Wolf Apple

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Wolf apple or common wolf apple / Aristolochia clematitis L. / is a perennial herbaceous plant of the ungulate family. The wolf apple has a short creeping rhizome and an unpleasant odor. The stem of the plant is straight, bare, furrowed, unbranched, reaching 40-80 cm in height.

The leaves of the wolf apple are consecutive, with long stalks, heart-shaped at the base, broadly ovate. The flowers are 2 - 8 in groups in the axils of the leaves. Perianth is light yellow tubular, at the base pot-shaped, at the top unilaterally expanded into a flat tongue. The fruit is a spherical pear-shaped box, fleshy and green in the immature state, with many flat triangular seeds.

The wolf apple blooms from May to July. It is found in moist grassy places, in meadows, sparse forests and bushes, along roads and poles, weeds in trench crops. It is distributed throughout the country from the lowlands to 700 m above sea level. Apart from Bulgaria, the herb is also found in Europe, the Mediterranean and Southwest Asia.

History of the wolf apple

The name "Aristolochia" means "excellent birth" and is associated with the traditional application of fresh juice from the plant - causing labor pains. Indian root (Aristolochia indica) was used mainly at birth. In England, the herb is known as "birthwort" and was again used for this purpose.

The ancient Greek philosopher Theophrastus (372-286 BC) commented that the plant was used to treat diseases of the uterus, reptile bites and head wounds.

Some of the species wolf apple bear the common name snakeroot (snake root), as many of the species were used by the Indians in snake bites. They also took the medicinal plant to treat stomach aches, toothaches and fevers.

The Aztecs used the wolf apple to treat abscesses, dysentery, deafness and many other diseases.

In 1934, scientists Deal and Moser were the first to report good results from the use of the wolf apple as a means of healing wounds. The reason for their research is the observation that the villagers in the Palatinate managed to heal chronic ulcers and purulent wounds, as well as paronychia of the hands and feet in a few days by taking daily baths with a decoction of wolf apple.

A few years later, another scientist commented on the excellent granulating and epithelializing action of the herb, and for particularly good effects in torpid ulcers. Antibacterial activity of alcoholic and acetone extracts of wolfberry was also found. And in 1961, scientists Moses and Lucas reported the phagocytosis-stimulating effect of extracts from the same plant.

Composition of wolf apple

The rhizome and the root of the wolf apple contain aristolochic acid, bonic acid, resins, tannins, 0.25-0.4% essential oil, the alkaloids aristoloquine, magnoflorin and others.

In the aboveground part of the plant was found the presence of aristolochic acid (0.03-0.4%), essential oil, tannins, clematin (bitter substance), resins, vitamin C, the alkaloid magnochlorine, malic acid, p-sitosterol, cyril alcohol, trimethylalanine, choline, saponins, flavones, an antibiotic substance.

Growing a wolf apple

The wolf apple is a relatively difficult plant to grow, so it is recommended only to experienced gardeners. Another important detail is that the flowers of the wolf apple have a rather unpleasant odor. If you still decide to grow this particular flower, keep in mind that very often it dies spontaneously. Otherwise, the wolf apple will grow best in a winter garden. There should be a lot of space around the pot so that it can be wrapped.

The long vines twist around supports. It is possible to cultivate the wolf apple as a hanging plant in large baskets. This flower does not have a dormant period, which implies the same watering in all seasons - abundant with filtered water. It is good to water the leaves of the wolf apple regularly, but without wetting its flowers. During growth, the flower should be fertilized every week. The wolf apple is not transplanted. In winter it should be pruned to enhance its growth.

Collection and storage of wolf apple

The rhizomes of the herb, as well as its above-ground part, are used for medical manipulations. These parts are collected from September to October. The rhizomes are removed after the seeds have matured, the above-ground parts and excess impurities are cleaned, after which they are washed and drained.

The prepared material is dried in shady places or in an oven at a temperature not exceeding 40 degrees. The aboveground part is harvested during flowering in May and June. It is dried in the same way as the rhizomes. The dried material is packed in bales and stored in dry and ventilated warehouses.

Benefits of wolf apple

The wolf apple It is used to cause labor pains and when taken after birth, it prevents infection by inducing menstruation. The decoction is also drunk to treat ulcers, asthma and bronchitis. The herb is used to treat wounds, ulcers and snake bites. Paws and infusions were used by the Indians for snake bites. It has been used for the same purpose in the Amazon.

The wolf apple is used in various ways in almost all European countries. It is considered a strong remedy for colds. In Sudan, it is used for scorpion stings. In Iran, the European variety is used as a tonic and to induce menstruation. In India it is used as a contraceptive. In Mexico, it has long been recommended for snake bites.

The wolf apple is taken to stimulate the immune system, as well as in the treatment of allergies caused by allergies of the gastrointestinal tract and gallbladder. In Chinese medicine, it is used for joint pain, abdominal pain, malaria and abscesses. Homeopathic applications include gynecological diseases and treatment of wounds and ulcers. It is used in the treatment of major surgery and in the treatment of problems with the ears, nose and throat.

Many preparations containing aristolochic acid are produced abroad. They are prescribed for wound processes, as it is considered to achieve rapid wound cleansing and good granulation. Ointments, eczema, psoriasis, abscesses, blisters on the feet caused by long walks with uncomfortable shoes are also produced. Combined mainly with venotonically active herbs, wolfberry is used in diseases due to venous insufficiency such as phlebitis, thrombophlebitis, varicose veins, hemorrhoids and others.

Although it has also been used successfully in China for lung disease, pain and fluid retention, wolfberry is banned in Germany due to the toxicity of aristolochic acid in its composition.

Folk medicine with wolf apple

Bulgarian folk medicine recommends the rhizomes and the aboveground part of the wolf apple also for fever, rheumatism, gout, scrofula, constipation, to strengthen the uterus, cough, initial tuberculosis, etc. Externally, the herb is a good remedy for washing wounds from insect bites, for compresses for purulent wounds, eczema and more.

The infusion of the seeds of the plant is used to regulate heart rate - increases the amplitude of heartbeats.

Internally used in the form of an aqueous extract: Pour a teaspoon of finely chopped root with a glass of cold water. The herb is left to soak for 8 hours, then filtered through gauze and taken in portions for one day.

For external use in the form of compresses helps the following decoction: Two teaspoons of finely chopped roots are poured with two glasses of water. The decoction is boiled for 30 minutes and filtered.

Harm from the wolf apple

As already mentioned, the wolf apple is poisonous, so it should be used only under medical supervision. In case of overdose, the herb causes menorrhagia, and in case of pregnancy it can cause miscarriage.