True Hogweed: Applications, Treatments, Health Benefits

It had great importance in ancient times and is even said to be mentioned in the Bible as a remedy for healing wounds. In our country, the True Hogweed is now almost forgotten as a medicinal plant and is cultivated at most as an ornamental plant. Only homeopathy still knows and appreciates its healing properties.

Occurrence and cultivation of the true hogweed.

In common parlance, Acanthus mollis is also known as soft hogweed, soft bear paw or bear tap. Contrary to what its German name suggests, True Hogweed (lat. Acanthus mollis) has nothing to do with the genus Heracleum, which is also known as hogweed in this country. It belongs to the Acanthus family and originates from the western to central Mediterranean region. It is widespread today from Portugal through northwestern Africa to Croatia, Greece and Romania. Visually, it resembles foxglove more than its German namesake, but it is not related to the latter either. The herbaceous plant, which grows up to one meter high, bears pinnate leaves up to 60 cm long on an upright shoot axis. From May to August, its long flower stalks with white to reddish-purple helmet-shaped flowers, from which egg-shaped seed pods develop, are conspicuous. The root of this perennial perennial is white on the inside, but almost black on the outside. In common parlance, Acanthus mollis is also known as soft hogweed, soft bear paw or bear tap. It likes mild climate and needs water-permeable, loose and preferably humus soil. It is usually found in sunny grassy areas between shrubs or in rock crevices. “Acanthus” in the original Greek word means something like “spine,” because most plants in this genus have spiny leaves. The epithet “mollis,” meaning “soft,” describes the absence of these spines in the True Hogweed.

Effect and application

In earlier times, Acanthus mollis belonged to the official (i.e. officially recognized and approved) medicinal plants, even in our country, and thus had to be available in every pharmacy. It was listed under the Latin names “Radix et Herba Acanthi” or “Brancae ursinae verae”. Its beneficial effect on burns and dislocations is already described in herbal books from the 16th century. The crushed or boiled root of the plant was used for this purpose to prepare a so-called cataplasm, i.e. a poultice, which was applied externally to the skin and joints and was even supposed to soften tumors. However, it was also possible to simply apply the mucilage from the fresh plant to the affected areas of the skin several times a day. For internal treatment, both herb and roots were used. Drunk – mainly as a tea, but perhaps also as an elixir or herbal wine – they helped with diarrhea, hemoptysis, respiratory diseases, and much more. The extensive list of traditional uses suggests that True Hogweed was considered a universal remedy for a long time. Laxative, astringent, anti-inflammatory, choleretic and diuretic effects were attributed to it, as well as an expectorant, analgesic and wound-healing effect. The areas of application were correspondingly broad – they ranged from bruises, contusions, eczema and neurodermatitis to colds, bronchitis and flu to abdominal inflammation and digestive complaints of all kinds. Responsible for the great healing properties of the plant is mainly its high content of tannins and mucilage. The mucilages are also what give the True Hogweed its emollient effect. Old medicinal alchemical reference books include it among the five emollient herbs (species emollientes), along with poplars, marshmallow root, viola herb and chard. Mucilages have an enveloping and soothing effect on mucous membranes. They regulate bowel movements, absorb toxins and inhibit inflammation. The tannins present have an astringent effect in particular and thus also stop bleeding. They seal cell membranes and thus also provide an anti-irritant, anti-inflammatory protective layer. Other important ingredients of the plant are enzymes, resins and various mineral salts.

Importance for health, treatment and prevention.

The True Hogweed – despite its excellent properties – today has practically no importance in our country as a medicinal plant. If at all, it is occasionally still used in homeopathy.Besides the typical indications diarrhea (diarrhea) and hemoptysis (coughing up blood), it also treats problems of the scalp with Acanthus mollis, especially in the case of hyperfunction of the sebaceous glands. Homeopathic preparations are available in the form of drops or tincture, globules and tablets. Unlike traditional folk medicine, which also uses the root of the plant, the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia has the hogweed essence made only from the fresh, flowering plant. The harvest time for this is between the beginning of May and the end of July. The same source material is also used to prepare the so-called “teep”, a fresh plant trituration that is also available in tablet form. Homeopathy uses Acanthus mollis mostly in the potencies D 2 to D 4, with the dosage to be determined individually by the practitioner. The usual dosage for hogweed teeps is one tablet three times a day. In addition to its importance as a universal medicinal herb, True Hogweed played a very different role in ancient times: the acanthus leaf served as a model in ornamentation. Since the middle of the 5th century B.C., this motif in stylized form enriched tendril and palmette ornaments in architecture as well as works of art and garments. First used by the famous Greek sculptor Kallimachos, it is found on Corinthian columns, then also on Roman ones. As an ornamental plant in the garden, Acanthus mollis is more suitable in mild climate regions, as it can withstand our winters only to a limited extent.