Devil’s club is a tall-growing, shrubby plant in the ivy family that
thrives in the moist, old growth conifer forests of the Pacific
Northwest, although stands also naturally occur in the Great Lakes
region and portions of Idaho.
The herb was well known to several Native American tribes, especially
the Blackfoot, Tsimshian, Alutiiq and Tlingit, who used the plant
externally and internally to address inflammatory conditions, among
other things.
Devil’s club was and is still used in shamanism for purification and
personal protection. Hanging a piece of club root over the front door of
the home is said to protect the occupants within from misfortune.
Because devil’s club is related to
American ginseng, it is sometimes
referred to as an adaptogenic and even marketed as Alaskan ginseng.
However, the plants differ in chemical composition and pharmacology.
