Lysichitum, skunk cabbage

 This a somewhat common Appalachian plant... that basically looks like an alien pod. I don't like the smell or taste, but basically know it mostly because people who try to forage it often end up eating false hellebore and getting poisoned. But, it does have herbal uses. Tincture of fresh root is sedative, good for insomnia and pain. Good for spasmodic cough.

Herb: Skunk Cabbage

Latin name: Symplocarpus foetidus

Synonyms: Dracontium foetidum, Spathyema foetida

Family: Araceae (Arum Family)

Medicinal use of Skunk Cabbage: Skunk cabbage was much used by the native North American Indians primarily for its expectorant and antispasmodic properties to treat bronchitis and asthmatic conditions, a use that is still employed in modern herbalism. The plant should be used with some caution, however, and preferably under professional supervision. Handling the fresh leaves can cause skin to blister whilst excessive doses of the root can bring on nausea and vomiting, headaches and dizziness. The root is antispasmodic, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, expectorant and slightly narcotic. The rootstock is harvested in late autumn or early spring and dried for later use. It should not be stored for a long time because it loses its medicinal virtues. The rootstock has been used internally in the treatment of respiratory and nervous disorders, including asthma, whooping cough, catarrh, bronchitis and hay fever. It is occasionally used to treat epilepsy, headaches, vertigo and rheumatic problems. Externally, it has been used as a poultice to draw splinters and thorns, to heal wounds and to treat headaches. The root hairs or rootlets have been applied to dental cavities to treat toothache. A tea made from the root hairs has been used externally to stop bleeding. An inhalation of the crushed leaves has been used in the treatment of headaches. The leaf bases have been applied as a wet dressing to bruises. medicinal herbs: SKUNK CABBAGE - Symplocarpus foetidus (naturalmedicinalherbs.net)

From Torey: Just to clarify. There are two species commonly called skunk cabbage. Eastern Skunk Cabbage is Symplocarpus foetidus. It has a purple flower/spathe and is more useful medicinally than Western Skunk Cabbage, Lysichiton americanus, which has a yellow flower. I think the other difference is that Western Skunk Cabbage flowers with the leaves while the Eastern variety flowers before any leaves come up. I've never seen one but it really must look like an alien pod without any leaves.

Western Skunk Cabbage should never be taken internally. It is very high in oxalic acid and I have heard the poisoning has symptoms that are like you have eaten shards of glass. The medicinal uses for this plant are more about external applications as a drawing agent or poultice over sore joints. It is very common in coastal regions of my province as well as some of the interior semi-temperate zones around the bigger lakes.

It has been quite the education, Judson, learning about the plants that grow in your area. I had no idea that NC would have such a similar climate and plant life as we have here on the west coast.