There once lived a Cabbage named Skunk.
who thrived in the wetlands and muck.
Though graced with beauty
and gigantic green leaves,
Skunk smelled like, well a skunk.
Really bad! So sad!
But it didn’t matter, this cabbage was magic.
Ask the deer and the bear.
Ask the beetle and the fly.
Ask the healers and the shamans.
A Cabbage named Skunk, stinky in disguise;
nature’s secret medicinal prize.
♥ -p.o.martig
I love to walk: I walk and talk, I walk and gawk, I walk for health, I walk for clean air; I walk to better me, and most of all, I walk because I live near the most beautiful place on earth: the Olympic National Forest. That said, gawking while walking is my favorite way to learn about new plants, animals and the terrain of my dreams. Just today in a passing meadow I saw a small herd of alpacas and nursing crias grazing in sweet and simple peace.
Last month, I came across the most breathtaking (literally) sight; between the evergreens and boggy wetland environ: hundreds of exquisite yellow flowers in the shape of lilies were nestled between giant emerald leaves as far as the eye could see. When I got home, I excitedly told my husband about my find. He laughed and like a pin to a balloon, said they were just Skunk Cabbage. I didn’t believe him. So I went to the computer and found out, to my dismay, he was correct. How could this be? The name is so harsh and undignified for such beauty. (Continuing my research into this odoriferous species, I found out (Lysichiton Americanus) is also known as Swamp Lantern. So Swamp Lantern it is for the remainder of my post.)
Swamp Lantern is a native species of the arum family and is found predominately in swamps, wet woods, along streams and other soggy areas of the Pacific Northwest. It grows from rhizomes, and has short-stalked leaves that are said to be the largest of any native plant in region, 30-150 cm long by 10-70 cm wide when fully mature.¹
It’s distinctive odor when blooming draws pollinators, scavenger beetles and flies. Swamp Lantern has medicinal properties benefiting many creatures, some in surprising ways. Bears and deer eat Swamp Lantern in copious quantities in late winter and early spring. The bears for the laxative and cathartic relief from its roots after hibernation and deer for its much-needed protein after a winter’s meek forage. Indigenous people used Swamp Lantern as medicine for burns and injuries, food in times of famine and its wide leaves for baking salmon and herbs.¹
Today, the Swamp Lantern (primarily its rhizomes and roots) is used in modern-day medicine to treat breathing problems; including swollen airways, asthma, whooping-cough, joint and muscular pain, headaches and toothaches, nervous system disorders including spasm, convulsions, and epilepsy.² Wow, who knew?
Caution is suggested, however, when eating the leaves raw since they contain calcium oxalate crystals, a major contributor to human kidney stones.¹ These same raw leaves can also produce a prickly sensation on the tongue and throat and irritate the intestine. ² Educating yourself on any plant you are not familiar with is always suggested. There is a reason many plants are not on the shelves of the grocery store. Swamp Lantern is one of those. Check with your doctor before harvesting the plant for yourself. There are no guarantees when using this cabbage as a medical remedy and death has occurred from ill-use.²
*(The fragrant smelling lavender claims some of the same medicinal benefits. I think I’d feel safer using and decorating with it!)
References
¹https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysichiton_americanus
²https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-91/skunk-cabbage
³YouTube: Harmonic Arts- Bear Medicine and the Magic of Skunk Cabbage
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