Volume 11, Issue 2, July 1984, Pages 181–201
Research paper
Counter-irritant and other medicinal uses of plants in ranunculaceae by native peoples in british columbia and neighbouring areas
Abstract
At
least 20 species in Ranunculaceae, the buttercup family, are reported
as having been used medicinally by 19 different groups of native peoples
in British Columbia and adjacent areas. These species are known to
contain the skin-irritating, blister-causing compound, protoanemonin, in
their fresh state. Protoanemonin is almost certainly the active
principle involved in many of these medicinal applications. A majority
involved the use of the plants as external poultices for boils, cuts,
abrasions and other skin sores. Other disorders having a high frequency
of treatment with ranunculaceous species include: muscular aches, colds
and other respiratory ailments, and general, unspecified illness. Native
groups in other parts of North America also used many ranunculaceous
species as poultices, and for colds, headaches and many other ailments. A
number were used for stimulation and “revival” of unconscious persons.
It
is suggested that the protoanemonin contained in these plants may have,
through several different mechanisms, positively influenced the healing
process physiologically and not just psychologically. If future
research confirms this, these protoanemonin containing plants may have
potential in certain treatments in modern medicine.
Copyright © 1984 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
