Woody Nightshade

Its latin name is dulcamara (dulcis, sweet; amarus, bitter.) in various countries it has different names; as, mortal, bitter sweet, and felon wort.

It is a climbing plant, and is common in moist hedges; its stems often reach to the height of five or six feet. The branch has a whitish bark, and a pith in the middle of it. The main stem divides into many small ones with claspers, laying hold on what is next to them. It bears many leaves, rather long and broad, and pointed at the ends; some of them have one or two little leaves growing at the end of their footstalks.

The colour of the leaves is pale green; the flowers are purple with a yellow centre, and they stand together in knots. The berries, when ripe, are red, approaching to scarlet, and they stand together in knots. They taste sweet at first, and then bitter. This plant is nearly allied to the potato, which it very closely resembles in the odour of its root. The berries are poisonous, but not so much so as the twigs of the plant which are very acrid and narcotic. This plant flowers in july, and the seeds are ripe at the end of july.

To make the decoction, the twigs should be gathered early in spring, as thick as a goose-quill. One ounce of them to be chopped up, and boiled in a pint and a half of water, till reduced to half the quantity. It has been regarded as a powerful medicine, increasing all the secretions and excretions, to excite the heart and arteries; and in large doses to produce nausea, vomiting, and convulsions.

The plant may be regarded as alterative, diuretic, sudorific, and mildly narcotic. It has been recommended in cutaneous affections, in rheumatic and cathartic swellings, in had ulcers, scrofula, jaundice, obstructed menstruation, and syphillis. The dose of the powder is from 1 to 3 scruples; of the decoction about a wineglassful; of the extract, from 5 to 10 grains; of the syrup, half an ounce to an ounce. The berries both purge and vomit, and are extremely dangerous for children. Take a pound of the wood and leaves bruised, and infuse in three pints of white wine over a gentle fire about 4 or 5 hours; and strain. This removes obstructions of the liver and spleen, and relieves difficulty of breathing. It forms a gentle purgative.

*the above information is a reprint of 1800's herbalist's handbook. You should not follow the statements made above. It had deadly effects upon humans and it can kill you! do not consume this plant at any point!!!!.

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