MILKWEED
Asclepias syriaca
COMMON NAMES: Emetic root, snake milk, milk ipecac.
FEATURES: Most of the 150 species of the Asclepiadaceae family are erect perennial herbs 2–4 feet high.
The root is yellowish, large, and branching. The leaves are scattered, sessile, oblong, smooth in some
plants, very hairy in others, and 1–2 inches in length. The attractive flowers are white and purplish white,
with fruit in a three-celled capsule. The genus is named in honor of the Greek god Asclepius (god of
medicine).
Milkweed grows abundantly in Canada and the United States in dry fields and woods, and flowers
from June to September. When the leaves are pulled off, or the stem cut, a milky white liquid rushes to the
exposed surface. Asclepius is poisonous to cattle and sheep but rarely to horses. The Native Americans
used the inside fibers for rope and fishing nets; the milk was collected and rolled until firm enough to
make chewing gum. The boiled roots taste like asparagus. The green plant was collected when very small
and boiled in two waters to use as greens. We do not advise this for the general public, as the amount and
correct species is of importance when taken in quantity. (Many common plant names are duplicated; this
milkweed—Asclepius—is not the same as bitterroot—Apocynum androsaemifolium, dog-bane family—
often also called milkweed.)
MEDICINAL PART: Root.
SOLVENT: Water.
BODILY INFLUENCE: Diaphoretic, expectorant.
USES: Medicinally the Native Americans used Asclepias for inflammatory rheumatism. Today it is still
employed for rheumatism, dyspepsia, and scrofulous conditions of the blood. A helpful remedy for female
complaints, bowel and kidney trouble, asthma, and stomach complaints. Used for dropsy, as it increases
the flow of urine. Effective remedy for gallstones. J. Kloss (Back to Eden) says: “Take equal parts of
milkweed and marshmallow (Althaea), steep a teaspoonful in a cup of boiling water, take 3 cups daily,
and one upon retiring. It will expel gallstones in a few days, where combined with this. Fomentations
applied to the liver and the liver thoroughly massaged at the same time is very effective.”
DOSE: Bruise 4 ounces of the root and boil in 3 quarts of water, reducing down to 1 quart or less, and take