Serpentary

This genus consists of some 300 species of poisonous, evergreen and deciduous, twining vines, shrubs, scramblers, and herbaceous perennials that occur in temperate and tropical regions in many parts of the world. Many of the climbing species are grown for their attractive foliage and intriguing, foul-smelling flowers. The name Aristolochia is derived from the Greek aristos, "best" and lokhia, "childbirth", referring to the main medicinal use for postpartum infections. As the common name "snakeroot" suggests, aristolochias are also used to treat snakebite. These uses may have originated in the medieval Doctrine of Signatures, which regarded the color or shape of an herb as a sign of its purpose. The flowers of Aristolochia were seen to resemble a curved fetus or a snake. Aristolochia clematitis has a long history of use in childbirth, being recorded in ancient Egyptian times. It closely resembles Asarum canadense (see wild ginger) in its properties and uses. Aristolochia debilis was first mentioned in ancient Chinese medical texts in about CE600. Aristolochia serpentaria was valued by native N Americans as a remedy for snakebite. It was introduced into European medicine in the 17th century as a remedy for the bites of snakes and rabid dogs. Following modern research into its medicinal properties, it enjoyed a vogue during the 1970's and 1980's, resulting in over-collection from the wild. Various other species are used medicinally, including Indian birthwort (A. indica, an Ayurvedic herb, used to induce abortion; A. fangchi (guang fang ji, fang chi), a Chinese arthritis remedy; A brachteata (ukulwe) used in both India, and tropical Africa; the N American A. longa; and A. rotunda, a southern European species. Aristolochias contain aristolochic acid, which can cause liver and kidney damage. In Chinese medicine, the same name may be used for several different plants, as it refers to the drug, not the species. Often, the drug is obtained from several quite different species. Following severe adverse reactions to a dieting preparation containing aristolochic acid, a ban was imposed by several countries in 2000 on the use of Aristolochia species, together with various other species, such as Akebia, Clematis, Cocculus, and Stephania, that be be substituted for Aristolochia or contaminated with aristolochic acid.

Perennial with upright, zigzag tems and thin, heart-shaped leaves, 4-15cm (1½-6in) long. Solitary or clustered brown-purple, S-shaped flowers about 1cm (½in) long, appear at the base of the plant in early summer followed by hard capsules, 1cm (½in) across.

Common Name:	Serpentary
Other Names:	Virginia snakeroot
Botanical Name:	Aristolochia serpentaria
Genus:	Aristolochia
Family:	Aristolochiaceae
Location:	E and S USA
Cultivation:	Well-drained soil in sun or partial shade, thin out previous year's growths or cut back to two or three nodes in late winter. Aphids, whitefly, and spider mite may damage foliage of plants under cover.
Propagation:	By seed sown in spring at 13-16°C (55-61°F); by semi-ripe cuttings in summer; by division in early spring or autumn; by layering in autumn.
Harvest:	Roots are harvested in autumnm and fruits collected when ripe, and dried for liquid extracts, decoctions, powders, and tinctures. Oil is distilled from dried roots (A. serpentaria).
Height:	10-45cm (4-18in)
Width:	10-45cm (4-18in)
Hardiness:	Z6-9
Parts Used:	Roots, oil
Properties:	A bitter, aromatic, tonic herb that induces perspiration, is anti-inflammatory, and acts as a diuretic.
Medicinal Uses:	Internally for rheumatism, gout, arthritis due to fevers, pneumonia, typhoid, and malaria. Externally for pleurisy, herpes, and slow-healing wounds. Included in commercial tonics for the circulation, skin, and kidneys. For use by qualified practitioners only.
Economic Uses:	Essential oil, similar to ginger and valerian odor, is used to flavor alcoholic drinks.
Warning:	Toxic if eaten This herb is subject to legal restrictions in some countries.
Bibliography:	Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni BrownCopyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited. pp. 129