Twinleaf

Rheumatic joints that are stiff, swollen, and worse in damp weather

Dropsical swelling of the limbs with scanty, dark urine

Overview. Twinleaf is a low woodland perennial of the eastern and midwestern United States, growing in rich, moist woods over limestone, and named for its distinctive paired half-oval leaflets. It belongs to the barberry family, alongside blue cohosh and mayapple, and its knotty, fibrous rhizome was the part used by nineteenth century physiomedicalist and eclectic physicians. In the physiomedical framework it was regarded as a warming relaxant and stimulant to tissue, chiefly reached for in chronic rheumatic and dropsical conditions.

Clinical Notes. Physiomedicalist writers such as Cook used twinleaf root chiefly as an infusion or fluid extract for chronic rheumatism and gout, often alongside other alterative and antispasmodic roots such as black cohosh or bryonia when joints were stiff, swollen, and worse in damp or cold conditions.

Action and Therapy. As indicated by one of its trivial names this plant has been used in chronic forms of rheumatism. Its exact status is not well determined, but it is undoubtedly alterative and has some effect upon the general nervous system, allaying excitability and irritability. Watkins declared it efficient in pain in the head with dizziness and feeling of tension. Locke mentions it as useful where rheumatism is located chiefly in the muscles of the back, and in bronchitis and constitutional chronic catarrh, especially in the aged.

Properties and Uses. The root of this plant is a pungent and bitter stimulant, with a fair portion of relaxing properties. It acts with moderate promptness upon the mucous membranes; and afterwards influences the stomach, kidneys, circulation, and glandular system more slowly and permanently.