Natural Strength Photograph by Connie Handscomb

Natural Strength

by Connie Handscomb

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Title

Natural Strength

Artist

Connie Handscomb

Medium

Photograph - Photography - Fine Art

Description

* ------------------------- *
Taken in natural light ; Uncropped, : Nature in all its natural splendour.
* ------------------------- *
Wild Spurge
(Euphorbia corollata)

There are nearly 1,000 species of this plant.
Indian Rubber and Castor oil plants also belong to the order Euphorbioie.

Its name is derived from the favourite physician of the King of Mauritania, Euphorbus.
"Spurge" - from Latin 'expurgare' ; to act as a purgative

There are several varieties of this dense evergreen shrub. They grow commonly in the wild, and I think our neighbourhood here is a spurge 'sanctuary', there are so many around! It has a rich showing of lime-green 'flowers' (bracts) in the spring and early summer, which are really modified leaves. The real flower is a very small, yellow 'button'.

Medicinally, it is very powerful. It is the acrid juice, particularly, that is used as a curative but given as it is also poisonous, only the most experienced herbalist or apothecary should use. The sap - even if dried - contains a latex which is toxic if ingested. It is extremely irritating to the skin and can cause severe inflammation (caution: no contact with the eyes - blindness has been known to occur - or open cuts). A small bundle of Irish Spurge has been known to kill fish for many miles down a river. Any prolonged or regular contact with spurge sap is carcinogenic (gardeners beware).

However, on the positive side: the root is edible and, apparently, palatable. The poisonous juice can kill in minutes; however it is dissipated by intense heat. Therefore, once the juice is drained and the root baked, it can be used to make a bread (as with the South American Manioc; the starch Tapioca is produced by washing the fresh pulp).

The dried root is a strong purgative that works when others fail. Bruised roots in an infusion are used for urinary diseases. Experienced healers rub the plant juice on skin for treating sores and boils, on cracked or chapped lips, and for removing warts ('wart weed') and corns. It has been used for intestinal worms, venereal diseases, ear-ache, rheumatism, respiratory ailments such as bronchitis and asthma, for promoting lactation for nursing mothers, for treating snakebites and dengue fever . Ointments have been made; extracts (the crushed flower - not the sap! - can heal eye infections); tinctures (for diarrhea); and decoctions (for cancer).

In Morocco, it is an ingredient of ships' paint, used to preseve the boats' bottoms.

Chemically, all the components of spurge have not yet been defined - the acrid property has yet to be determined. What is known for sure is that it has gallic acid, quercetin, an essential oil, a resin.

It is a danger, and a healer, both: used the wrong way, it can kill you; used the right way, it can save you.

Sources:
Gerard's Herbal : John Gerard's Historie of Plants
A Gardener's Guide to Flowering Shrubs
Internet: (1) Natural Medicinal Herbs ; (2) Herbal Simples (3) Botanical:A Modern