seems to reside exclusively in the
bark. It is a safe and efficacious emetic...
It has accordingly been thought
peculiarly beneficial in the intermittent fever, and it is
often given to horses
to mend their appetite."
Dr. Benjamin Barton 1798
| Gillenia trifoliata Rosaceae | |
"The active power of the root seems to reside exclusively in the bark. It is a safe and efficacious emetic... It has accordingly been thought peculiarly beneficial in the intermittent fever, and it is often given to horses to mend their appetite." Dr. Benjamin Barton 1798 |
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COMMON NAMES : Bowman's Root, Indian Physic, American Ipacacuanha, Gillenia, Indian Hippo, Western Dropwort, Beaumont root ELEMENT : Fire RULING PLANET: Mars GENDER : Masculine MAGICKAL POWERS : Courage, Strength DESCRIPTION : Bowman's root has erect white or pinkish flowers, about 1 1/2 inches wide. The flowers are in loose terminal panicles. The 5 petals are narrow, oblique, irregular, and almost stalkless. It flowers May - July. The leaves are 2-4 inches long, toothed, with tiny stipules. They are also alternate and divided into three, nearly stalkless, unequal, toothed leaflets. The root is thick with thin bark and many fissured rootlets. Several erect, slender stems that are reddish-brown emerge from it. The root has a bitter taste. The matured seed pod is a two-valved, one-celled capsule. The seeds are oblong, brown, and bitter. Bowman's root grows to a height of 2-3 feet.
To grow in the garden, give Bowman's root slightly moist rich soil, and part shade. Hardiness zones for this plant are zones 3-8. PART OF THE PLANT USED : The bark of the root is used. The dried root is reddish- brown. The root bark is easily removed and pulverized. The bitterness of the bark is extracted by alcohol or water at 212 degrees F. PLANT ANALYSIS : The root bark contains gum, starch, gallotannic acid, fatty matter, wax, resin, lignin, albumen, salts and 2 glucosides : gillein and Gilleenin. MEDICINAL ACTIONS : Bowman's root is considered a tonic, emetic, a cathartic, expectorant, purgative, tonic emetic, and expectorant. It is also slightly diaphoretic. MEDICINAL USE : The traditional uses for Bowman's root include indigestion, colds, asthma, and hepatitis, dyspepsia, dropsy, rheumatism, chronic sostiveness, and also used when an emetic is required. Bowman's root has also been used as a poultice for bee stings and swellings. DOSAGE : For use as an emetic use the powdered root, measure 20-30 grains. For use as a sudorific or diaporetic, mix in 6 grains in a cup of cold water. Take an intervals of 2-3 hours. Frequent, large doses of an infusion will cause vomiting and purging. MAGICKAL USE : Use Bowman's root in any rituals for courage. If you have trouble with public speaking, put a small piece of the stem in your pocket before the event to bolster your courage. HISTORY : The origin of the name Bowman's or Beaumont root is obscure. There appears to be no one by the name Beaumont to be involved, as some claim. Beaumont may be derived from Bowman, which may be the man at the bow of a boat, a person with a bow, or bowman as a variant of batman, a military servant. The name "Hippo" is from a short version for "hippocras," a cordial originally made of wine and spices. The Middle English word ypocras is from the Latin vinum Hippocrastum, meaning "wine of Hippocrates." Native Americans used Bowman's root for amenorrhea, rheumatism, dropsy, dyspepsia, worms, and intermittent fever. It was also used as a laxative and emetic.LORE : None found.  Photograph of Gillenia trifoliata Rosaceae � 1999 by AutumnCrystal GreyWing Property of the Manor-House for Wiccan Studies Magickal Associations of this plant are GreyWing's, as none appear in any herbal references, including, but not limited to, works listed in the bibliography of this site. You may or may not agree with the associations GreyWing assigns. That decision is left to the reader. |