Latin name: Asclepias tuberosa
Standardized common name: Pleurisy Root
Other common names: Butterfly Weed, Indian Paintbrush, Tube Root, Orange Milkweed
Family: Apocynaceae
Authored by: Lisha Fenimore
Parts used:
The root is the part used medicinally because of its higher content of constituents that are responsible for the medicinal actions. The flower buds and young seed pods can be cooked and are comparable to peas. The young shoots are also tasty and are cooked like asparagus. In the midst of a hot summer day, the excessive nectar crystallizes on the flower buds and is a delightful and cooling sweet treat.
Botanical description:
This plant shines through the gloomiest of days with her orange, glowing vibrance that never seems to fade. The inflorescence is actinomorphic with a superior ovary in bunches with separate petioles that are different lengths which makes it a corymb. The flowers bloom between June and August and contain 5 sepals, 5 petals, and 5 coronas. The fruit is a dry follicle that splits open when ripe. The leaves are arranged in whorls or spirals around the stem and are deep green and lance-shaped with netted venation. They are pointed at the end and have curved edges on each side that meet the petiole. The stem is dark purplish-brown with white hairs and house the alternate leaf arrangement. It grows to a height of about 30-36 inches and spreads about 15-18 inches when left to its own will in the wild. Rather than exuding milky latex like the common milkweed, it exudes a clear latex which is a clear indicator of this species. It is best to harvest this plant’s medicine in the Fall or Winter when the energy is held in the root to obtain the highest quality of medicine, but it needs to be dried before making medicine with it.
Habitat:
This fellow enjoys growing in dry and disturbed areas like near roadsides and in prairies and grasslands. Its USDA Zones are 4a-10b and it is native to Florida, Texas, Kansas, and Minnesota -- although it grows almost everywhere in the United States. It can tolerate poor soil that is dry and it enjoys full sun which is why it grows in random and abandoned sites. Ideally, it enjoys a pH of 5.6-7.5 and sandy loam soil that is well-draining.
Taste:
Asclepias tuberosa has many different flavors due to its myriad of chemicals within different constituent classes. There is definitely an aspect of sweetness with a salty and savory note. Paired with these is a tinge of bitterness that arises as the last note of her symphony. Altogether through the melody this earthy and nutty grounding taste unites all of the flavors as to feel warm and cared for.
Energetic properties:
I think that its energetics definitely tie into the space it thrives in and its place in healing as I mention in the doctrine of signatures section. Its energy is a revival of hope and instilling a sense of the calm after a storm. You can’t help but smile while looking at this plant because it is so sweet, radiant, and in the most unexpected places. It is the energy that switches gears from heating building to diffusion. It brings flow to places of deep and stale stagnancy. It encourages healthy flow from a dark to a light place to promote the modalities of healing to do its work. Contrary to the warmness of the blazing orange flowers, it is a cooling and drying plant. It does this by dispersing heat and drying up ponds of heat that are keeping the ailment alive. Its warm radiance makes me think of Mars energy as a passionate plant that is determined to do what it came here to do. Its flower essence is used for the ‘butterflies in the stomach’ sensation which adds to the mars energy and feeling confident with the change and flow of life. The acridity and nuttiness, and sweetness lends the bittersweet underlying foundation of life. The acridity and nuttiness is grounding and reminds us of our roots and that we have a solid ground to build our dreams from, and the sweetness reminds us of this beautiful opportunity we have to thrive in this space we call Earth.
Doctrine of Signatures:
The vibrancy and uniqueness of this plants appearance makes for many perspectives on its doctrine of signatures. The vibrant orange flowers can represent thick and stagnant mucus which this plant thins and moves. The purple stem also reminds me of stagnancy and epithelial damage in the lungs. The white hairs could signify the mucous membrane irritation to stimulate the movement of phlegm. The disturbed environment she lives in shows that she is tending to the soil by using her rhizomatic action to break up compaction and make space for new creation and invention. Her flowers shed bright light to places that people may overlook or loose hope in regenerative creation. The cardiac glycosides that are present in the root cause the need for it to be dried before using it as medicine. This makes me think of how as medicine, she removes boggy moisture from the lungs and clears it up. It is her mimicking the process before she infuses with someone to heal excessive moisture and heat. It is also called wind root because it was known as the messenger of the gods -- moving and delivering energy and things to where they need to be.
Actions section:
It acts as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, laxative, carminative, diuretic, anti-spasmodic, anti-catarrhal, lymphatic, cardiac stimulant, antipyretic, anti-arthritic, alterative, emetic and stimulating expectorant. The actions are of course all dependent on tissue states and dose. I would say that all of these actions are tied together towards the goal of stimulating healthy and productive purging.
Constituents:
The two main classes of constituents contained in this plant are steroidal cardiac glycosides and flavonoids. It is mostly the latex from the root that contains asclepiadin and asclepin, which are the most prominent cardenolides or cardiac glycosides found in this plant. Abe and Yamouchi’s study revealed the presence of pregnane glycosides such as ikemagenin, lineolon, pleurogenin, ascandroside, cardenolide, uzarigenin, coroglaucigenin, and corotoxigenin which work in close parameters with progesterone. The significant flavonoids are rutin, quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin. In addition there are some amino acids, choline sugars, and volatile oils that are mostly insignificant but support the actions of the other constituents synergistically.
Pharmacodynamics:
There are only a few research studies performed on Asclepias tuberosa and they are mostly revealing constituents such as the pregnane glycosides, but their exact mechanisms are still largely unknown. Although some constituents are not understood, the cardenolides are. The cardiac glycosides contain a steroid connected to a heterocyclic lactone ring attached to sugars and inhibit sodium potassium pumps. This allows a build-up of calcium within the cardiac cells which allow for a stronger cardiac contractility which is important to heal for a variety of ailments such as hypertension. The flavonoids perform many important tasks to preserve the health of the body. They are first and foremost antioxidants which help with the capture of free radicals which cause damage to the body in a variety of ways. They protect vasculature from further damage so they do not become fragile and permeable which can lead to many ailments. Quercetin specifically inhibits mast cells from releasing histamine. This being said, large amounts of this plant will need to be consumed which is advised against. If this action is favored, plants with higher contents of quercetin such as Ginkgo biloba can be administered. Since they do this, they are also slightly inflammation modulating which protect from internal bleeding due to its ‘narrow therapeutic window’ constituents, which is a valiant effort towards its synergy.
Pharmacokinetics:
There is insufficient information of Pleurisy root’s pharmacokinetics. I believe that it is partially due to the hype around Digitalis spp. since it mostly contains cardiac glycosides that have been isolated into the pharmaceutical called Digoxin. Since Asclepias tuberosa performs a plethora of actions, it is seemingly not worth it to researchers and those that fund them.
Indications and Effects:
Pleurisy root’s medicine is mostly given away by its name; it has an affinity for the respiratory system and specifically heals the pleura of the lungs internally. In other words, it is used for unproductive coughs, congestion, difficulty breathing, lymphatic drainage, and the pains that come with those symptoms. Although it has an affinity for the respiratory system, it can also be used to drain fluid from the joints and inflammation in general. This being said, it has the ability to move stagnant fluid and heat so it can be used for conditions such as edema and rheumatism. It also regulates bodily secretions on a tonifying level for issues that aren’t excessive and prominent which explains its alterative action. As a cardiac stimulant and tonic it can be used for hypertension. It blocks sodium/potassium channels to allow for the build up of calcium in order to produce a less frequent and stronger contraction in order to increase cardiac output. In addition, it is indicated for a cold and damp tissue state.
Safety/Contraindications:
There is surprisingly no safety monograph for Asclepias tuberosa in The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety, but it is briefly mentioned in the cardiac glycosides section. Pleurisy root contains steroidal cardiac glycosides which are potent and have a narrow therapeutic window. This is a prime example of how medicine can be poison in the wrong dose. Professional advisory is strongly recommended with the use of this medicine. A small dose will help bodily processes run smoothly, but too much could do lots of damage. Mills and Bone say that adverse effects such as diarrhoea, hypotension, ventricular arrhythmias, ventricular tachycardia with fibrillation, vomiting, visual disturbances, and sinoatrial block can occur once one departs from the narrow therapeutic window. It is also highly contraindicated with the use of other plants and pharmaceuticals that contain cardiac glycosides. Francis Brinker has a specific section which goes more into detail. Since it drains and moves fluid, it is contraindicated in pregnancy and nursing. More specifically due to its possibly emetic and uterine stimulant action that was observed during experiments on animals. In the cases of hiatal hernia where the stomach intrudes the diaphragmatic space, esophageal varices where the veins in the lower part of the esophagus are extremely dilated due to portal vein hypertension, stomach ulcers, and peptic ulcers; high doses should not be administered. What ties these conditions together are the fact that they make someone more prone to internal bleeding. Brinker also says that large doses shouldn’t be taken close to ingestion of central nervous system stimulants and sedatives because of the possible emetic action. Brinker’s thoughts are more conservative, but should definitely be considered. From my own speculations, I could see the pregnane glycosides potentially interfering with estrogen if hormone therapy is taking place.
Classic formulas:
Asclepias tuberosa is a new world plant and so it was not present in ancient asian medicine such as Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Unani Tibb. It was used by Native Americans frequently and was known as an immortal plant do to its ability to grow new plants from a single root. Native Americans usually used it on its own, but there are definitely some popular modern formulas that are employed for respiratory distress. David Winston mentions that intercostal pain due to respiratory ailments such as pleurisy can be relieved by a formula with Pleurisy root, Black Haw, and Wild Cherry. The Pleurisy root will help expel the phlegm and disperse the heat so the body can heal more efficiently. The Black Haw is antispasmodic and promotes relaxation to allow the Pleurisy Root to dig deeper into the pleura and release the phlegmatic buildup. The Wild Cherry calms spastic and unproductive coughs and is an astringent tonic which will also help to encourage the expulsion of phlegm. Other respiratory formulas are very similar in which they employ a tonifying, astringent, and relaxing herb to help Pleurisy do its job. The physiomedicalists, eclectics, and some homeopaths used this plant, but it has a very special indication and is usually used on its own because it is a very powerful and independent plant in terms of having all the resources to promote holistic and well-rounded healing on its own.
Combinations:
I think that Angelica archangelica would be a good pair with Pleurisy root for bronchitis. It is aromatic so it acts as a driver to penetrate the pleura of the lungs and also gives an extra boost to the expectorant properties of Asclepias tuberosa. It also has a soothing carminative effect which is helpful to ensure that there is no damage employed from the irritation of the pleura to move stagnant mucus. Angelica is also a diaphoretic and tonic which assists in the expulsion of the diseased fluids of the lungs. It helps to push the fluid out through the throat, but also detox through the largest organ in our bodies -- skin.
Preparations and Doses:
Like many herbs, the actions change in their intensity depending on the dose that is administered. The glycosidic and resinous constituents create the expectorant effect of this plant, and depending on the dose one could experience extremely purgative effects. According to Matthew Wood, 3-5 drops of a 45% brandy tincture or a ½ to full teaspoon in a cup of water is sufficient, but I do not truly agree with that. I think there needs to be a higher dose than that to reach the therapeutic value because our bodies are made up of so much water and other fluids that the medicine becomes very diluted once it enters our systems. David Winston’s dosage recommendation is kind of opposing to Matthew Wood’s and is closer to my dosage opinion. He recommends 1-2 ml ,or dropperfuls, four times a day. This seems a lot more reasonable because this is for the treatment of a stagnant and acute condition which needs to be hit hard to stimulate a push to move fluids through the body and is not meant to be taken long term. I also believe that a tincture will work much stronger and faster than a tea, especially because of the lipophilic constituents that this plant contains which cause the expectorant action. I think it would be a good protocol to use the plant in many forms including powdered, infused, and tinctured. This way the plant can be present on all sides and areas and becomes available to receive itself and do the deepest healing work. Such as creating a liniment or poultice to apply on the chest, or even a powder of the herb mixed with onion and a hot compress on top. Another perspective is between Wood’s, Winston’s, and my opinion and it comes from Dorothy Hall. She recommends taking 10-20 drops every 20 minutes until pain stops which I mostly agree with, but I think that after the pain stops, normal dosage can resume of about 2 ml four times a day and then supplementing with a decoction of the root. I guess it is all relative, I am sure that there has been success from homeopathic, drop doses, and dropperful doses of Asclepias tuberosa. No one is right or wrong; I think that if you have a palpable intention and explanation of your dosage then it is bound to do its job.
Sustainability/Ecological Issues:
Thankfully this plant is not endangered or threatened. It is important for soil, air, and the proliferation of Monarch butterflies. It is easily wildly grown and cultivated, but not on the west coast. It enjoys full sun which makes it less available to use on this side of the country. This is true for environmental reasons, but also because we have other plants like elecampane that do well and can be used similarly as medicine. Although it does not grow on the west coast wildly, it is a very hardy plant and if the summer is warm enough it could potentially do pretty well. Although, the rhizome may not grow as hearty as it would in its native habitat. It is also important to note that the rhizome is used as medicine and it is wise to only remove a portion of it and leave the rest as to allow for the proliferation of its growth.
Current literature:
Warashina, T., Umehara, K., Miyase, T., & Noro, T. (2011). 8,12;8,20-Diepoxy-8,14-secopregnane glycosides from roots of Asclepias tuberosa and their effect on proliferation of human skin fibroblasts. Phytochemistry, 72(14-15), 1865-1875. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2011.05.012
-This study looked into whether steroidal pregnane glycosides from Asclepias tuberosa would have an anti-aging effect by stimulating the proliferation of fibroblasts. The fibroblasts generate collagens, elastins, and hyaluronic acid which preserve the moisture content and elasticity of the skin. They found that the pregnane glycosides indirectly stimulated production of anti-aging compounds, as well as the compounds tuberogenin and didehydrotuberogenin.
Personal Experiences:
I had the amazing opportunity of travelling to Appalachia and visiting Paul Strauss’ land where I first laid eyes on this gorgeous plant. It was a foggy and grey day, but the exquisite vibrance of her flowers were not tainted by the colors of the atmosphere. I had heard of pleurisy root being talked about as a medicine while I was in Appalachia, but I had not yet connected it to its physicality. Once I realized that this beaming plant was the Pleurisy root I had been hearing about, I was astonished. Ever since then, I have had an inclination to work with and grow this magically healing plant. I transplanted the taproot from the Bastyr garden to a pot and put it in the greenhouse. In the Springtime I will be able to move it back outside and grow it to connect with and use as medicine. I have not yet experienced this plant on its own since it is not a plant of the west coast that is readily available, but I plan on having this experience soon.
References:
Brinker, F. J. (2010). Herbal Contraindications and Drug Interactions Plus Herbal Adjuncts with Medicines. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications.
Winston, D. (2013). Herbal Therapeutics: Specific Indications for Herbs & Herbal Formulas. Broadway, NJ: Herbal Therapeutics Research Library.
Wood, M. (2008). The Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants (Vol. I). Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
Skenderi, G. (2004). Herbal Vade Mecum: 800 Herbs, Spices, Essential Oils, Lipids, etc., Constituents, Properties, Uses, and Caution. Rutherford, NJ: Herbacy Press.
Judd, W. S., Campbell, C. S., Kellogg, E. A., Stevens, P. F., & Donoghue, M. J. (2016). Plant Systematics: A Phylogenetic Approach (3rd ed.). Sunderland: Sinauer Associates.
Cunningham, S. (2003). Magical Herbalism: The Secret Craft of the Wise. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications.
Grieve, M. (1971). A Modern Herbal: The Medicinal, Culinary, Cosmetic, and Economic Properties, Cultivation, and Folklore of Herbs, Grasses, Fungi, Shrubs, and Trees With All Their Modern Scientific Uses (Vol. 1). Dover.
Elpel, T. J. (2013). Botany In A Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification: An Herbal Field Guide to Plant Families of North America. Pony, MT: HOPS Press.
Mills, S., & Bone, K. (2016). The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety . St. Louis, Missouri: Churchill Livingstone.
Yarnell, E. (2003). Phytochemistry and Pharmacy for Practitioners of Botanical Medicine. Wenatchee, WA: Healing Mountain.
Tilgner, S. (2009). Herbal Medicine: from the Heart of the Earth. Creswell, OR: Wise Acres.
Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical Herbalism: the Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
Flint, M. (2005). The Practicing Herbalist: Thoughts for Meeting With Clients. Marblehead, MA: EarthSong Press.
Frances, D. (2014). Practical Wisdom in Natural Healing. Chandler, AZ: Polychrest Publishing.
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