Asclepias tuberosa: Pleurisy root, field notes

Pleurisy Root Botanical: Asclepias tuberosa
Family: Asclepiadaceae/milkweed family. With John Slattery & Donna Chesner., and conversations with Michael Cottingham.

     2015 was an amazing year for me meeting new plants, new places and new teachers. A lot of this learning and meeting was facilitated by John Slattery a Tucson, Arizona based herbalist and completion of the Sonoran Desert Apprentice program. One field trip to the Chiricahua's was memorable because of the presence of John and Donna Chesner who have deep roots in the South West herbal tradition and links to Michael Moore, author, responsible for so much of our understanding of the herbs and herbal tradition of the South West.

     Asclepias tuberosa of the milkweed family, It has long standing history of medicinal and culinary
use, in Arizona plant it is a perennial herb growing in higher elevation sky island and mountainous environments. Seen here growing in shade and partial sun. although a milk weed, it does not have the milky sap typical of most milkweeds. The leaves are irregularly alternate, usually crowded, growing on hairy stems, narrow lance shaped bright green on the sun side and lighter green underneath. Flowers bright orange with typical milk weed seed pods, pointed at the apex, standing erect, turning reddish towards the tip when ripe, green towards the base. The distinctive yellow orange flowers are sought out by monarch and queen butterflies, and is larval food for them. The monarch butterfly population has plummeted in the last 20 years so it is important to work to support this plant and actively plant seeds to spread this and other milkweed family plants.
Excerpt:
-from john's and Donnas talk on the plant at Rucker creek in Chiricahuas:
"with onset of Arizona summer rains, warm/moist conditions prevail, this can lead to lingering weakness in the lung. People can harbor moisture exacerbated by higher elevation...Lungs/kidney- the lungs pull up ch'i from kidney, deficient ch'i -leads to torpor, ch'i/blood not circulating, stagnant. Cess pool condition in lung,  of accumulated bacteria, virus, fungi. Pleurisy root increases secretions, increases heat sweats out organs, brings energy to organs and will also help clear organs.

John here talked about a 'formula': Pleurisy root/spikenard/ephedra/estafiate-for acute asthma. Pleurisy considered root most mild compared with (Immortal- which is Strong) pleurisy root used as food, leaves, fruit. Donna here mentioned: amenogogue, energetic tonic function, can fit anyone, interesting tissue fluid mechanism-not a drug. Helps you get back to center. I have a good feeling with this plant, to be present with it here. Observing how it grows, tasting the leaves and experiencing its energetics. It encouages Rest/Repair/Relax response. It as a unique plant both Relaxant & diaphorectic-pleurisy root.
 John: mentioned a knee injury, 2 years ago. He used with Star Solomon Seal, it brought my knee back. Pleurisy root with Solomon Seal. Preventative? Yes, in all cases its true. Fall oh, I injured myself. Things don't happen without cause, out of no where. Mainathenum + Asclepius tuberosa fruit. 'in the absence of the yin, the injury would occur.' It is a remedy that disperses ch'i and fluid in the lungs to the skin, also sweating. The conversation at this point shifted to the greater ecosystem and the vitalist view of nourishing the vital force, not looking at symptoms only, but the whole person, as an ecosystem-restoring the person to balance. In the same way that permaculture techniques work to restore an ecosystem, to support that change, to 'get stronger from within', and the roles of nutritive nourishing plants/ *ASCLEPIAS TUBEROSA (Pleurisy Root) Bronchitis, pleurisy and pneumonitis...even asthma, whenever characterized by hot, dry mucosa and serous membranes; dry skin and inability to sweat, deficient sebaceous secretions.

Pleurisy Root)ROOT. Cold Infusion, 2-4 ounces. Tincture [Fresh, 1:2, Dry, 1:5, 50% alcohol] 30-90 drops. Capsules, #00, 1-3, all to 3X a day.- from Michael Moore Materia medica