Dragon-herb - Dracontium, or Dracunculus
Dragon-Herb - other names: Dracunculus vulgaris, Araceae, Dragon Arum, Black Arum, Voodoo Lily, Snake Lily, Stink Lily, Black Dragon, Dragonwort, Arum dracunculus (Linnaeus), Dracontium.
Herbalists of ancient times thought of the dragon-herb as an aphrodisiac. Largely influenced by Dioscorides, the writers subsequent to him appear to have carried this view forward, as will be seen below.
Pliny also wrote of Dracontium, devoting several pages to it - although as is common with works from that ancient age, the actual identity of the plants mentioned may have become lost and this is discussed also. [1]
The following is a quote from "The seven books of Paulus Aegineta, Volume 3" by Paulus (Aegineta.), Francis Adams (1847)
Dracontium, or Dracunculus, Dragon-herb, somewhat resembles the Wake-robin (Arum), but is more acrid and bitter than it, and also hotter, and consists of more subtile particles. It has also some astringency. The root of it, therefore, when taken in a potion cleanses the bowels, and is an excellent application to malignant ulcers ; and the leaves in like manner. But the fruit of it is stronger.
Commentary. We have treated of the Dragon-herb Comm. (Arum Dracunculus) as an article of food in another place. (Vol. " I, p. 114.) Dioscorides gives so circumstantial a description of its medicinal properties that we cannot find space for it. Suffice to say, he uses it internally in diseases of the chest, and as an aphrodisiac, externally, in various cutaneous diseases, in collyria, in injections into the ears, and as an alexipharmic. (ii, 195.) Galen embodies the substance of Dioscorides's empirical description of its virtues agreeably to his own system, recommending it principally as a deobstruent internally, and an application to sores and cancerous tumours externally. Aetius also gives an elaborate description of its powers. Oribasius merely states in general terms that it is calefacient and attenuant.
Dracunculus Vulgaris - Dragon Herb
Photo: H. Zell - lic. under CC BY-SA 3.0
Apuleius recommends it for the bite of the asp. Mesue ascribes to it powerfully cathartic and carminative powers. His account of it is very elaborate, and deserving of more attention than we can afford room to bestow upon it. He recommends it in the form of a suppository to relieve hemorrhoids and flatulence. (De Simpl. 24.) Avicenna borrows largely from Dioscorides. (ii, 2, 432.) Bhases copies from Dioscorides, Galen, and Oribasius. (Cont. 1. ult. i, 257.) Serapion does the same. (De Simpl. 43.) It remains to be mentioned that Dioscorides, Oribasius", Mesue, and Avicenna, besides the species of dracunculus which we have been treating of, also describe another by the name of the Lesser: It is supposed to be the Arum Italicum. The dragon-herb held a place in the Dispensatory down to a very late date. Boerhaave calls it a powerful diuretic and promoter of the menses. Quincy says it is reckoned alexipharmic.
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[1] http://books.google.com/books?id=lEzlAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA3518
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