Pleurisy Root

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Pleurisy Root (Asclepias tuberosa)

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Flowers

Identification:

Small bright orange clustered flowers crown the leafy, hairy stem.

Flowers: 3/8 inch wide, with 5 curved-backed petals and a central crown, in

clusters about 2 inches wide.

 

Leaves: Alternate, oblong, narrow,2 to 6 inches long, with juice that is

watery, not milky.

Fruit: Spindle-shaped, narrow, hairy, with long, edible seed pods.

Plant height is 1 to 2-1/2 feet.

Family: Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed family)

Other Names: Butterfly weed, Swallow wort, Windroot, Tuber root,

White root

Flowers: May - September

Parts Used: Root

Habitat: Dry roadsides and prairies. Southern New Hampshire to Florida,

Texas, Kansas and Missouri.

Medicinal Properties:

Properties: Antispasmodic, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant,

tonic, and mildly cathartic.

Constituents: Glycosides, including asclepiadin and possibly cardiac

glycosides,

volatile oil, resins.

Main Uses: Pleurisy root was widely used as an expectorant in the late

nineteenth century. It has been recommended for colds, flu, and bronchial

and pulmonary problems. Sometimes it was given with cayenne at the beginning

of a cold. American Indians chewed the dried root or made a tea by boiling

the root as a remedy for bronchitis, pneumonia, and dysentery.

Preparation And Dosages:

Decoction: Boil 1 teaspoon root in 1 cup water. Take 1 to 2 cups a day.

Tincture: Fresh (1:2), Dry (1:5) in 50% alcohol. Take 30 to 90 drops up to

4 times a day, depending on age and condition. At the beginning of a cold,

take 5 to 15 drops in hot water and 3 grains cayenne every hour until you

feel warm throughout. For children, the dose is 1 to 5 drops.

CAUTION: The fresh root may cause nausea and vomiting.