Pepperwort

Cold, damp constitution with sluggish digestion and a pungent, cress-like root well tolerated as a warming stimulant

Chronic low-grade skin or glandular complaints where a mild alterative was combined with other blood-cleansing roots in a compound syrup

Overview. Dentaria diphylla, now classified as Cardamine diphylla, is a low woodland perennial of the mustard family native to rich, moist forests of eastern North America, from Maine south to Kentucky. Its horizontal, jointed, tooth-marked rootstalk has a pungent, watercress-like flavor and gave rise to both its common names, toothwort for the tooth-like scars on the rhizome and pepperwort for its peppery taste. The root was the part employed by nineteenth century American physiomedicalist and eclectic practitioners, most notably William Cook, who classed it among the mild stimulant and alterative agents used in compound syrups.

Clinical Notes. In the physiomedicalist framework the crinkleroot was regarded as a gentle stimulant to tissue tone, akin in character to horseradish and the other pungent crucifers, and it was seldom used alone. Cook's compound syrup combined it with alnus, menispermum, and burdock seed as a general alterative for chronic skin and glandular complaints, the pungent root serving to warm and stimulate a sluggish constitution while the companion herbs carried the blood-cleansing action.

Properties and Uses. The root of this little plant is a diffusive and somewhat pungent stimulant, when dried; and also possesses a mild tonic power. Its principal influence is expended upon the nervous peripheries, and moderately upon the capillaries.

Properties and Uses. The roots are stimulating and moderately relaxing, acting slowly but persistently, and influencing the secretory organs especially the kidneys and skin. It slowly elevates the circulation, and gives vigorous action to the entire system; and it is probably by this action upon the capillaries that it proves alterant.