Taxus,
Yew
While
five varieties of Yew have documented use in Herbal Medicine, they
are all extremely poisonous. Yew is one of the most toxic plants
known to man. That said, Taxus baccata, Taxus brevifolia - Pacific
Yew, Taxus canadensis - Canadian, Taxus cuspidata - Japanese Yew Nd
Taxus x media.
One
shrub-form Yew is native to my region, Taxus canadensis (Canada Yew).
Dioscorides
wrote of Taxus as Milax:
Milax
is a tree similar to the fir in its leaves and their quantities,
growing in Italy and Narbona near Spain. Chickens that eat the fruit
of that which grows in Italy turn black, and men that eat it fall
into unconsciousness. That growing in Narbonie has such great
strength that those who sit underneath (or fall asleep) are hurt by
the shade, and that frequently they die. This is mentioned as a
warning. It is also called thymalus, and the Romans call it taxus.
Gerard
wrote of Yew:
The
Yew tree, as Galen reporteth, is of a venomous quality, and against
man's nature. Dioscorides writeth, and generally all that heretofore
have dealt in the faculty of herbarism, that the Yew tree is very
venomous to be taken inwardly, and that if any do sleep under the
shadow thereof it causeth sickness and oftentimes death. Moreover,
they say that the fruit thereof being eaten is not only dangerous and
deadly unto man, but if birds do eat thereof, it causeth them to cast
their feathers, and many times to die. All which I dare boldly affirm
is altogether untrue: for when I was young and went to school, divers
of my school-fellows and likewise myself did eat our fill of the
berries of this tree, and have not only slept under the shadow
thereof, but among the branches also, without any hurt at all, and
that not one time, but many times. Theophrastus saith, That animalia,
Galen translates them Iumenta, or labouring beasts, do die, if they
do eat of the leaves; but such cattle as chew their cud receive no
hurt at all thereby.
Nicander
in his book Of Counterpoisons doth reckon the Yew tree among the
venomous phants: setting down also a remedy, and that in these words,
as Gorræus hath translated them.
Parce
venenata Taxo, quæ surgit in Oeta
Abietibus
similis, lethoque absumit acerbo
Ni
præter morem pleno cratere meraca
Fundere
vina pares, cum primum sentient æger
Arctari
obtructas fauces animæque canalem.
Shun
the poisonous Yew, the which on Oeta grows,
Like
to the Fir, it causes bitter death,
Unless
besides thy use pure wine that flows
From
empty'd cups, thou drink, when as thy breath
Begins
to fail, and passage of thy life
Grows
strait.
Pena
and Lobel also observed that which our author here affirms, and daily
experience shows it to be true, that the Yew tree in England is not
poisonous: yet divers affirm, that in Provençe in France, and in
most hot countries, it hath such a malign quality, that it is not
safe to sleep or long to rest under the shadow thereof.
Culpepper
wrote:
Description.
It grows to be an irregular tree, spreading widley into branches. The
leaves are long, narrow, and placed with a beautiful regularity. The
flowers are yellowish, and the berries are surrounded with a sweet
juicy matter.
Place.
We have it growing in woods, and in the gardens, but its usual
ancient residence is the church-yard: conjectures upon the antiquity
and origin of which plantatin, has brought forth much pedantic
nonsense; Gray observes this in the Grave, a Poem, when he says,
"Well
do I know thee by thy trusty Yew,
"Shading
for years thy gloomy church-yard view;
"Cheerless,
unsocial plant, that loves to dwell
"Where
scatter'd bones man's dissolution tell".
Government
and virtues. This is a tree of Saturn. The leaves are said to be
poisonous; but the wood, if it grew with more regularity would be
very valuable. This tree, though it has no place among the physical
plants, yet does it not deserve (at least in our climate) so bad a
character as the ancients give it, viz. a most poisonous vegetable,
the berries of which threaten present death to man and beast that eat
them; many in this country having eaten them and survived. However
that be, it has very powerful poisonous qualities, that rise by
distillation. In this form it is the most active vegetable poison
known in the whole world, for in a very small dose it instantly
induces death without any previous disorder; and its deleterious
power seems to act entirely upon the nervous system, and without
exciting the least inflammation in the part to which it more
immediately enters. It totally differs from opium and all other
sleepy poisons, for it does not bring on the lethargic symptoms, but
more effectually penetrates and destroys the vital functions, without
immediately affecting the animal. These observations would not have
been made, or the article inserted here, but to caution against any
rash application of it, for though it is sometimes given usefull in
obstructions of the liver and bilious complaints, those experiments
seem too few to recommend it to be used without the greatest caution.
The deleterious qualities of laurel-water are more than equalled by
this.
Mrs.
Grieve tells us:
Description---A
tree 40 to 50 feet high, forming with age a very stout trunk covered
with red-brown, peeling bark and topped with a rounded or
wide-spreading head of branches; leaves spirally attached to twigs,
but by twisting of the stalks brought more or less into two opposed
ranks, dark, glossy, almost black-green above, grey, pale-green or
yellowish beneath, 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches long, 1/16 to 1/12 inch wide.
Flowers unisexual, with the sexes invariably on different trees,
produced in spring from the leaf axils of the preceding summer's
twigs. Male, a globose cluster of stamens; female, an ovule
surrounded by small bracts, the so-called fruit bright red, sometimes
yellow, juicy and encloses the seed.
No
tree is more associated with the history and legends of Great Britain
than the Yew. Before Christianity was introduced it was a sacred tree
favoured by the Druids, who built their temples near these trees - a
custom followed by the early Christians. The association of the tree
with places of worship still prevails.
Many
cases of poisoning amongst cattle have resulted from eating parts of
the Yew.
Constituents---The
fruit and seeds seem to be the most poisonous parts of the tree. An
alkaloid taxine has been obtained from the seeds; this is a
poisonous, white, crystalline powder, only slightly soluble in water;
another principle, Milossin, has also been found.
Uses---The
wood was formerly much valued in archery for the making of long bows.
The wood is said to resist the action of water and is very hard, and,
before the use of iron became general, was greatly valued. (In
homoeopathy a tincture of the young shoots and also of the berries is
used in a variety of diseases: cystitis, eruptions, headache and
neuralgia, affections of the heart and kidneys, dimness of vision,
and gout and rheurmatism. - EDITOR)
King’s
American Dispensatory of 1898 tells us:
Excepting
the pulp of the fruit, all parts of the yew tree are poisonous.
Pliny, Dioscorides, and other ancient writers, mention the poisonous
properties of the leaves and seed, and it has been recorded that
wine, preserved in casks made of its wood, has occasioned the death
of those who drank it. Strabon states that the Gauls used the juice
of the leaves as a poison for their arrows. More recent observations
have confirmed the statements as to its toxic character and we
frequently read of animals and birds that have been poisoned by the
leaves and berries. It is likewise stated that the exhalation
emanating from the tree may occasion vertigo, lethargy, and a kind of
drunkenness, and that even death may ensue to those who carelessly
sleep beneath its branches. Prof. Redwood read a paper before the
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (1877), citing the fatal
result from drinking a decoction of the leaves.
Chemical
Composition.—The poisonous principle of yew resides in an alkaloid
taxine, first isolated from the leaves by H. Lucas (Archiv der
Pharm., 1856, Vol. CXXXV, p. 145), and later from the leaves and
fruits by Marmé (Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1876, p. 353), and by A. Hilger
and Fr. Brande (ibid., 1890, p. 297). According to Marmé, it is a
white crystalline powder, little soluble in water, soluble in ether,
alcohol, chloroform, etc.; insoluble in petroleum-ether. It melts at
80° C. (176° F.), and produces a red color with concentrated
sulphuric acid. Amato and Caparelli (ibid., 1881, p. 56) obtained
from the leaves a probably similar alkaloid, volatile oil, and a
non-nitrogenous, crystalline substance, which they called milouin.
Action,
Medical Uses, and Dosage.—The symptoms occasioned by the juice or
extract of the leaves, vary according to the quantity that has been
taken. In large doses, there is pallor, vertigo, spasm, and symptoms
of collapse, with gastric and enteric irritation, enfeebled and
deranged cardiac action, coma, and death. Not unfrequently, very
large doses are followed by a prompt diminution of the vital forces,
or by positive syncope, in either case speedily terminating in death,
without any of the severe symptoms of irritation being manifested.
Post-mortem investigations have found some indications of
inflammation of the stomach and bowels, of active renal congestion,
and of diminished heart-power, with a greater or lesser deprivation
of the coagulable quality of the blood. It has been used in the
attempt to produce abortion, but always fruitlessly, and in some
instances has proved a fatal experiment. In cases of poisoning by the
ingestion of this article, it should be promptly removed from the
stomach by emesis, after which milk or other bland drinks may be
administered, at the same time sustaining the strength, if necessary,
by the prudent exhibition of stimulants. The red berries are not
injurious. Percy, in former times, prepared a jelly and a syrup from
them, which he used in cough, chronic bronchitis, and to relieve the
pain in calculous nephritis. The leaves have likewise been
recommended in certain maladies, which it is unnecessary to name, as
we have no satisfactory evidence of their efficacy. The leaves have
been given in doses of 1 to 5 grains; or the infusion may be given
corresponding in dosage.
Plants
for A Future states:
Medicinal
use of Canadian Yew: The Canadian yew is a very poisonous plant,
though it was employed medicinally by several native North American
Indian tribes who used minute amounts of the leaves both internally
and externally in order to treat a variety of complaints including
rheumatism, fevers, influenza, expelling afterbirth and dispelling
clots. Modern research has shown that it contains the substance
"taxol" in its shoots and bark. Taxol has shown exciting
potential as an anti-cancer drug, particularly in the treatment of
ovarian cancers. This remedy is very toxic and, even when used
externally, should only be used under the supervision of a qualified
practitioner. See also the notes above on toxicity. The plant is
abortifacient, analgesic, antirheumatic, antitumor, diaphoretic,
diuretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge and pectoral.
Known
hazards of Taxus canadensis: All parts of the plant, except the flesh
of the fruit, are highly poisonous.
Peterson
Field Guides Eastern and Central Medicinal Plants states:
American
Indians used minute amounts of toxic leaf tea internally and
externally, for rheumatism, bowel ailments, fevers, colds, curvy, to
expel afterbirth, dispel clots, diuretic, twigs used as a fumigant in
steam baths for rheumatism. Leaves (needles) said to be
antirheumatic and hypotensive. Yew sap used by Celts to produce
poison arrows. A component of the plant is under investigation for
anticancer activity.
Warning:
All plant parts (except, perhaps the red aril) of this and other yews
contain toxic alkaloid taxine and are considered poisonous.
Ingesting as few as 50 leaves (needles) has resulted in fatalities.
New Book:
The Spring Foraging Cookbook: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-spring-foraging-cookbook.html
Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CRP63R54
Read about my other new books:
A Daily Catholic Devotional Reflections on the Daily Mass readings January-June, 2024
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2023/12/a-daily-catholic-devotional-reflections.html
Medicinal Weeds and Grasses of the American Southeast, an Herbalist's Guide
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2023/05/medicinal-weeds-and-grasses-of-american.html
Available in paperback on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47LHTTH
and
Confirmation, an Autobiography of Faith
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2023/05/confirmation-autobiography-of-faith.html
Available in paperback on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47Q1JNK
Visit my Substack and sign up for my free newsletter:
https://judsoncarroll.substack.com/
Read about my new other books:
Medicinal Ferns and Fern Allies, an Herbalist's Guide https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/11/medicinal-ferns-and-fern-allies.html
Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMSZSJPS
The Omnivore’s Guide to Home Cooking for Preppers, Homesteaders, Permaculture People and Everyone Else: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/10/the-omnivores-guide-to-home-cooking-for.html
Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BGKX37Q2
Medicinal Shrubs and Woody Vines of The American Southeast an Herbalist's Guide
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/06/medicinal-shrubs-and-woody-vines-of.html
Available for purchase on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2T4Y5L6
and
Growing Your Survival Herb Garden for Preppers, Homesteaders and Everyone Else
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/04/growing-your-survival-herb-garden-for.html
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09X4LYV9R
The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Bitter Herbs: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-encyclopedia-of-bitter-medicina.html
Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5MYJ35R
and
Christian Medicine, History and Practice: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/01/christian-herbal-medicine-history-and.html
Available for purchase on Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B09P7RNCTB
Herbal Medicine for Preppers, Homesteaders and Permaculture People: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2021/10/herbal-medicine-for-preppers.html
Also available on Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B09HMWXL25
Podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/show/southern-appalachian-herbs
Blog:
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/
Free Video Lessons: https://rumble.com/c/c-618325
Disclaimer
The information on this site is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or condition. Nothing on this site has been evaluated or approved by the FDA. I am not a doctor. The US government does not recognize the practice of herbal medicine and their is no governing body regulating herbalists. Therefore, I'm just a guy who studies herbs. I am not offering any advice. I won't even claim that anything I write is accurate or true! I can tell you what herbs have "traditionally been used for." I can tell you my own experience and if I believe an herb helped me. I cannot, nor would I tell you to do the same. If you use any herb I, or anyone else, mentions you are treating yourself. You take full responsibility for your health. Humans are individuals and no two are identical. What works for me may not work for you. You may have an allergy, sensitivity or underlying condition that no one else shares and you don't even know about. Be careful with your health. By continuing to read my blog you agree to be responsible for yourself, do your own research, make your own choices and not to blame me for anything, ever.
