Devil’s Club Traditional Uses: the science behind it

Larissa Notter

(Silvia of Thrace)

Devil’s Club, Oplopanax Horridus (previous Horridum) is one of Alaska’s most famous and revered, or cursed in some circles, plants. Devil’s Club (DC) is known as Alaskan Ginseng. In herbalism it is known as an adaptogen, meaning that it helps regulate the autonomic nervous system so that the body recovers better from stress. It is popular as a salve for cuts, scrapes, arthritis and sore muscles. As a tea it is used for colds, flus and mental clarity (like Chinese ginseng would be).

In this paper, I will explore eight traditional uses of DC, the scientific studies and see how they compare. As an herbalist, it is my job to research the traditional uses of herbs and back them up with scientific research, whether it is done large scale in a lab or small scale by myself. In this way, herbalism can be effectively used to help people rather than being snake oil.

Unfortunately, due to the small amount of places that Oplopanax horridus actually grows, there are not as many studies about this specific species as would be preferred. Some studies cited will be on other species in the Oplopanax genus, such as O. elatus and other genus in the same family, such as Panax ginseng.

The first use will be the use of DC as system-strengthening, body-balancing tea (Schofield, 88). In the herbal world, there is a type of action known as an adaptogen. The action works on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) – the system of the body which controls the “fight or flight” and the “rest and digest” functions. These two systems are called the sympathetic (SNS) and parasympathetic (PNS) nervous systems respectively. Constant stress can make it difficult for the parasympathetic (rest and digest) system to kick in when the body is no longer under an actual threat. Adaptogens, while they can take a while to start working, can help the body react in the correct way. This is my own experience using devil’s club, although before moving to Alaska I had used panax ginseng (Asian ginseng) for similar purposes. 

Many herbalists will talk about “adrenal burnout” and how adaptogens can work on helping to balance the emotional unrest and ability to deal with stress better. (Weiss, 2011). There is not a lot of scientific research backing up the so-called “tired adrenals”, but there is a connection between the adrenal glands, located just above the kidneys, and the autonomic nervous system. The adrenal medulla glands secrete different hormones that will help increase the activity of either of the sub-nervous systems of the ANS. (Cleveland Clinic, 2022) This is how I have connected adaptogens to scientific research to actually work.

In my own herbal experience, I have used Panax ginseng by itself for mental clarity. However, I have developed a tea to help with Seasonal Affective Disorder, which includes DC as part of the formulation. Someone approached me asking if it could help their autistic sibling, specifically because they would easily become overstimulated and take a while to calm down. After two months of using the tea twice a day, the mother came back requesting more. They have told me that they definitely notice a difference if the child misses a cup.

The second traditional use will be iInfusions for colds. (Schofield, 2011) Two different sesquiterpenes were found in the bark. (Calway, 2011) Sesquiterpenes are compounds that can help with viral or other microbial infections by disrupting the cell membrane. (Chadwick, et al 2013) If the cell wall of a microbe is not intact, the microbe would not be able to survive and replicate, therefore shortening an infection. 

According to Schofield, Dr. Justice wrote in Alaska Medicine in June of 1966 that both the Tlingit and Haida tribes use DC infusions for colds. She also notes that Alex Wennekens wrote in July of 1983 in Alaska Native News that the Aleuts of the Prince Williams Sound also used an infusion for colds.

My own experience has really been drinking my tea. When I’ve been sick, I usually use other herbs that work better. Since my tea has not been out for even a year yet, I have yet to actually experience the benefit of it. January 2023 is when I started drinking it two times a day and I do have to say that I have not felt as susceptible to becoming sick. To add to that, I have added other supplements in my regiment that are to also help prevent getting sick.

The third traditional use is DC as infusions, topical, or bath soaks for arthritis/pain. (Schofield, 2011, Gray 2011) One aspect that could contribute to the use of Devil’s Club for pain is the lignan found in the bark. (Calway, 2011) Lignans have shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, (Rodríguez-García, et al, 2019) which can help with certain types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis and any pain caused by other inflammatory processes. Another article tells of a compound called stigmasterol which has been shown to be helpful in arthritis. (Blaxton, et al 2002).

The balm of Devil’s Club is one of the most popular topical agents I have ever seen. When I first started making balms, I didn’t make this one because there were so many who were already making it. However, I got so many requests for it that I started making it. Many people who use it are using it for arthritis, however it does work very well for muscle pain. My husband uses it right after he works out and he does not get sore the next day. Many who have used my balm or massage oil (which is a recipe that has DC in it), use it wherever they have pain. When I am standing all the time, I like to rub it on my feet. 

The fourth traditional use of DC is as a paste or external wash for wounds (Schofield, 2011, Gray 2011). According to Johnson, 2006, three different cultures besides the Gitkans have used Devil’s Club for wounds.  Studies have also looked at the antibacterial properties and have shown that there is some evidence in an extract of Devil’s Club. (McCutcheon, et al, 1992). When it comes to wounds, I do prefer my wound balm, but in a pinch I will use Devil’s Club. Many who are familiar with getting DC spines stuck in them have informed me that the balm of DC will actually help with the festering wounds that they cause.

The fifth traditional use of DC is chewing the root and putting it on tooth pain (Schofield, 2011) I could find no specific studies that mention Devil’s Club to be useful on toothaches. However, with the above information about the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, it is possible that chewing on the root may help alleviate pain from a toothache. My favorite for toothaches are frankincense (Whelan, 2021) and yarrow root.(Milutinovici, et al, 2021)

The sixth traditional use is an infusion lowering blood sugar to help with diabetes. (Schofield, 2011) The data in regards to DC lowering blood sugar has been inconclusive (Wu et al, 2018). More recent research has suggested that “Oplopantriol B 18-acetate (1) and oplopantriol B (2) were identified as nontoxic, partial PPARγ activators, thus corroborating the antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory potential of O. horridus extracts” (Reseter et al, 2020). The article goes into further explanation of how the activation of PPARγ can help with insulin sensitivity.
Insulin sensitivity describes how effectively someone’s body can use insulin to lower their blood sugar. Type I diabetes is when the pancreas cannot produce enough. Type II is more based on a problem with insulin sensitivity, meaning the body is not sensitive to insulin so it takes more insulin to actually work the way it is supposed to.

A fabulous thesis by Alissa Bronwyn Daschbach describes the history of DC use by the indigenous people, including when diabetes became a problem. She also goes over what scientific research there was at the time on traditional medicines that could help with those indigenous people who were in poverty. (Dasbauch, 2019)
There have been many experiences by herbalists treating diabetes using DC. Schofield mentions that the New Mexico Herbal Center in Albuquerque used a combination of O. horridus with blueberry leaf tea alongside dietary changes. Five different indigenous tribes have used DC as a way to help with high blood sugar. (Johnson, 2006) I have not had any experience with this aspect of DC, but am interested in seeing further research on this aspect.

The seventh traditional use is berries for lice. (Gray, 2011) Nerolidol, but the stem and root were used, not the berry. It was found to have 54.5% and 54.6% of trans-nerolidol. They are using the essential oil found in the two major parts of Devil’s Club – the bark and root. Part of this particular study goes into detail of how a mixture of nerolidol and tea tree oil was used to combat both lice and lice eggs. It mentioned several other plants that had a specific milligram that was effective, but devil’s club specifically was not mentioned. (Chan, et al, 2016)
According to the American Botanical Council Ethnobotanical 2004 Herbal Gram Issue 62

Spring 2004, the berry was used by two tribes for lice and dandruff prevention and cure. Gray’s book mentions the use of the berry for lice as well. However, I have no personal experience to back this up.

As the berries are well known to be inedible to humans (even though bears love them), so further testing should be done to see if the berries can actually be used as a lice treatment and if it is safe for humans topically.

The eighth and last traditional use this paper will discuss is infusion for cancer. (Gray, 2011) One hypothesis of the proliferation of cancer is that the cell death is turned off, leaving the cell to mutate into cancer.(Pfeffer and Singh, 2018) Two compounds, Bioactive C17 and C18 acetylenic oxylipins, have recently been shown to help in cell apoptosis, which is the process of cell death.  Both of these compounds have been found in Devil’s Club extracts of both root and stem. There are many other compounds found in DC that have also been shown to have anti-cancer properties. Studies have shown that they have been effective in breast, colon, liver, pancreatic, and lung adenocarcinoma epithelial. (Christensen 2020) 

Another article discussed the polyynes Falcarindiol and Oplopantriol A, which showed antiproliferation of ovarian, colorectal, breast, and lung cancers. (Wu, et al, 2018)

These studies were done in vitro, meaning that this was in a controlled environment. All of these compounds were isolated and one very important thing that I have learned as an herbalist is that sometimes the extract is not necessarily the best and by itself can have unintended effects that are mitigated by other compounds present in the plant. An example of this is when salicylic acid is isolated, it can cause blood thinning and stomach upset or ulcers. However, when it is used in the form of white willow bark (or any other deciduous tree that contains salicylic acid) there are other compounds that keep that from happening. 

While doing research for this paper, I also found a couple of other interesting medicinal uses of DC. Five polyynes isolated to show antimycobacterial, which can be used to help with tuberculosis.(Calway, 2011) Tuberculosis is among many of the traditional uses by the different tribes.

 The same study found plyene, which can be used as an antifungal. (Calway 2011) It binds to ergosterol, causing a disruption in how the fungus makes energy (disrupting the transport chain). 

Devil’s Club is a powerful plant that has been used for generations and continues to live on in the indigenous cultures of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. With new studies being done, science is starting to back up what the natives have known all along, that the Earth has powerful healing properties if we look. This paper went over eight different traditional uses, explored how science has looked at these different uses and how they compare. 

Bibliography

Waller, D., & Sampson, A. (2017, August 13). Chemotherapy of infections. Medical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Fifth Edition)(582-625). Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780702071676000518  

Calway, T., Du, G.-J., Wang, C.-Z., Huang, W.-H., Zhao, J., Li, S.-P., & Yuan, C.-S. (2011, November 20). Chemical and pharmacological studies of Oplopanax horridus, a North American botanical. Journal of natural medicines. Retrieved March 9, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3345165/  

Gray, B. (2011). Devil’s Club. In T. Letkeman & N. Pedersen (Eds.), The Boreal Herbal: Wild Food and Medicine Plants of the North (pp. 83–86). Aroma Borealis Press. 

Schofield, J. J., & Tyler, R. W. (2011). Devil’s Club. In Discovering wild plants: Alaska, Western Canada, the Northwest (pp. 87–89). Eaton. 

Christensen L. P. (2020). Bioactive C17 and C18 Acetylenic Oxylipins from Terrestrial Plants as Potential Lead Compounds for Anticancer Drug Development. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 25(11), 2568. Retrieved March 9, 2023 from https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25112568

Pfeffer, C. M., & Singh, A. T. K. (2018). Apoptosis: A Target for Anticancer Therapy. International journal of molecular sciences, 19(2), 448. Retrieved on February 26, 2023 from https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19020448

Wu, K., Wang, C. Z., Yuan, C. S., & Huang, W. H. (2018). Oplopanax horridus: Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Diversity and Structure-Activity Relationship on Anticancer Effects. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2018, 9186926. Retrieved February 26, 2023 from https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/9186926

Weiss, L. (2011). Devil’s Club, Oplopanax horridus. Integrative Herbalism, 1(1), 12–15. Retrieved March 3, 2023 from http://vtherbcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/journal-6-2011.pdf  

Brazier, Y. (2020, September 20). Aspirin: Health benefits, uses, risks, and side effects. Medical News Today. Retrieved March 12, 2023, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/161255 

Resetar, M., Liu, X., Herdlinger, S., Kunert, O., Pferschy-Wnzig, E.-M., Latkolik, S., Steinacher, T., Schuster, D., Bauer, R., & Dirsch, V. M. (2020). Polyacetylenes from oplopanax horridus and panax ginseng: Relationship between Structure and PPARγ Activation. ACS Publications. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b00691 

Whelan, C. (2021, May 19). Four essential oils that can help with a toothache. Healthline. Retrieved March 9, 2023, from https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/essential-oils-for-toothache 

Cleveland Clinic Professional, M. (2022, May). Adrenal medulla: What it is, Function & Diseases. Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved February 28, 2023, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23034-adrenal-medulla 

Chadwick, M., Trewin, H., Gawthrop, F., & Wagstaff, C.( 2013). Sesquiterpenoids lactones: benefits to plants and people. International journal of molecular sciences, 14(6), 12780–12805. Retrieved March 9, 2023 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms140612780  

Rodríguez-García, C., Sánchez-Quesada, C., Toledo, E., Delgado-Rodríguez, M., & Gaforio, J. J. (2019). Naturally Lignan-Rich Foods: A Dietary Tool for Health Promotion. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 24(5), 917. Retrieved February 26, 2023 from https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24050917 

Blaxton JD, Der Marderosian A, Gibbs R. Bioactive constituents of Alaskan devil’s root Oplopanax horridus. Economic Botany. 2002;56:285–287. doi: 10.1663/0013-0001(2002)056[0285:BCOADR]2.0.CO;2.

Dasbauch, A. B. (2019). All-healing weapon: the value of Oplopanax horridus root bark in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. WWU Graduate School Collection. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://cedar.wwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1913&context=wwuet  

Johnson, L. M. (2006, June 21). Gitksan medicinal plants–cultural choice and efficacy. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1564001/  

McCutcheon, A. R., Ellis, S. M., Hancock, R. E., & Towers, G. H. (1992). Antibiotic screening of medicinal plants of the British Columbian native peoples. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 37(3), 213–223. Retrieved February 26, 2023 from https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(92)90036-q 

Milutinovici, R.-A., Chioran, D., Buzatu, R., Macasoi, I., Razvan, S., Chioibas, R., Corlan, I. V., Tanase, A., Horia, C., Popovici, R. A., Dinu, S., Dehelean, C., Scurtu, A., Pinzaru, I., & Soica, C. (2021, October 10). Vegetal compounds as sources of prophylactic and therapeutic agents in Dentistry. Plants (Basel, Switzerland). Retrieved March 9, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8537575/   

Chan, W. K., Tan, L. T., Chan, K. G., Lee, L. H., & Goh, B. H. (2016). Nerolidol: A Sesquiterpene Alcohol with Multi-Faceted Pharmacological and Biological Activities. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 21(5), 529. Retrieved February 26, 2023 from https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21050529 

Lantz, T. C., Swerhun, K., & Turner, N. J. (2004). Devil’s Club (Oplopanax horridus): An Ethnobotanical Review. Herbal Gram, (62), 33–48. Retrieved February 26, 2023 from https://www.herbalgram.org/resources/herbalgram/issues/62/table-of-contents/article2697/