Devil's Club
I decided to observe Devil’s Club around 1pm on September 8, 2023. This picture is at GPS location: Its scientific name is Oplopanax horridus. Oplopanax translates into, “protective heal all”, while horridus means “rough and bristly” (Delleman, 2022). Many people assume Devil’s Club includes the Devil’s name because of its painful thorns, but it actually refers to Devil’s Club ability to protect in the spiritual sense, or “club devils” (Delleman, 2022).
Devil’s Club is part of the Araliacea family. It can grow up to 12 feet tall, with leaves averaging about a foot long. There are spikes on the stems and underneath the leaves.
Devil’s Club ranges from Alaska to Oregon, (being very common in the Tongass National Forest) and the native peoples on the Pacific Coast have been using Devil’s Club for centuries. The Tlingit people in Southeast Alaska use the bark and roots medicinally in tonic and salves. (U.S. Department of the Interior,n.d.). It is also commonly used to make tea. Devil’s Club is known to be used as treatment for the common cold, fevers, lice, cancers, arthritis, tuberculosis, many digestive issues and more. (MedicineNet, 2023). Additionally, It is often just used as a painkiller.
My experiences with devil’s club are limited and often negative, since they often disguise themselves as helping branches along the trail. My hands have absorbed quite a few thorns from Devil’s Club. However, I have always been very curious about salve and tea made from Devil’s Club and am inspired to get my hands on some. I find it very intriguing and ironic that such a painful plant is such a helpful healer, but I am willing to try it nonetheless! I would like to know more about the harvesting methods.
Your observation must include GPS coordinates, time, species name, and a 250 word
“Journal” entry about how the species is used (or historically used) by people in that
place, your experiences with it, and a bit about the biology of the species.
Citations
Delleman, J. (2022, November 14). Devil’s Club: The healer’s healer. Ravensong Seeds & Herbals. https://ravensongherbals.com/blog-post/devils-club-medicine#:~:text=Traditionally%20Devil%27s%20Club%20was%20prepared,uses%20of%20the%20herb%20today.
MedicineNet. (2023). What is Devil’s Club plant used for, and is it safe? MedicineNet. https://www.medicinenet.com/what_is_devils_club_plant_used_for_and_is_it_safe/article.htm
U.S. Department of the Interior. (n.d.). S’áxt’. National Parks Service. https://www.nps.gov/places/devil-s-club-ethnobotany-tour.htm#:~:text=S%27áxt%27%20is%20the%20ginseng,the%20common%20cold%20to%20cancer.
Comentarios
Devil's club is one of the most exciting plants I've ever seen! I remember grabbing a branch while hiking about a week after moving to Alaska and I was quick to avoid grabbing a second time. When I learned what the plant was called and how many medicinal uses it has, I was amazed that such a beneficial plant seemingly grows like a weed around here. In addition to its benefits, I was amazed to watch the plants grow over the spring and summer and marvel at their towering stature. I agree with you that devil's club is a bit ironic in being so beneficial in numerous ways yet so painful when wrongly encountered. Thank you for sharing your observation! I love the pictures!
It seems to me that the "suffering" we go through in harvesting devil's club is analogous to life. With risk and hard work, comes great rewards! You have me wishing I could go out and find some of this magical plant, although with my luck, I'd harvest poison oak or something and make a tea out of that! I hadn't realized it grew so tall. Here in Homer, I've only seen it in little 3' thickets. Perhaps I'm not looking close enough. :)
Hi Lera,
Devil's Cub reminds me so much of Alaska. It is hard for me to imagine exploring trails somewhere without this plant so I guess I was surprised to see it only reaches down part of the Pacific Northwest coast! As for its medicinal uses, my family is familiar with it. We typically buy local salves from farmer's markets and use it on any minor cut or scratch throughout the year. "Santa" always makes sure my step-dad, brother, and I get tins in our stockings. We also apply it to our dogs paws to help keep them moisturized throughout the winter time! I find it interesting to compare how in nature it can be an annoyance and cause pain if unexpectedly encountered, but the end result of processing it somehow is healing.
-Ayanna
Hi Lera - I am trying to figure out if we have Devil's Club up here in Nome. The pictures look familiar but I'll have to do some research. We have an area where we have a natural hot springs, its in a valley and the grounds are naturally warmer and we have a lot of different types of vegetation that doesn't exist in the rest of region. We use other types of plants, such as willows, for medicinal purposes. Different willows contain aspirin, and are used in salves. I use the salves for sore muscles and sciatic pain, they work great!
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