- Region
- North America
- Origin
- Still and slow-flowing water in Europe, Asia and North America; common in the Netherlands too
- Traditions
- Haudenosaunee medicine
North America · Herb · № 944
Nuphar lutea (incl. N. variegata)
Herb · North America
Yellow pond-lily
Nuphar lutea (incl. N. variegata)
A water plant with floating leaves and yellow, globe-shaped flowers. The rhizome contains alkaloids whose effects are poorly studied.
Safety notes
Contains alkaloids; do not use internally. Traditional use is no proof of effect; consult a doctor or pharmacist if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take medication or have a medical condition.
Cautions by tradition (1)
- Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine: Do not use internally.
Preparation
Do not use internally.
Use in traditions
A powerful plant in the notes in Herrick. A rhizome hung up in the house was said to blind witches and keep ghosts away, and the water it had soaked in was sprinkled through the house after a death. One herbalist used the root against smallpox: it is full of little holes, like the skin of someone who survived smallpox. At the same time, a decoction was said to cause consumption.
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
To keep witches and ghosts away, especially after a death.
Preparation and amount
Hang a rhizome in the house; sprinkle the water it has soaked in through the rooms.
Caution: Do not use internally.