ELEMENT : Air

RULING PLANET : Mercury

GENDER : Masculine

MAGICKAL POWERS : Protection, Healing

DESCRIPTION : Bittersweet nightshade is a climbing plant that grows 2 to 8 feet long. It has loose, flattish clusters of drooping blue or violet star-shaped flowers on short lateral or terminal penducles. The flowers have a distinctive yellow "beak" in center and are 1/2 inches wide, the corolla is 5 lobed. There are 5 stamens, with the yellow anthers forming a central cone. This plant flowers May-September.

The stems are ashy green and somewhat angular, and are woody.

The leaves are 3 1/2 inches long and are usually halberd-shaped with 2 basal lobes. The lower leaves are heart shaped. They may also be cordate, lanceolate to ovate in shape. They are dark green or purplish when young, and are alternate. The leaf stems have unpleasant odor that is lost when dried.

This plant often has flowers, green berries, and ripe red berries all at the same time.

The root is long and almost orange colored.

CULTIVATION : This perennial woody vine is found in moist areas, around houses, hedges and thickets in eastern and north central states, pacific coast and Europe. In the garden, it likes partial sun and well-drained soil.

COLLECTION : The twigs and root bark are collected after foliage has fallen.

Collect twigs from 2-3 year old branches after the leaves fall. Cut pieces about 1/2 inches long and dry carefully.

The active properties of woody nightshade are most developed when the plant grows in dry and exposed situations. The bitterness is more pronounced in spring than autumn.

PART OF THE PLANT USED : The bark of the root, and twigs of woody nightshade are used.

PLANT ANALYSIS : The leaves and unripe fruit contain the alkaloid solanine. This plant also contains dulcamarine (bittersweet taste), sugar gum, starch, and resin. It is sometimes called deadly nightshade, but should not be confused with Atropa belladonna, a member of the same family. Woody nightshade is not fatal, but will cause poisoning if eaten in quantity.

MEDICINAL ACTIONS : Woody nightshade is considered an anodyne, diuretic, emetic, herpatic, purgative, alterative, diaphoretic, discutient, deobstruent, narcotic, and resolvent.

The solanine acts narcotically, in large doses it causes paralysis of the central nervous system without affecting the peripheral nerves or voluntary muscles. It slows the heart and respiration, lowers body temperature and causes vertigo and delirium, ending with death and convulsions.

MEDICINAL USE : The primary contemporary use of woody nightshade is as an alterative in skin diseases, such as obstinate skin eruptions, scrofula and ulcers.

In the past, this plant was recommended for chronic bronchial catarrh, asthma, and whooping cough, chronic rheumatism, and jaundice.

Even though woody nightshade contains a relatively weak poison it is used almost exclusively for external problems.

Combine this plant with camomile to make a good ointment for swellings, bruises, sprains, and corns. Combine with yellow dock for skin diseases and sores.

DOSAGE : DO NOT TAKE INTERNALLY, CONSIDERED A POISON. Wrong dosages cause vomiting, faintness, vertigo, convulsive muscular movements, weakened heart action and paralysis.

MAGICKAL USE : Place a twig of woody nightshade beneath your pillow to help forget a past love.

Carry a twig close to your body for protection.

HISTORY : The name Solaanum is derived from Solor meaning "I ease." Dulcamara is a corruption of amaradulcis, a word from the Middle Ages, meaning bittersweet.

The name bittersweet is said to come from the fact that portions of the plant first taste bitter then sweet when chewed.

This plant was called woody nightshade by old herbalists to distinguish it from deadly nightshade, Atropa belladonna.

Woody nightshade was used in England to counteract the effect of witchcraft. It is a plant native to Europe.

The Dutch physician Boerhaave is said to have considered the young shoots of woody nightshade superior to sarsaparilla as a restorative.

Linnaeus used it as a remedy for rheumatism, fever and inflammatory diseases of all kinds.

Woody nightshade was listed in British Pharmacopoeia in 1907, but had been removed from later editions.

LORE : To protect against and to remove evil from humans and animals, tie a small piece of woody nightshade on the body.

Tie a twig of woody nightshade around your neck to cure vertigo or dizziness.