Clematis ligusticifolia
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| Clematis ligusticifolia Nutt. |
Clematis ligusticifolia is a species of the climbing, spreading vine of the clematis genus native to North America.
It is also known as Virgin's bower, Old-man's Beard, and Yerba de Chiva.
Clematis lasiantha is also known as Virgin's bower.
[edit] Use and toxicity
Clematis ligusticifolia is widespread across the western United States and grows in streamside thickets, wooded hillsides, and coniferous forests up to 4,000 feet. Clematis was referred to as "pepper vine" by early travelers and pioneers of the American West and used as a pepper substitute to spice up food during the period of western colonization, since during this period, Black pepper (Piper nigrum), was a costly and rarely obtainable spice.
The entire genus contains essential oils and compounds which are extremely irritating to the skin and mucous membrames. Unlike Black Pepper or Capsicum, however, the compounds in clematis cause internal bleeding of the digestive tract if ingested internally in large amounts. The plants are essentially toxic. Despite its toxicity, Native Americans used very small amounts of clematis as an effective treatment for migraine headaches and nervous disorders. It was also used as an effective treatment of skin infections.[1]
A whole-plant hot water extraction was used to treat eczema, and a leaf compress is used to treat chest pain, sores, and boils.
[edit] References
- ^ Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West, Gregory L. Tilford, ISBN 0-87842-359-1
