Witnessed by: Western
Green hellebore (Veratrum viride), of the Melanthiaceae (formerly Liliaceae) family. Stout perennial with broad pleated leaves from a thick toxic rhizome; native range: wet meadows, swamps and streamsides of North America. Globally recognized as American white hellebore; Indian poke; swamp hellebore; itchweed in English. The part used is rhizome and root. Acrid, intensely bitter and burning; sternutatory dust that irritates on handling.
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.
GREEN HELLEBORE
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- green hellebore
- Scientific name
- Veratrum viride Aiton
- Family
- Melanthiaceae (formerly Liliaceae)
Form
- Part used
- rhizome and root
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Western
- acrid · bitter
Temperature
- Western
- cool, drying
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Western
- heart · circulation · nervous system
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Western
- arterial and cardiac sedative, hypotensive, febrifuge, emetic, nervine depressant
Cautions
Contraindications: pregnancy, weak or slow heart, hypotension, debility; not for domestic or self-medication
Toxicity: highly toxic; overdose causes vomiting, bradycardia, collapse in blood pressure, and may be fatal
Interactions
- Western
- antihypertensives: additive, potentially dangerous fall in blood pressure · cardiac glycosides: additive cardiac depression and bradycardia
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