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is a species of vine in the potato genus Solanum, family Solanaceae. It is native to Europe and Asia, | "---Description---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. |
and widely naturalised elsewhere, including North America, where it is an invasive problem weed. It occurs in a very wide range of habitats, | 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.' |
from woodlands to scrubland, hedges and marshes. | |
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.' | 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, | 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. | fever and inflammatory diseases of all kinds. |
There are few complaints for which it has not been at some time recommended. | There are few complaints for which it has not been at some time recommended." |
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"---Medicinal Action and Uses--- | "---Medicinal Action and Uses--- |
-Information source:- http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/n/nighwo06.html | -Information source:- http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/n/nighwo06.html |
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| as well as: |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_dulcamara | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_dulcamara |
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