Common Names

Bittersweet
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Parts Usually Used

Bark of root
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Description of Plant(s) and Culture

Climbing, twining shrub; grows to 50 feet. Leaves ovate to oblong, sharp pointed, fine-toothed. Flowers greenish, in clusters, May to June. Fruit capsule scarlet to orange, splitting, to reveal scarlet seeds.
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Where Found

Rich thickets from Quebec to Georgia; Alabama, Oklahoma to North Dakota.
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Uses

Root-bark tea induces sweating; diuretic, emetic. Folk remedy for chronic liver and skin ailments, rheumatism, leukorrhea, suppressed menses. Externally; bark used in ointment for burns, scrapes, skin eruptions. American Indians used this plant as above, also used astringent leaf tea for diarrhea, dysentery. Root-bark tea is used for pain of childbirth. Bark extracts thought to be cardioactive.
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Warning

Fruits are toxic. All parts potentially toxic. This herb should not be used without medical supervision.
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Bibliography

• Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants, by Steven Foster and James A. Duke, pg., 298.
• How Indians Use Wild Plants for Food, Medicine & Crafts, by Frances Densmore, pg., 295.
• American Folk Medicine, by Clarence Meyer, pg., 284.
• The Complete Medicinal Herbal, by Penelope Ody, pgs., 146-147, 180.
• Indian Herbalogy of North America, by Alma R. Hutchens, pgs., 42-44.

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