American Sanicle

Scientific Names

Sanicula marilandica L.
Umbelliferae
Umbel family

Common Names

Black sanicle
Black snakeroot
Butterwort
Pool root
Sanicle
Sanicle root
Wood sanicle
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Description of Plant(s) and Culture

American sanicle is a perennial plant; the root is composed of many blackish strings or fibers. The fibrous rootstock produces a light-green, furrowed, hollow stem bearing a few sessile leaves or none at all. Most of the plant’s bluish-green, palmately lobed leaves are basal, growing on long petioles. Small umbels of white, greenish-white, or yellowish flowers bloom from May to July. Prickled fruits sessile (without stalks); base of bristles bulbous.

Other variety: European sanicle (S. europaea) also called wood sanicle; Canadian sanicle (S. canadensis).
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Where Found

Found in rich woods, thickets, and shores from Newfoundland south to Georgia, and west to Alberta and Colorado. Shade loving plant.
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Medicinal Properties

Astringent, expectorant, nervine, vulnerary, alterative, discutient, depurative
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Uses

Used as a gargle for irritations or sores in the mouth and throat, for internal ulcers, kidney ailments, rheumatism, diarrhea, digestion, fevers, colds, inflammations, swellings, wounds, tumors, gonorrhea, syphilis, blood cleanser, quinsy, tuberculosis, scurvy, tetters, rashes, erysipelas, pain, hemorrhage and excessive menstrual flow. The powdered root used for fever and chorea (St. Vitus’s dance). Native Americans used a poultice of the root for snakebite.
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Formulas or Dosages

Infusion: steep 1 tsp. rootstock in water. Take 1 cup a day.

Tincture: a dose is from 15-30 drops.
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Bibliography

American Folk Medicine, by Clarence Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, 1973

Culpeper's Complete Herbal & English Physician, by Nicholas Culpeper, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, 1990, (reprint of 1814)

Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants, by Steven Foster and James A. Duke., Houghton Mifflin Company, 215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10000

Indian Herbalogy of North America, by Alma R. Hutchens, Shambala Publications, Inc., Horticultural Hall, 300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, 1973

The Magic of Herbs, by David Conway, published by Jonathan Cape, Thirty Bedford Square, London, England. (Out of print)

The Nature Doctor, by Dr. H.C.A. Vogel; Keats Publishing, Inc., 27 Pine Street (Box 876) New Canaan, CT. 06840-0876. Copyright Verlag A. Vogel, Teufen (AR) Switzerland 1952, 1991

Webster's New World Dictionary, Third College Edition, Victoria Neufeldt, Editor in Chief, New World Dictionaries: A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc., 15 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10023, 1984

The Rodale Herb Book, edited by William H. Hylton, Rodale Press, Inc. Emmaus, PA, 18049., 1974