How were dog's banes used?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

December 9, 2002

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

Shop the National Geographic Store—>Click here.

www.Garden-Gadget.com—>Click here.

Suggested Reading—>Click here.

Assorted Killer Savings Garden Links—>Click here.

Killer Picks: Wollemi Pine, greatest living fossils discovered in the 20th century—>Click here.

Desk Reference to Nature's Medicine, The Amateur Naturalist, Hedge Trimmer—>Click here.

Robotic Mower, NO-CRANK Country hose reels, Prestige Greenhouse—>Click here.

The dog's banes (Apocynum Linnaeus species) are native to North America. The name Apocynum comes from the ancient Greek, apokynon; apo- meaning away or from and kynos, dog. In Europe, the ancient name was applied to plants in the genus, Aconitum, the monkshoods. The American dog's banes contain cardioactive glycosides present in the milky sap and concentrated within the roots. During the 1800s, the sap was used to treat dropsy.

Frontiersmen who learned dog's bane's uses from the natives called the plants black Indian hemp.
Dog's bane, Apocynum Androsaemifolium, USA Photographic Print Bob Gibbons
Buy Photographic Print at AllPosters.com

In A Modern Herbal (1931, reprinted 1996), Mrs. Grieve wrote, "[A]pocynum is the most powerful in slowing the pulse and its action on the vaso-motor system....Being rather irritant to mucous membranes, it may cause nausea and catharsis....It is a powerful hydragogue (acts as a laxative and diuretic), helpful in dropsies due to heart-failure...has been called the 'vegetable trocar'." A trocar was a medieval surgical instrument inserted through the abdominal wall to drain fluid build-up and provide dropsy-sufferers with relief.

Charles Millspaugh reported in 1892, "The only previous (medical) use of this herb is said to be that of the Indians, who employed it in syphilis." (American Medicinal Plants, reprinted 1974) The American natives obviously understood the violent toxic properties and seldom ingested the plants, but they did have utilitarian uses for the plants.

The dog's banes have strong fibers found in the bark and stem. The extracted fibers were twisted to make twine, fishing lines and nets, and woven into bags and cloth. Frontiersmen who learned its uses from the natives called the plants black Indian hemp.

The Connecticut Botanical Society has posted photographs of dog's bane, Apocynum androsaemifolium, taken by Arieh Tal. To view the photographs, click on the link:

http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/galleries/apocynumandr.html

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

Unique Professionally Designed Gardens

Springhill Nursery®

Spring Hill Nursery has unique gardens professionally designed by experts to take the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are looking for a three season garden, foundation garden, or a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, Spring Hill Nursery has created a step-by-step design just for you. Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!

Wollemi Pine

National Geographic®

This survivor from the age of the dinosaurs is one of the greatest living fossils discovered in the 20th century. The Wollemi pine is one of the world's oldest and rarest tree species, belonging to a 200-million-year-old plant family thought to have been extinct for more than two million years.

Previously known only from fossil records, it was presumed extinct until a single tree was found in the Wollemi National Park, Australia, in 1994. Subsequent research discovered 100 adult trees that have survived in a single canyon in this wild and rugged area. Click here to view canyon, trees and fossil record.

You can assist in the conservation effort and enjoy the unique opportunity to ensure the continued survival of this rare species by giving the tree as a gift or growing your own. Suitable for indoor container gardening. Can also be used as a landscape tree in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 7, which includes New England, the Midatlantic states, and much of the Midwest.

Comes with a care manual with the full story about the discovery and fascinating history of the Wollemi pine. Tree will be approximately 8"H when shipped. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these plants will fund ongoing conservation research. Click here to get your Wollemi Pine and assist in the conservation effort.

National Geographic Magazine

National Geographic®

You are invited to roam the world in the pages of National Geographic magazine. Explore the diversity of our planet's lands and inhabitants in compelling stories covering topics such as animals, nature, science, technology, culture, history, travel, adventure, exploration, and geography. The monthly National Geographic magazine is your key benefit of membership.

Additional benefits include:

As many as five wall map supplements throughout the year in issues of the magazine
A personalized Membership Certificate
Special discounts on selected products
The opportunity to examine special Society products free in your home before deciding to purchase
The privilege of traveling the world with the Society's educational travel tour programs
The satisfaction of supporting important research, conservation, education, and exploration projects

Join the Society and bring the adventure of National Geographic into your home! Click here for price and more info...