- Region
- North America
- Origin
- Swamps and wet woods of eastern North America and northeastern Asia
- Traditions
- Haudenosaunee medicine
North America · Herb · № 943
Symplocarpus foetidus
Herb · North America
Skunk cabbage
Symplocarpus foetidus
A marsh arum that flowers in late winter and makes its own heat, melting its way through the snow. It smells of carrion and contains calcium oxalate.
Safety notes
Poisonous raw because of calcium oxalate. The young leaves resemble those of green false hellebore (Veratrum viride), which is very poisonous.
Cautions by tradition (1)
- Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine: Poisonous when raw. In spring it looks like the very poisonous green false hellebore.
Preparation
Do not prepare or use it yourself.
Use in traditions
According to the notes in Herrick, the Haudenosaunee used the dried, powdered root for consumption, the decoction against strong underarm odour, and for a fallen womb. One herbalist said that someone who has been bitten can lay a crushed leaf on the bite, after which the biter's teeth fall out.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine
Attributed effects
For consumption, strong underarm odour and a fallen womb.
Preparation and amount
Do not prepare it yourself. The tradition uses the dried, powdered root in water.
Caution: Poisonous when raw. In spring it looks like the very poisonous green false hellebore.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Powder and kitchen