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Medicinal Uses
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Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Alterative; Antiinflammatory; Cathartic; Cholagogue; Diuretic; Emetic; Sialagogue; Stimulant.
Blue flag was one of the most popular medicinal plants amongst various native North American Indian tribes[213]. In modern herbalism it is mainly employed to detoxify the body - it increases urination and bile production and has a mild laxative effect[254]. Some caution should be exercised in its use, however, since there are reports that it is poisonous[222]. The fresh root is quite acrid and when taken internally causes nausea, vomiting, colic and purging[4, 238]. The dried root is much less acrid[4]. This remedy should not be prescribed for pregnant women[238]. The root is alterative, anti-inflammatory, cathartic, cholagogue, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic and sialagogue[21, 46, 165, 238]. Taken internally as a tea, the root has been used as a strong laxative or emetic that also acts strongly on the liver and promotes the excretion of excess body fluids[4, 213]. It is also stimulant for the circulatory and lymphatic system[165]. Its detoxifying effect make it useful in the treatment of psoriasis, acne, herpes, arthritis, swollen glands, pelvic inflammatory disease etc[238, 254]. Externally, it is applied to skin diseases, wounds and rheumatic joints[238]. The roots are harvested in late summer and early autumn and are usually dried for later use[4, 238]. The roots were boiled in water and then mashed to make a poultice which was used to relieve the pain and swelling associated with sores and bruises[213].
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Other Uses
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Litmus; Repellent; Weaving.
A fine blue infusion is obtained from the flowers and this can be used as a litmus substitute to test for acids and alkalis[4]. The leaves have been used to weave baskets and mats[257]. Some native North American Indian tribes used the root as a protection against rattlesnakes. It was believed that, so long as the root was handled occasionally to ensure the scent permeated the person and their clothes, rattlesnakes would not bite them. Some tribes even used to chew the root and then hold rattlesnakes with their teeth and were not bitten so long as the scent persisted[257].
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Cultivation details
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Prefers growing in marshy conditions[1]. Very easily grown in any damp soil[42]. Prefers a heavy rich moist soil[4] and partial shade[188]. Prefers a sunny position[233]. Plants are hardy to about -25°c[187]. This species has been cultivated by the N. American Indians as a medicinal plant[207, 213]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[233].
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Propagation
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Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed should be sown as early in the year as possible in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for their first year. Plant out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Division, best done in early autumn after flowering, but can also be done in mid-spring. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
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Botanical References
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200270
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Links / References
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[1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
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Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
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[4]Grieve. A Modern Herbal.
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Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
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[21]Lust. J. The Herb Book.
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Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.
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[42]Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs.
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Rather dated now, but an immense work on bulbs for temperate zones and how to grow them. Three large volumes.
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[46]Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants.
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An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
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[165]Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
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An excellent small herbal.
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[187]Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2.
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Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.
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[188]Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers
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Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.
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[207]Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers.
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A nice read, lots of information on plant uses.
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[213]Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food.
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A nice book to read though it is difficult to look up individual plants since the book is divided into separate sections dealing with the different medicinal uses plus a section on edible plants. Common names are used instead of botanical.
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[222]Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America.
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A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
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[233]Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants
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A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
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[238]Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
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A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
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[254]Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants
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An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
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[257]Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany
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Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
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[301]Karalliedde. L. and Gawarammana. I. Traditional Herbal Medicines
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A guide to the safer use of herbal medicines.
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Subject : Iris versicolor
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