Scientific Names: Asarum europaeum

Common names: Hazelwort, Wild Nard 

Ayurvedic names:

Chinese names:

Bangladesh names:

Arabic names:  أسـارون (assarun)

Rain Forest names:

Family: Aristolochiaceae

Approximate Number of Species Known:

Common Parts Used: Root, herb

Collection:   

Annual/Perennial:  Perennial

Height: 0.1m

Actions:  Basic use is emetic. It is mixed with lance-leaf plantain to stop mucus congestion in the nose and respiratory passage

Known Constituents: The root and leaves are acrid and contain a volatile oil, a bitter matter, and a substance like camphor.

Constituents Explained:

Description:   

Asarabacca is a European plant and the only British species of the Birthwort family (but perhaps not indigenous). 

Could be described as a “curious” plant.

Located in moist woods and hilly areas, they are chiefly plants or shrubs of a tropical habitat, very abundant in South America; but rare elsewhere.

Root is whitish grey in color and creeping with lots of stout fibers. 

Stem is very short and fleshy, bearing two large, dark-green, kidney-shaped evergreen leaves.

Leaves are opposite, reinform, entire, and placed on long foot-stalks.

Flower is droopy, solitary, and purplish-green. 

Fruit is a capsule consisting of six cells. 

Traditional Use:

Famous for being a good stimulant and tonic.

 Mixed with Ribwort, this herb is used to remove mucous from the respiratory passages..

Was used in the past as a purgative medicine, and as a substance to induce sneezing. Nowadays this herb is not used for that purpose and is in fact used very rarely as it has been replaced by other safer and stronger remedies. 

Taken orally, provokes vomiting, but purges downwards, and by urine also, purging both choler and phlegm.

Being steeped in wine and drank it helps those continual agues that come by the plenty of stubborn tumours; an oil made thereof by setting in the sun.

A decoction is said to help the obstructions of the liver and spleen, and aid dropsy and jaundice. 

The root and leaves have a considerable medicinal value; they contain a bitter substance and a volatile oil. 

Powdered parts of the plant give relief to headaches and aches in other parts of the body, stinging eyes, and to unblock nasal passages. 

In some countries of South America it is used as a remedy for venomous snake bites and stupefying effect on a snake when placed in its mouth. 

Clinical Studies:

References:

Source material:

Asarabacca

Other names: hazlewort, wild nard

Latin name: Asarum Europaeum

Family: Aristolochiaceae

Common part used: root and herb

Asarabacca is a European plant, and it can be found in moist woods and hilly areas all through the continent. 

This plant has a creeping root, whitish grey in color, with lots of stout fibers. The stems are herbaceous, very short in size, with two dark-green leaves. These leaves are opposite, reinform, entire, and placed on long footstalks. The plant has a single flower in the shape of a bell, usually appearing from May to August. The flower is fleshy, usually brownish-red or purple in color. The calyx is greenish, and divided into three parts. The fruit is a capsule, it consists of six cells. 

The root and leaves of the Asarabacca have a considerable medicinal value; they contain a bitter substance and a volatile oil. For preservation they should be carefully dried after gathering and preserved in a place protected from moisture and humidity. Powdered parts of the plant give relief to headaches and aches in other parts of the organism, burning eyes, and also help to unblock a stuffed nose. 

The plant is famous for its properties as a good stimulant and tonic, sometimes it is also used as acrid or aromatic substance for different sorts of treatment. 

In some countries of the South America the Asarabacca plant is used as a remedy for the bites of venomous snakes. Also, if placed into the mouth of the snake, it is known to have a stupefying effect. 

Some time ago this plant was also used as a purgative medicine, and as a substance to provoke sneezing, but at present it is not used for that purpose or used very rarely, because it was replaced by other remedies, safer and stronger.