SANICLE
Sanicula marilandica
COMMON NAMES: Black snakeroot, pool root, American sanicle, wood sanicle.
FEATURES: Sanicle, of the parsley family, is an indigenous perennial common to the United States and
Canada. The fibrous root is aromatic in taste and odor, with a smooth reddish furrowed stem, 1–3 feet
high. The leaves are digitate, mostly radical, and on petioles, 6–12 inches long, nearly 3 inches across,
glossy green above, less color underneath. The flowers bloom in June and July; they are mostly barren
white, sometimes yellowish, the fertile ones sessile.
MEDICINAL PARTS: Root, leaves.
SOLVENT: Water.
BODILY INFLUENCE: Vulnerary, astringent, alterative, expectorant, discutient, depurative.
USES: Used by Native Americans in intermittent fevers and for treating a variety of skin conditions. The
action upon the system very much resembles that of valerian, possessing (besides the previously
mentioned) nervine and anodyne properties.
J. Kloss in Back to Eden: “This is one of the herbs that could well be called a ‘Cure All’, because it
possesses powerful cleansing and healing virtues, both internally and externally.” It heals, stops bleeding,
diminishes tumors, whether of a recent or long-standing nature. The properties, when administered, seem
to seek the area most in distress, be it the throat, lungs, intestines, renal tract, reproductive organs. You
name it; sanicle will find it. Its qualifications are many as a cleansing and healing herb of both man and
animal.
For throat discomforts, gargle a strong tea with honey as often as necessary. The fresh juice can be
given in tablespoonful doses in treatment of dysentery; a strong decoction of the leaves made by boiling 1
ounce of the leaves in 1½ pints of water, reduced to 1 pint, can be taken constantly in wineglassful doses
till hemorrhage ceases.
DOSE: 1 teaspoonful of the root or leaves, cut small or crushed, to 1 cupful of boiling water. Take 1 cupful