Common carpentery

The botanical name of the Common carpentery reads Dioscorea communis. It also becomes synonymous Tamus communis L. called. The climbing plant comes from the yam family (Dioscoreaceae). Despite the slight toxicity of the plant, it is used, among other things, in herbal medicine and is used against various ailments.

Occurrence & cultivation of the common wormwood

Despite the slight toxicity of the common carpenter's root, it is used, among other things, in herbal medicine and is used against various ailments.

The name of the plant comes from the Old High German word "smerte", which means "hot". Popular names of the Common carpentery are Pain root, Embroidery root, Fire root, Common carpentery or Real pitwort.

The plants are monocot and dioecious separately sexed. They are also known as diocesan. The wormwood has underground tubers, whereby the stems of the plant can be up to four meters long. Their shape is branched and striped and they have no hair. You are bald. Their leaves, however, are alternate, undivided and have a long petiole. The leaves are heart-shaped and they are up to 20 inches long and 16 inches wide. They are also pointed, entire and shiny.

Their color is dark green and their branching network nerve. The inflorescences of the common wormwood grow in clusters. They are axillary and threefold. Their color is greenish-yellow and they can grow up to six millimeters in size. The male flowers have an urn-shaped inflorescence that has six equal tips. The female flowers, however, have six narrow and much smaller tips.

The fruits of the common wormwood are red in color. In rare cases, yellow berries are also found. Their diameter is around eleven millimeters and they contain up to six seeds. In Europe it is the only species of the Dioscoreaceae family that occurs. It occurs, among other places, on the Upper and Upper Rhine and Lake Constance. Otherwise the plant is found in Mediterranean countries and those of the Atlantic.

It can also be found in Iran. The common wormwood is mainly found in hedges and bushes. But it can also be found on the edge of deciduous forests. Their preferred soil is nutritious and fresh. There it can reach a height of up to three meters. The right-winding climbing plant bears flowers between May and June, which can be either female or male.

Effect & application

The berries of the tarnish are very noticeable in bushes due to their color. Even so, they shouldn't be eaten as they sting heavily in the mouth and are poisonous. This is where the popular name fire root comes from. For this reason, bedwort as a remedy can only be used in diluted form. Otherwise, severe irritation may occur when used externally.

For internal use, no more than finished preparations or homeopathic mixtures should be used in any case. We strongly advise against mixing your own with parts of the wormwood. In medicine, the root is mainly used. The plant contains mucus and histamine-like irritants. In addition, alkaloids and the glycosides gracillin and dioscine can be detected. The herb also contains saponins, calcium oxalate, phenanthrene derivatives and diosgenin.

For the reasons mentioned, bedwort is very tricky to use. In no case should it be used fresh and raw. The poisonous effect shows up after eating through a burning sensation in the mouth, which is usually followed by vomiting and diarrhea. In children, just two berries can lead to gastrointestinal inflammation.

Depending on the external skin irritation, blisters can also occur. The reasons for this are the calcium oxalates and the aforementioned skin irritant. In the event of severe poisoning, a doctor should be consulted immediately. In mild cases, rinsing the mouth with water and using activated charcoal is sufficient if the digestive system is irritated.

Importance for health, treatment & prevention

Healers used to use the root of the wormwood for bruises and bruises. It should relieve symptoms and help the affected areas heal. Fresh root slices were used to treat rheumatic inflammation. This was especially true for joints that were rubbed with the exuding juice.

However, due to its strong skin irritation, this method is no longer used today. Presumably, the irritation caused the inflammation itself, after which it could be combated by other means. In addition, like the yam root, bedwort contains diosgenin. This is a substance that is similar to progesterone.

This is a hormone of the female organism, which is why wormwood should also help against PMS (premenstrual syndrome) and symptoms of menopause. However, this effectiveness has not yet been confirmed and there is no mention of it in the tradition. In a homeopathic dose, wormwood has various healing effects. Today it is still used against constipation.

The effect is due to the slight toxicity. It can also be used externally for gout and rheumatism. In low doses it stimulates the circulation and irritates the skin. Depending on the complaint and illness, this effect can be used. In addition, bedwort is diuretic and can flush other toxins out of the body.

In addition, you should drink a lot to compensate for or prevent a lack of fluids. It also has a hemolytic effect, i.e. dissolves blood. For more precise areas of application in mixed ready-to-use preparations, the instruction leaflet should be studied or spoken to experts.