of years by local people, but what effect does it really have?

What are the active compounds in Kanna?

Kanna plants contain several psychoactive alkaloids that produce a relaxed and mild euphoric high. The most potent being mesembrine and mesembrenone.

What effect does Kanna have on the body?

Mesembrine and mesembrenone both help to increase serotonin, which is a chemical messenger linked to happiness and mood stability. Because of this, Kanna is often viewed as a natural antidepressant.

Does Kanna have medical benefits?

Kanna has shown positive benefits as an ethnomedicine. Modern studies have proven its effects as an antidepressant and its gaining traction around the world for its benefits. Today, its stress-relieving and anti-anxiety tendencies have encouraged further research into its potential.

The cultural uses of Kanna

The antidepressant effects of Kanna were well known by indigenous peoples in Africa. It was frequently chewed as a cure for stress, depression, and even for pain relief.

This low-growing succulent has been used for thousands of years by the San and Khoi people of South Africa. The San people were hunter-gatherers who would use Kanna as a water source. They also used it to lessen their appetite if a hunt was delayed or unsuccessful. But both groups valued the Kanna as a plant of healing and also of spiritual purpose.

A Dutch colonist in Africa known as Jan van Riebeeck is the first to have created a written record of Kanna. He noted that it was usually dried and chewed, and the saliva swallowed, unlike the Areca nut which is spat out instead. His notes also mention that it was smoked and also used as a herbal snuff.

Today some people prepare Kanna in various teas and tinctures to make use of its antidepressant effects. You can even buy them as houseplants, but be wary that their wild populations are declining because of this trade. Like the African Devil’s Claw plant, which is a popular pain relief supplement, some local people harvest unsustainably. It’s best to only buy from reputable sources where you can trace exactly where the plants are being grown.

What does Kanna look like?

As a succulent, Kanna has small, thick, fleshy leaves. It tends to form very low, creeping ground cover which creates a dense leafy spread. The flowers are extremely attractive with thin petals radiating from a yellow center. 

The petals resemble mini fireworks and range from white and yellow to bright pink. In full bloom, the flowers coat the entire plant with a wispy, soft layer of petals.

Where does Kanna grow?

Kanna can be found growing in semi-arid deserts within Southern Africa. It can handle periods of drought because of its succulent leaves but also survives well through the rainy season.

Conclusion

As such a valued medicinal herb, wild Kanna populations have recently decreased. Regulation is an important step that will stop over-harvesting and protect the future of this valuable ethnomedicine. It’s a very attractive plant, and it holds exciting medical potential as a natural antidepressant.

Featured Image: A young Kanna plant emerging from the soil | Photo by H Brisse on Wikimedia Commons

Although the effects are similar to tobacco, the plants don’t contain any nicotine. They contain a different compound that has been linked to some alarming health conditions.

What are the active compounds in Areca nut?

The main compound found with Areca nuts is arecoline. It’s a mildly addictive alkaloid that’s often likened to nicotine as they produce similar effects. When chewed, Areca nuts can produce a mild high and an increase in energy and even memory retention.

Arecoline is however an extremely toxic alkaloid and it’s been linked to many harmful cancers and diseases.

What effect does Areca nut have on the body?

Like nicotine, arecoline has been widely studied. Long-term use has been linked to cancers of the mouth and esophagus. It can also cause long-term respiratory problems and cancers within other areas of the body. 

There’s also a risk of diabetes and chronic kidney disease, as areca nut affects blood sugar and arecoline is processed in the kidneys. Overall it’s considered a very unsafe plant to chew or consume.

Long-term users will often develop a red mouth and lips due to an oily residue found inside. After chewing on areca nuts and leaves, this residue is spat out.

Does Areca nut have medical benefits?

Studies have shown that arecoline does have several small benefits. Within one scientific study, it was shown to improve the cognitive abilities of participants. This led to scientists exploring the possibility of arecoline as a drug to treat Alzheimer’s.

It has also been shown to reduce depression because of its stimulating and relaxation effects. However, scientists generally conclude that the carcinogenic effects outweigh any positive benefits.

Cultural uses of Areca nut

Despite the extensive list of harmful side effects, Areca nuts are still used in several cultures within Asia. Like cigarettes, Areca nuts are generally touted as a public health problem.

Traditional uses of areca nut

Records of areca nut chewing date back thousands of years. Archaeologists have discovered burial sites in the Philippines where the teeth of some skeletons have been stained by red residue.

Traditionally Areca nut is wrapped in betel leaves which add a mild peppery flavor, these wrapped pieces are known as quids. The Areca nut is usually thinly sliced and sprinkled with powdered lime or crushed seashell powder. It became a well-established part of many Asian cultures. From India and Sri Lanka to Cambodia and the Solomon Islands. Like kratom leaves and the culturally important and psychoactive kava plant, Areca nut became a habitual part of social gatherings.

The nuts have also been used in medicinal cures too. In Ayurvedic medicine, it has been used as a digestive aid and breath freshener. In other traditional medicines, it has been used as a cure for tapeworm and also schizophrenia.

What do Areca nuts look like?

Areca nuts are technically not nuts, but seeds. They form within green to orange Areca fruits that grow in dense clusters. The areca palm tree itself is a medium-sized palm with a narrow trunk.

Where does the Areca palm grow?

Because of the high cultural value of these palms, they can be found growing in many locations throughout Asia. They’re native to most tropical areas in Asia, Africa, and islands in the Pacific. Many believe it could have originated in the Philippines, as this is where the oldest archaeological records are located.

Conclusion

Areca nuts are still widely used today, especially in Papua New Guinea and Malaysia. Many local governments struggle with enforcing health advice as areca nuts are so deeply ingrained within cultures.

Featured Image: Areca fruits photo by Forest and Kim Starr on Wikimedia Commons

What are the active compounds in Sleepy Grass?

The compounds that put the ‘sleepy’ in sleepy grass could be one of two active chemicals. Sleepy grass naturally contains diacetone alcohol. As a chemical, it’s used as a solvent and often used in wood stains, thinners, and textile production too. It’s produced synthetically and not harvested from sleepy grass itself. Ingesting or inhaling diacetone alcohol can make you drowsy and also cause irritation in the respiratory system.

Like many grass species, sleepy grass is also susceptible to ergot fungus. Ergot fungi produce a powerful compound known as ergoline. When ingested it can have a sedative and mild psychoactive effect. This means that any humans or animals ingesting ergot infected seeds could experience severe drowsiness and even mild euphoria.

Does Sleepy Grass have medical potential?

Ergoline has been widely studied, and actually inspired the synthesis of LSD. While sleepy grass has a traditional history of use in Native American culture, it is very rarely used as a modern-day herbal.

Traditional medicine

The effects of sleepy grass were known to Native Americans in the midwest plains. Some records suggest that single sleepy grass seeds were given to babies to help soothe colic symptoms.

Cultural uses of Sleepy Grass

Several stories suggest that sleepy grass was occasionally used for criminal purposes in the wild west. In Ben K. Green’s book, “Horse Tradin’”, he references an account of sleepy grass use. A horse trader used sleepy grass to make a horse seem more docile and broken in. It later turned out that the untamed horse had actually been fed sleepy grass.

Another legend states that several railroad workers were killed after their horses grazed on sleepy grass. As they clashed the next morning with Native Americans, they were unable to get away as their horses were drowsy and immobile.

It’s a story that has a few similarities to several railroad workers who were poisoned with death camas. In an attempt to stop railroad expansion, Native Americans sold death camas bulbs to unsuspecting workers.

As the tale of the effects of sleepy grass spread through European colonizers, it was eventually used by cattle ranchers. Some stories suggest it was fed in small quantities to cattle to make them easier to herd and manage.

What does Sleepy Grass look like?

Sleepy grass has tall erect stems, usually reaching 2-3 feet. It grows in bushy clumps with very minimal roots. The seed head and nodes where leaves branch off often have a hairy appearance. The flower head is typical of many grass species with a panicle that develops into spikelets.

Where does Sleepy Grass grow?

As a grass species, sleepy grass favors open plains, meadows, and woodland edges. You’ll usually find it in dry areas and soil with good drainage, for example, hillsides or even semi-desert grassland. It’s common in the midwest plains and as far south as New Mexico.

Conclusion

For such an inconspicuous plant, sleepy grass has had some unusual uses throughout history. At one point sleepy grass was a hazard to cattle and horses grazing in wild meadows and fields. In high doses, it could make cattle appear to freeze on the spot, and even cause death. Today, however farmers and ranchers rarely encounter any issues with sleepy grass.

Featured Image: Sleepy grass growing in New Mexico | Photo by Patrick Alexander on Wikimedia Commons

The Smilax genus is big, with over 300 individual plant species. Most go by common names like carrion flower, sarsaparilla, greenbrier, or catbrier. Some of the most well-known species include Jamaican sarsaparilla (Smilax ornata), China root (Smilax china), and Mexican sarsaparilla (Smilax aristolochiaefolia).

What are the active compounds in Smilax?

Smilax plants have a valued place in herbal medicine within many cultures where they are endemic. They contain phytochemicals known as steroidal saponins, and some species contain pregnane glycosides. Some saponins can be very toxic, but the ones found in smilax are different from those found in deadly pokeweed. 

Does Smilax have medical potential?

The steroidal saponins found in smilax are being studied for their potential in treating tumors. These saponins could also have anti-microbial properties. The pregnane glycosides have also shown anticarcinogenic properties.

The steroidal saponins indicate that smilax could be useful in reducing inflammation from joint pain. But further study is needed.

Traditional medicine

Historically, people have used smilax to treat a variety of conditions, from arthritis to syphilis. Native Americans valued smilax plants as a herbal remedy and used the roots in many medicines. Herbal tea was created to treat mild respiratory illnesses, and also skin conditions. It was also drunk as it was believed it could cleanse the blood.

The most well-documented use of smilax roots is as a treatment for syphilis but also as a general health tonic. European settlers exported smilax roots from America and claimed it could revitalize and cleanse the blood. Though modern studies have proven that it has little effect.

Cultural uses of Smilax

One of the most well-known uses of smilax plants is as the soda-like soft drink made from its roots. Initially, smilax roots were prepared as a tonic and drank as a herbal remedy. However, with the introduction of sugar and sweeteners, they became a valued part of many cultures and were drank for flavor and enjoyment.

In the Caribbean, the Sarsaparilla drink uses roots from Jamaican Sarsaparilla (Smilax ornata). In Cuba, a traditional drink known as Pru, uses Smilax domingensis as an active ingredient. Also in China, Smilax glabra roots are brewed to create a drink to treat joint pain.

Most smilax-based drinks taste very similar to root beer, which usually uses the sassafras tree as flavoring instead. Although less popular today, people create tonic versions of Sarsaparilla to treat various conditions. Many people even create their own homebrew.

You can still buy a liter bottle of Sarsaparilla in Tesco brand stores within the UK. It’s also still a popular drink within southeast Asia where it’s known by the brand name, Sarsi. There are old-fashioned sweets known as ‘Sarsaparilla tablets’, though these are flavored with the root of the sassafras tree.

What does Smilax look like?

Smilax plants will usually produce a trailing vine that climbs over other vegetation. But they can also form dense bushes too. Most species have pointed, heart-shaped leaves and thorny vines. Sarsaparilla, loosely translated from Spanish “zarzaparilla”, means bramble vine.

Their flowers are usually inconspicuous white/green clusters. However, when fruits form, the subtle flowers develop into a cluster of shiny red to deep purple berries.

Where does Smilax grow?

Most species are found in tropical regions within areas like China, Africa, South America, India, and the Caribbean. However, you may find some species, like the downy carrion flower (Smilax pulverulenta) and roundleaf greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia), in eastern US states.

Conclusion

Still available to buy in some locations throughout the world, smilax plants have been viewed as a herbal cure in many cultures. Smilax could be the key to future medical research, like toxic pokeweed and moonseed, and many other plants with anticancer compounds. For now, it can be enjoyed as a refreshing tonic that could help to reduce inflammation.

Featured Image: Photo by bastus917 on Wikimedia Commons

With its potent effects, kratom is used medically and also as a recreational herb, with kratom bars found across the world. Chewed, brewed, or powdered, the leaves contain active compounds that can produce strong effects.

What are the active compounds in Kratom?

The most potent compound found in kratom is an alkaloid known as mitragynine. In relatively low doses it can produce a euphoric high that some people liken to coca. However, in higher doses, it can have a sedative effect.

What effect does Kratom have?

It’s a member of the coffee family, and like coffee, it has stimulative properties. However, the mitragynine found in kratom can have strong psychoactive effects.

In small doses, the effects of kratom involve a very mild, stimulating high, with common symptoms like nausea, delusion, drowsiness, and irritability. However, in high doses symptoms can include strong hallucinations and seizures. In extreme cases, users may experience damage to the liver, and cardiac, respiratory, or thyroid issues.

It can also have strong sedative effects, reducing pain perception and promoting relaxation. Many people turn to kratom as natural pain relief, but further study is needed on the safety, addiction possibility, and effects of long-term use, etc.

Does Kratom have medical potential?

Like the muscimol in fly agaric and kavalactones in kava, kratom may have the potential to treat anxiety, depression, or PTSD. With its similar effects to opioid drugs, however, kratom is often used as a herbal pain relief medication.

Can kratom treat opioid addiction?

Kratom is currently being researched as a treatment for opioid withdrawal. It can activate the same receptors that opioids do. So, many believe it could imitate opioid drugs (like oxycodone or hydrocodone) and help people reduce their dependency. Some studies suggest however that people can then experience withdrawal symptoms from kratom. However, it’s an area that needs further study.

Cultural symbolism of Kratom

In areas where kratom is native, it has been entwined with local life for social and also spiritual purposes. The plant has a long history of use as traditional medicine. Its pain-relieving effects were well known, and leaves were frequently turned into healing treatments.

In Thailand, extracts were used to treat pain, respiratory illnesses, and also intestinal issues like worms. Within Malaysia, it was also used as a replacement for opium.

The leaves were thought to increase sexual desire because of their euphoric and stimulative properties. Again, because of the stimulating effects, it was frequently consumed by southeast Asian workers as an energy boost.

Because of its psychoactive effects, kratom was used as an entheogen in religious ceremonies too.

Is Kratom legal?

Like coca, peyote, and other plants with psychoactive effects, kratom is heavily regulated. In some states and countries, however, there are less severe rules in place. For example, the use, ownership, and sale of kratom is banned in the UK, Ireland, and Malaysia.

Alternatively, in Thailand, after being banned for several years, kratom was legalized in 2021. In the US, the legality of kratom can change between states and even cities. It’s regulated but legal in most, but illegal in Alabama and Vermont, etc.

What does Kratom look like?

Kratom is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 25 meters in height. The leaves are dark green, pointed, and oval-shaped with prominent red veining on the underside. When flowering, you’ll see small rounded clusters of tiny flowers, with the whole inflorescence resembling a small yellow firework.

Where does Kratom grow?

It can be found growing in tropical forests and clearings in countries like Papua New Guinea and Malaysia. To thrive it needs a humid climate, nutrient-rich soil, and dappled sunlight.

Conclusion

Kratom has long been used in traditional medicine, but it is still warily treated by regulatory boards because of its psychoactive effects. Ultimately, the plant needs more scientific research to understand the risks involved. That includes whether it can be safely used as herbal medicine, be relied upon as a treatment for opioid dependence, or safely enjoyed recreationally.

Featured Image: Photo by Uomo vitruviano on Wikimedia Commons

What are the active compounds in Peyote?

Peyote contains a range of psychoactive alkaloids, of which mescaline is considered the most psychoactive. It can be found in other plants too, including the San Pedro cactus and the Bolivian torch cactus. Mescaline was first isolated in 1897 by a German chemist known as Arthur Heffter.

What effect does Peyote have?

The mescaline in peyote has effects that are likened to LSD and also psilocybin mushrooms. Effects can last anywhere from 2-12 hours. As a hallucinogenic plant, people usually experience visual disturbances and changes in perception of color, audio, and size.

It may have very negative effects too. Other symptoms could include severe anxiety, pupil dilation, vomiting, muscle twitches, sweating, and also paranoia.

What is the medicinal potential of Peyote?

Limited studies have shown that mescaline may be able to treat addictions like alcoholism, and also conditions like depression. Many herbal drugs, like liberty mushrooms or kava, are controlled substances, and this limits scientific study into their medical potential.

Many people used peyote to treat conditions like toothache and fever, but also as pain relief during childbirth. In Mexico, you can still find herbal remedies like peyote gel which is used for pain relief.

Is Peyote toxic?

Like any drug, peyote can pose risks, and peyote cactus abuse and toxicity have been documented. Unregulated doses can cause serious illness and even death.

Cultural Symbolism of Peyote

Used for thousands of years, peyote has a rich history in several Indigenous nations of America and Mexico. It was consumed as an entheogen and also used to treat some medical conditions too. The top of the peyote cactus is usually cut off and dried, allowing the remaining base and root to heal and regenerate a new crown.

As European colonizers and Christianity arrived in America, the use of peyote became severely restricted. Like psychoactive morning glory seeds that were used by native groups in South America, peyote became a prohibited drug. Sadly many cultural practices were lost, but it continues to be used today, ceremonially by the Native American Church (NAC).

The Wixárika people (Huichol) of Mexico use peyote within spiritual rituals that connect people to ancestor spirits and gods.

As interest in peyote grows, tours are now conducted by members of the NAC, and also by guides in Mexico. However, many people who have cultural links to peyote are worried about unsustainable harvesting from people looking to collect seeds and profit from wild cacti.

Is Peyote legal?

In most countries, peyote is illegal to own, sell or prepare for recreational purposes. In some reservations in the US, Native Americans can grow, possess and use peyote for spiritual and cultural purposes as part of the Native American Church.

What Does Peyote Look Like?

Peyote is a small, low-growing cactus. It has an unusual appearance, with no spines and a round, flat, bulbous shape. The flesh coloring is a blue and greenish hue, and when flowering, it has a white/pinkish flower that partially resembles a daisy or member of the Asteraceae family. They’re often called peyote ‘buttons’ because of their small rounded shape.

Where Does Peyote Grow?

They tend to grow in small groups, with new shoots forming from larger and more mature cacti. Peyote grows very slowly and can be found wild in Mexico and small areas in southern states in the US. It favors dry and humid areas, with limestone soils, particularly the Chihuahuan desert and the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range.

Conclusion

It’s illegal to own, grow and use peyote, but many individuals are interested in its hallucinogenic potential. However, as a hallucinogenic so closely linked to Native American culture, it is important that the connection is respected, and the plant population is protected.

Featured Image: Peyote cactus | Photo by Peter A. Mansfeld on Wikimedia Commons

What are the active compounds in Morning Glory?

The seeds of many morning glory species contain ergoline alkaloids, ergonovine, and ergine. These ergoline alkaloids are present because of a fascinating symbiotic relationship with the ergot fungus. It’s a fungi that can also infect grains used in bread production, and over history it has accidentally poisoned and drugged many people. The alkaloids found in ergot fungi helped to inspire the creation of LSD. Ergine is usually referred to as ‘d-lysergic acid amide’, or LSA.

What effect do Morning Glory seeds have?

Chewing morning glory seeds can produce a hallucinogenic effect that is similar to LSD. People may experience psychedelic effects like extreme hallucinations, intense visual and audio disturbances of size, color, and sound, and even a loss of the perception of time. Other symptoms can include an increased heart rate, anxiety, erratic behavior, muscle twitching, and dilated pupils.

Morning Glory warnings and cautions

Because of the known psychedelic effects from morning glory seeds, seed producers have been known to coat the seeds in bitter, toxic chemicals, like methylmercury. This is supposed to deter any recreational users.

Does Morning Glory have medical potential?

Many species of morning glory have been involved in traditional medicines and brews. In parts of Asia and South America, some plants have been used to create treatments that have a laxative, diuretic, or expectorant effect. The roots of Hawaiian baby woodrose (Argyreia nervosa), also known as ‘elephant creeper’, are used in Ayurvedic practices to rejuvenate and promote sweating. It’s a plant that was endemic to India but introduced to many places, including Hawaii.

Cultural symbolism of Morning Glory

The large showy flowers have inspired a series of whimsical species names like old man’s nightcap (Calystegia sepium) and moon vine (Ipomoea alba). Varieties of the well-known psychoactive species Mexican morning glory (Ipomoea tricolor) have names like ‘flying saucer’, ‘rainbow flash’, and ‘summer skies’.

Prominent spiritual figures in south American cultures, like Aztec priests, used morning glory seeds as an entheogen to convene with spiritual beings and convey messages to the people. Mexican morning glory and common morning-glory (Ipomoea purpurea) are native to south America and would likely have been used by various groups for their psychoactive effects.

Moon vine sap was also added to the latex from the rubber tree to create rubber. This rubber was then used to create balls used in a popular ballgame of ancient Mesoamerica.

Because of their ornamental beauty, morning glories are often planted in gardens and grown along pergolas or trellises. The seeds can be bought from many gardening shops across the World. They are legal to grow for ornamental reasons, but many countries have regulations in place over actually extracting LSA from the seeds.

What does Morning Glory look like?

As the name suggests, most morning glory flowers unfurl in the morning and fade as the evening draws in. The plants are known for their large trumpet-shaped flowers that are frequently grown in gardens for their ornamental beauty. Many species are also hybridized to create favorable colors and flower shapes.

It’s a vine plant that can grow quickly, so it’s considered invasive in many areas. The leaves are also usually very broad, which can overwhelm other plants.

Where does Morning Glory grow?

Morning glory species can be found around the World — from unique species on islands like Madagascar and Lord Howe Island to common species found across the UK or US. As a vine plant, they tend to climb across other vegetation, so they can usually be found in sun-exposed areas of rainforest, clearings and woodland.

Conclusion

Loved by hummingbirds and pollinators, the morning glory is a beautiful plant to discover in the wild. Certain varieties can be grown in the garden, but be wary of older, fast-growing varieties that produce lots of seeds. While the psychoactive effects of some morning glory species attract some people to them, dosages, effects, and secondary symptoms are not as well documented as LSD.

Featured Image: Hawaiian baby woodrose (Argyreia nervosa) | Photo by Loi Miao on Wikimedia Commons

They’re beautiful, low-growing plants, which have been used in traditional African medicine for centuries. Word of its potential medicinal benefits soon spread, and it soon became valued in other cultures, including western medicine. 

What are the active compounds in Devils Claw?

The active compound in devil’s claw is known as harpagoside. It’s an iridoid glycoside that may have anti-inflammatory effects, although scientific evidence that proves this is very limited.

What is the medical potential of Devils Claw?

Dried or fresh, devil’s claw roots can be brewed into teas and tonics, taken in tablet form, or applied topically to the skin. It is mostly taken as a form of pain relief and as an anti-inflammatory. Individuals use it to treat conditions like osteoarthritis, and also general pains, like neck ache or back pain.

Can Devil’s Claw be toxic?

Devil’s claw may interfere with the efficacy of blood thinners like warfarin, so it is always recommended to check with a doctor before taking any herbal medicine. Like most medications, it can have secondary side effects, but the most common reactions include diarrhea and stomach upset.

Like many under-researched medicines, it is not considered safe for children, pregnant women, or those taking long-term medication (without speaking with a doctor first).

Cultural symbolism of Devils Claw

Devil’s claw is native to parts of southern Africa. Because of its medicinal value, local governments are implementing regulations to make sure the plant is harvested sustainably.

The plant is the national flower of Botswana, where it is valued greatly as a medicinal herb. It also provides an income source to people living in rural areas. They can harvest devil’s claw roots and sell them. Only the secondary tubers are harvested, as the primary tuber must remain to ensure the survival of the plant.

While scientific evidence is yet to back up the effects, the plant remains very popular as a herbal remedy. Extracts can be found in health and wellbeing stores around the World, and it is still highly valued in Africa.

There is another group of North American plants under the genus Proboscidea which are also referred to as ‘devil’s claw’. These plants have a similar appearance but lack the medicinal values of the South African devil’s claw.

What does Devils Claw look like?

Growing low over sandy soil, devil’s claw sends out creeping stems that hold heavily lobed leaves. When flowering, large pink tubular flowers with a yellow center emerge. When pollinated these may develop into unusual claw-shaped fruits that eventually dry out into woody capsules that hold the seeds. These hook-shaped pods have an almost skeletal appearance, and they open slowly throughout the year. Because of their delayed opening, devil’s claw seeds are noted as remaining viable for up to 20 years.

Where does Devils Claw grow?

Devil’s claw grows natively in the subtropical desert climate of southern Africa, including Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and parts of South Africa. It favors sandy soils and can survive extended dry spells and also periods of heavy rainfall as it stores water and nutrients in tubers.

Conclusion

With intriguing medical potential, devil’s claw is a valuable and beautiful plant. Because of its popularity in the health and wellbeing trade, devil’s claw is closely monitored to ensure it doesn’t become vulnerable. Regulations are now in place to deter businesses who harvest devil’s claws in an unsustainable way for maximum profits.

Featured Image: Devil’s claw (Harpagophytum zeyheri) Photo by Dr. Alexey Yakovlev on Wikimedia Commons

Like Carolina horsenettle, bittersweet nightshade can be mistaken for edible wild tomatoes. It is however incredibly poisonous, and the toxic compounds contained within its fruits can cause irresponsible foragers extreme discomfort, and even risk their lives.

What are the active compounds in Bittersweet Nightshade?

Solanine is the active compound found in bittersweet nightshade, and it can cause extreme discomfort. Other alkaloids are present, like solasodine, but solanine is the most toxic. This toxin can be found in deadly nightshade too, and it’s the compound that causes people to become unwell after eating green/sun-exposed potatoes.

Bittersweet Nightshade poisoning symptoms

Usually, the symptoms of ingesting bittersweet nightshade are severe fatigue and weakness, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, arrhythmia, and joint pain. In severe cases, individuals may experience hallucinations, paralysis, and even hypothermia. Fatalities are rare, however, they have been documented.

Does Bittersweet Nightshade have medical potential?

Despite its toxicity, bittersweet nightshade has been used in various herbal treatments for centuries. Juice from the fruits was used topically to treat severe bruising and pain from injuries. Plant parts (in very small doses) were also mixed with other herbal remedies to create a purgative drink. However, it was mainly applied topically to various skin conditions.

Cultural symbolism of Bittersweet Nightshade

Bittersweet nightshade was once highly valued as a plant that could repel curses and spells. People would place dried leaves and fruits in certain areas for luck, healing, and protection. For example, herders would tie the plant around the neck of cattle to protect them from witchcraft or ‘the evil eye’.

With such a rich cultural history, bittersweet nightshade has been called many names throughout the centuries. Poisonberry, climbing nightshade, poison flower, and snake berry are all colloquial names that have been used for this toxic plant.

What does Bittersweet Nightshade look like?

As the colloquial name ‘climbing nightshade’ suggests, bittersweet nightshade is a vine that can climb up and over other plants. When flowering, bittersweet nightshade has the distinctive star-shaped flowers of other members of the nightshade family. Unlike the white flowers of Carolina horsenettle, bittersweet nightshade flowers are a striking purple color. The leaves are pointed, with a slight lobed section towards the stem.

The red fruits grow in truss-like clusters, which is why they can be mistaken for wild tomatoes. As a member of the nightshade family, it even has that familiar tomato smell, which can be tempting to inexperienced foragers or children.

Where does Bittersweet Nightshade grow?

Originally the plant was native to areas of Europe and Asia, however, large populations can now be found in North America. Because of its valued spiritual and protective uses, it likely spread far and wide throughout Eurasia and beyond. It favors moist and well-draining soils and can often be found in areas of woodland near streams, rivers, and even wetland areas.

Conclusion

While the fruits of the bittersweet nightshade remain toxic to humans and livestock, plenty of birds rely on them as a source of food. When adorned in purple blooms and red fruits, bittersweet nightshade is a striking plant to come across in the wild. Just make sure that if you’re planning to forage wild tomatoes, you familiarise yourself with the characteristics of Carolina horsenettle and bittersweet nightshade.

Featured Image: 4 Ripening bittersweet nightshade berries. Photo by Rosser1954 on Wikimedia Commons

It gets especially difficult for foragers during seasons when you only have the leaf structure and roots to identify. As the name suggests, death camas is a toxic plant and sadly there have been relatively recent documented deaths that have occurred as a result of individuals accidentally eating death camas.

What are the active compounds in Death Camas?

Death camas plants contain toxic alkaloids that are poisonous to humans, livestock, pets, and even most wildlife, including some insects. Zygacine and zygadenine are the two primary alkaloids that make death camas so poisonous. Both of these alkaloids have a severe effect on the nervous system, with zygacine being particularly lethal.

Death Camas poisoning symptoms

As the alkaloids begin to affect the nervous system, symptoms include slurred speech, trouble walking, and various movement-related issues. Other symptoms involve nausea, vomiting, and changes in heart rate. If a high dose is consumed it can cause death.

Does Death Camas have medical potential?

There are currently no known medical uses or herbal remedies that involved death camas. Because of the serious effects on the nervous system, the plant has never exhibited useful effects that could cure or treat any ailment.

Cultural symbolism of Death Camas

Death camas has been a well-known toxic plant in all Native American groups throughout history. In the 19th century, as railway lines ventured further westward in the US, and encroached on Native American land, death camas were supposedly used to fight back against this. Stories suggest that Native Americans sold death camas to railroad workers as wild onions in a desperate attempt to stop the construction of the railroads.

While death camas should be on the radar of any foragers looking for wild onion, it is also a great concern to livestock farmers. As sheep or cows graze throughout the day, they have the potential to accidentally eat a lethal amount of death camas. So like deadly white snakeroot, which can poison cows and their milk, farmers work to keep their pastures clear of toxic plants.

What does Death Camas look like?

Death camas plants tend to have grass-like stems which can greatly resemble the long succulent leaves of wild onion. Towards the bulb, the stem can have a red hue which again has similarities to the onion. When flowering, there is a spire of white, cream, and pale green-colored flowers.

The plants belong to a tribe called Melanthieae, and there are about 15 varied species. Most death camas plants belonged to the Zigadenus genus, but they have since been isolated into more specific groups.

Where does Death Camas grow?

The death camas tribe is native to North America and each species has a favorable habitat. Meadow death camas (Toxicoscordion venenosum) favors meadows and hillsides, whereas the desert death camas (Toxicoscordion brevibracteatum) grows in sandy deserts in Mexico and California.

Conclusion

Death camas is a relatively undocumented toxic lookalike to wild onion. With its striking similarity to the tasty wild edible, it’s important to show extreme caution. So, if you’re looking for wild onion, do your research and make sure you know all identifying features of death camas before you attempt to harvest anything.

Featured Image: Meadow death camas. Photo by Walter Siegmund on Wikimedia Commons