Western Herbalism
Indian turnip
Arisaema triphyllum
Also known as Jack-in-the-pulpit, Dragon-root, Wake-robin, Bog onion.
Arisaema triphyllum, Jack-in-the-pulpit, is a woodland perennial of eastern North America, unmistakable for its hooded flower spathe enclosing the upright spadix. The corm was used by Indigenous peoples and later by nineteenth century Eclectic physicians, always after long drying or roasting to neutralize its intense fresh-root acridity. In its aged form it was regarded as a warming expectorant and diaphoretic for chest complaints, and it has largely disappeared from mainstream practice because of its narrow margin of safety and the difficulty of standardizing preparation.
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Indications what the tradition reached for it in
- Chronic bronchitis with copious mucus
- Asthma with tight, wheezy chest
- Whooping cough
- Croup
- Sore throat and laryngitis with hoarseness
- Chronic catarrh
- Rheumatic pain (topical application of the fresh root, historical, high risk)
- Debility following a lingering chest complaint
Specific indications
Chronic, rattling bronchial cough with copious tenacious mucus in a run-down, weak patient
Hoarse, raw throat with a dry, irritable, spasmodic cough that resists ordinary expectorants
Safety
Low dose botanical. Used in drop doses in the classical practice; not a plant to dose freely.
Pregnancy: Not for use in pregnancy
Breastfeeding: Avoid: no safety data exist for use during breastfeeding.
The record lists 5 contraindications; open the plate in the library to read them in full.
In practice
This is a plant that modern practitioners rarely reach for, and with good reason: the fresh corm is loaded with needle-shaped calcium oxalate raphides that cause immediate, severe burning of the mouth, tongue, and throat on contact or ingestion, sometimes with swelling sufficient to threaten the airway.
Dosing as the sources wrote it
| Preparation | As written | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Powdered dried, aged root (historical Eclectic dosing, not routinely recommended) | 0.3-1 g dried aged root, once to twice daily | 300-1000 mg |
| Tincture of dried, aged root (1:5, historical, use only under experienced supervision) | 0.5-1 mL up to three times daily | 0.5-1 mL |
| The powdered root may be given in | The powdered root may be given in 10-grain doses, increased, if required, to 20 or 30 grains, and repeated every 3 or 4 hours. | 1944 mg |
| Its specific effects are best obtained by minute doses of the specific arum ... 1/10 to ½ drop doses. | 0.01 mL |
Doses are reproduced from the sources for practitioners and are not a recommendation for any person.
From the sources
Overview. Arisaema triphyllum, Jack-in-the-pulpit, is a woodland perennial of eastern North America, unmistakable for its hooded flower spathe enclosing the upright spadix. The corm was used by Indigenous peoples and later by nineteenth century Eclectic physicians, always after long drying or roasting to neutralize its intense fresh-root acridity. In its aged form it was regarded as a warming expectorant and diaphoretic for chest complaints, and it has largely disappeared from mainstream practice because of its narrow margin of safety and the difficulty of standardizing preparation.
Clinical Notes. This is a plant that modern practitioners rarely reach for, and with good reason: the fresh corm is loaded with needle-shaped calcium oxalate raphides that cause immediate, severe burning of the mouth, tongue, and throat on contact or ingestion, sometimes with swelling sufficient to threaten the airway.
Drawn from King's American Dispensatory, 18th edition (Felter and Lloyd), and the Bountiful Herbs editorial.
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