Spikenard

Botanical Name: Aralia californica

Family: Araliaceae

Parts Used: Root

Constituents: Oleoresin, chlorogenic acid, ursolic acid, beta-sitosterol, oleanic acid, araloside, panaxosides.(1).

Principal Actions: Expectorant, anti-inflammatory, adaptogen.

Pharmacy: Tincture of fresh root 1:2 95% alcohol. Dry root tincture 1:5 60% alcohol. 0.5- 1.5ml up tp QID.

Spikenard or Western Spikenard, is also known as Western Aralia or California Ginseng. It is, along with Oplopanax the largest of the North American Arialias, often growing up to 3 metres or more in height, with large leaves, but unlike Oplopanax, the Spikenards have no spines and very large roots which are strongly balsamic smelling and rich in oleoresin. The plant is little studied, but as well as its traditional use as a respiratory and gynaecological remedy, it appears to be an adaptogen-like tonic, with a modulating effect on the stress response, mediated through the limbic and (HPA) hypothalamic pituitary adrenal systems.

BOTANY

There are four species of Aralia found in the United States of which three are relatively common. In the North east, the A. nudicaulis or Wild Sarsaparilla is abundant, whilst in the South East and South West A. racemosa is more common. A. californica grows in shady moist areas along stream and creek banks at low elevations on the West side of the Cascades. Moore(1) suggests its northern range is limited to Klamath mountains in Southern Oregon, but in fact it appears to be widely distributed at least up to the central Cascades on the est slopes, at low to middle elevation.

The plant is woody, with large compound leaves branching into three stems with five to seven pinnate leaflets. The stalks terminate in panicles of yellow green flowers that mature into blue black berries in early fall. The roots are very large, brown on the outside and yellowish inside, the outer bark honeycombed with resin glands. The root crowns bear step-like scars from the previous years¹ growth. The long root is aromatic, with a bittersweet balsamic taste.

HARVESTING

The roots may be gathered at any time. Traditionally the spring root is thought to make a better cough syrup, while the autumn root is better for tonic effects.

PHARMACOLOGY

There are no studies on the pharmacology of the Spikenards

ETHNOBOTANY

Traditional uses of the root include expectorant; it was mixed with Acorus for coughs by the Penebscot tribe. Topically it was used a s a vulnearary, and a decoction was used for pregnancy. The Montagnais fermented the berries and used the medicine as a tonic. It was also as an energising stimulant during long hunting trips if food was short.(2)

MEDICINAL USES

The root was used by both Physiomedicalist and Eclectic physicians for respiratory and gynaecological purposes. Cook gives a very gentle method for soothing the membranes with Spikenard. "When placed in water in an open vessel upon a warm stove, it fills the room with a mild aroma which is exceedingly grateful to irritable lungs. I often use it thus in phthisis, at intervals of three or four hours; or it may be used in an inhaling apparatus." He adds that, "its action upon the mucous membranes of the uterus fits it for cases of irritable leucorrhea." (3) This seems to square with traditional use as both a respiratory and reproductive remedy. Scudder writes ³it is highly esteemed by many in certain diseases peculiar to females, It is especially indicated in leucorrhea, uterine prolapse and anemia, in enfeebled states of the nervous system, and in general debility. It is used as a wash to change the offensive state of the secretions from the vagina and uterus, as in some cases of leucorrhea, and in other cases when the secretions become acrid and offensive, as in some instances after confinement." (4) The medicinal species used was probably A. nudicaulis. Moore (1) suggests a fresh root syrup for coughs, but especially long standing respiratory complaints such as bronchitis and emphysema. Alternative recipes for a lung and cough syrup are given by Cook - "pulmonary balsam" was made from 1 part each of Spikenard, Elecampane, Comfrey, Bloodroot, Hoarhound, Wild Cherry. and a syrup for irritatble coughs was made from Spikenard, 16 parts, Lobelia, 3 parts, Wild Cherry, 4 parts.

Among contemporary herbalists familiar with the species, both Willard(5) and Moore(1) suggest that the root can be used for tonic - adaptogenic purposes as a metabolic regulator of stress responses. There is no published data to support this usage, although amongst local herbalists, the North Western Araliaceae have attracted clinical interest for this reason.

REFERENCES

(1) Moore M, Medicinal Plants of The Pacific West. Red Crane, New Mexico, 1993.

(2) American Indian Ethnobotany Database; http://www.umd.umich.edu/cgi-bin/herb/

(3) Cook W, Physiomedical Dispensatory, Cincinnatti 1898.

(4) Scudder J, Specific Medication, Cincinnatti 1895.

(5) Willard T, Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rocky Mountians and Neighbouiring Territories, Wild Rose, 1992.

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