Aralia racemosa L.

History

In its North American habitat the Aralia root was used by herbalists and eclectics as a medicine for lung infections such as coughs, catarrh and tuberculosis as well as gynaecological disorders such as leucorrhoea, prolapse of the uterus and chlorosis. It was regarded as a diaphoretic, antirheumatic, stomachic and expectorant. In 1867, Hale adopted the plant from American eclectics for use in homeopathy. Aralia racemosa originates from the Latin word racemus, meaning ’cluster‘ and refers to its clusters of flowers.

Botanical characteristics

American Spikenard has a thick, tuberous, whitish yellow branching rhizome which is fragrant and whose spongy tissue contains a yellow coloured latex. This rhizome produces a perennial herb that grows into a bush with partially lignified, grooved, sometimes bulky stems. The stalks grow up to a height of 1.5 metres. The large, oval leaves can be up to 20cm in length and are between three and fivefold pinnate. The small greenish white flowers grow either laterally from the axils or in spikes at the end of the plant in long, panicled clusters. The round berries are dark red or purple in colour.The American spikenard flowers from July to August.In Europe, ivy is the only form of Araliaceae in existence. Araliaceae are to be found in abundance in America and Asia where they grow into thick, sometimes thorny shrubs or trees.

Habitat

Aralia racemosa is native to the wooded mountains of North America in an area extending from central Canada down to Virginia. The plant grows on rocky but highly fertile riverbanks.

Preparation

A.Vogel/Bioforce uses a homeopathic dilution in accordance  with the  current Homöopathisches Arzneibuch (HAB) (New Official German Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia) made from fresh  underground parts of Araliara racemosa L. originating from our own organic cultivation.In its habitat the roots of the plant are used to prepare cough syrups, tinctures and infusions.