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 | Nightshade (Woody) Other Names: Bittersweet. Dulcamara. Felonwood. Felonwort. Scarlet Berry. Violet Bloom.
Botanical Name: Solanum dulcamara
Family: N.O. Solanaceae |
Description: |
The large and important natural order of Solanaceae contains, besides Henbane and the Nightshades, some of the most poisonous of our native plants, such useful economic plants as the Potato, Tomato, Aubergine Capsicum and Tobacco, also the medicinally valuable Thornapple (Datura stramonium) the Winter Cherry and the Mandrake, which in earlier days was supposed to possess miraculous properties.
The prevailing property of plants belonging to the Nightshade tribe is narcotic, rendering many of them in consequence highly poisonous.
The genus Solanum - to which the older herbalists formerly assigned Atropa Belladonna, and to which the Potato and Aubergine belong, is represented in this country by two species: Solanum nigrum (Black or Garden Nightshade) and S. dulcamara (Bittersweet or Woody Nightshade). The leaves bear a certain resemblance to those of Belladonna, and the flowers of both Bittersweet and Belladonna are purple, though totally distinct in shape, and both have berries, red in the case of Bittersweet, not black as in the Belladonna. Bittersweet is common throughout Europe and America. It abounds in almost every hedgerow in England, where it is rendered conspicuous in the summer by its bright purple flowers, and in autumn by its brilliant red berries. Belladonna for which it is often mistaken is rare.
It is a perennial, shrubby plant, quite woody at the base, but throws out long, straggling, slender branches, which trail over the hedges and bushes among which it grows, reaching many feet in length, when supported by other plants. They are at first green and hairy, but become woody and smooth as they grow older, with an ashygreen bark.
The flowers, which are open all the summer, are in loose, drooping clusters, on short stalks opposite the leaves. They are of a bluish purple tint, with reflexed petals when expanded, so as almost to appear drooping. Their bright yellow stamens project in a conical form around the pistil, or seedbearing portion of the flower.
The leaves are chiefly auriculate on the upper stems, i.e. with little ears, having at their base from one to two (rarely three) wing-like segments, but are heart-shaped below. They are placed alternately on either side of the stem and arranged so that they face the light. The flower-clusters always face a different direction to the leaves. 'One may gather a hundred pieces of the Woody Nightshade, and this strange perversity is rampant in all,' remarks an observer of this very curious habit.
The berries are green at first, afterwards becoming orange and finally bright red, and are produced in constant succession throughout the summer and early autumn, many remaining on the plant long after the leaves have fallen.
The plant was called the Woody Nightshade by the old herbalists to distinguish it from the Deadly Nightshade. Its generic name Solanum is derived from Solor (I ease), and testifies to the medicinal power of this group of plants. The second name, Dulcamara, used to be more correctly written in the Middle Ages, Amaradulcis, signifying literally 'bittersweet,' the common country name of the plant, given to it in reference to the fact that the root and stem, if chewed, taste first bitter and then sweet. Another old name is Felonwood, probably a corruption of Felonwort, the plant for felons - felon being an old name for whitlow. We are told by an old writer that:
'the Berries of Bittersweet stamped withrusty Bacon, applied to the Joynts of the Finger that is troubled with a Felon hath been found by divers country people who are most subject thereto to be very successful for the curing of the same.'
In the days of belief in witchcraft, shepherds used to hang it as a charm round the necks of those of their beasts whom they suspected to be under the evil eye.
The older physicians valued Bittersweet highly and applied it to many purposes in medicine and surgery, for which it is no longer used. It was in great repute as far back as the time of Theophrastus, and we know of it being in use in this country in the thirteenth century.
Gerard says of it:
'The juice is good for those that have fallen from high places, and have been thereby bruised or beaten, for it is thought to dissolve blood congealed or cluttered anywhere in the intrals and to heale the hurt places.'
Boerhaave, the celebrated Dutch physician, considered the young shoots superior to Sarsaparilla as a restorative, and Linnaeus, who at first had an aversion to the plant, later spoke of it in the highest terms as a remedy for rheumatism, fever and inflammatory diseases of all kinds. There are few complaints for which it has not been at some time recommended. |
Constituents: |
Bittersweet contains the alkaloid Solanine and the amorphous glucoside Dulcamarine, to which the characteristic bittersweet taste is due. Sugar, gum, starch and resin are also present.
Solanine acts narcotically; in large doses it paralyses the central nervous system, without affecting the peripheral nerves or voluntary muscles. It slows the heart and respiration, lessens sensibility, lowers the temperature and causes vertigo and delirium, terminating in death with convulsions. |
Medicinal Usage: |
The drug possesses feeble narcotic properties, with the power of increasing the secretions, particularly those of the skin and kidneys. It has no action on the pupil of the eye.
It is chiefly used as an alterative in skin diseases, being a popular remedy for obstinate skin eruptions, scrofula and ulcers.
It has also been recommended in chronic bronchial catarrh, asthma and whoopingcough.
For chronic rheumatism and for jaundice it has been much employed in the past, an infusion of 1 OZ. of the dried herb to 1/2 pint water being taken in wineglassful doses, two or three times daily. From the fluid extract made from the twigs, a decoction is prepared of 10 drachms in 2 pints of boiling water, boiled down to 1 pint, and taken in doses of 1/2 to 2 OZ. with an equal quantity of milk.
The berries have proved poisonous to a certain degree to children.
Fluid extract, 1/2 to 2 drachms. |
Ancient Lore: |
BITTER SWEET SOLANUM DULCAMARA
It is good to remove witchcraft both in men and beast, and all sudden diseases whatsoever.
A climbing plant, it grows to a man's height, or even higher. Also known as Mortal, Woody Nightshade, Felon-wort and Amara Dulcis, it bears many longish and pointed leaves which fall off at the approach of winter. It produces berries which are toxic.
Where to find it: Moist and shady places. It twines itself around hedgerow plants.
Flowering time: Midsummer. The berries ripen towards the end of the summer.
Astrology: I t is under the planet of Mercury.
Medicinal virtues: Being tied about the neck it is a remedy for vertigo or dizziness of the head. The Germans hang it about the necks of their cattle when they fear any evil bath betided them. Country people bruised the berries and applied them to felons, thereby ridding their fingers of such troublesome guests.
Modern uses: This is a narcotic, diuretic, expectorant and depurative. The plant contains toxic alkaloids and in overdosage it will paralyse the central nervous system. It is, therefore, not recommended for domestic use and it is not widely used professionally. The herb was an official medicine until 1907, the twigs and root-bark being the parts used. The action of the medicine is to increase skin and kidney function. It has, therefore, been used for obstinate skin diseases and rheumatism. A decoction is made from the fluid extract. Ten teaspoonfuls of extract are added to 2 pt (1.1 1) of water which is boiled down to 1 Pt (568 ml). The dosage is 1/2.-2 fl Oz (14-56 ml) in milk two to three times a day. Homoeopathic physicians prepare their own medicine from the leaves, flowers and berries of other species of Solanum. |
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