Witnessed by: Western
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), of the Berberidaceae family. Colonial woodland perennial spreading by rhizome, each stem raising one or two umbrella leaves; native range: rich deciduous woodlands of eastern North America. Globally recognized as American mandrake, wild lemon, devil's apple, raccoon-berry in English. The part used is rhizome and root, resin (podophyllin). Root bitter, acrid and nauseous; the single golden fruit alone is sweet and edible when fully ripe.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
MAYAPPLE
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- mayapple
- Scientific name
- Podophyllum peltatum L.
- Family
- Berberidaceae
Form
- Part used
- rhizome and root, resin (podophyllin)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Western
- bitter · acrid
Temperature
- Western
- cool and drying
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Western
- liver · bowels · intestines · skin
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Western
- drastic cathartic, cholagogue, hepatic stimulant, antimitotic, vermifuge, caustic (topical)
Cautions
Contraindications: pregnancy (teratogenic and abortifacient), inflammatory bowel disease, debility, biliary obstruction
Toxicity: severe gastroenteritis, bloody purging and systemic poisoning; topical resin absorbed can cause neuropathy and blood dyscrasia
Interactions
- Western
- chemotherapy agents: additive antimitotic and myelosuppressive toxicity · diuretics: compounded fluid and potassium loss from drastic purging
This is the card. Sign in for the full four-tradition entry — the aligned TCM · Ayurveda · Western · Unani reading, actions, dosing and cautions.