Butterfly Milkweed - Asclepias Tuberosa: Medicinal & Alternative Uses of Pleurisy Root

Butterflyweed AKA butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), not to be confused with the invasive bush (Buddleja spp.), is a native milkweed in Ontario. Although some milkweed species are edible, butterfly weed is nowhere near the top of that list. Slightly edible with processing, and more along the lines of a starvation food, I’m skipping having a section in this article on edibility. These blooms have a better food use – for our pollinators. Its human uses are more medicinal.

Medicinal Uses of Butterfly Milkweed

Butterfly milkweed is primarily said to support these body systems:

Digestive
Integumentary
Respiratory
Skeletal

Medicinal tags include Anti-inflammatory, Antispasmodic, Astringent, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Expectorant and Laxative. See Medicinal tag key for more information.

Common usage is the dried root chewed or used in a tea for breaking up mucous build up in the lungs or GI tract. “Pleurisy” in the folk name refers to inflammation of the pleurae, which in turn impairs lubrication of the lungs. Butterfly milkweed root may be combined with cayenne or lobelia by herbalists, to bring lubrication to dry coughs of various origin including pneumonia and asthma. But it’s not recommended for self medicating due to glycosides; use with professional supervision.

This is the species of milkweed that has seen the most attention medicinally. It was once a cure-all. But it is poisonous in high doses. Cardiac glycoside in this and other plants may protect monarchs, and help the plant protect itself from grazing mammals (which btw, is not a measure for humans as plenty of things we shouldn’t eat are eaten by animals and vice versa). Lately, there’s a bit of a stir over glycosides. Some of it is clickbait. Resulting in fear of any plant with glycosides (see ghost pipe as the latest target). Yet somehow stone fruits, flaxseeds, almonds, lima beans, etc. (all which contain cyanogenic glycosides) haven’t succumb to the fear mongering yet. Well, maybe apple seeds to some degree, in what’s mostly an old wives tale! It would take well over 100 apple seeds to poison you. The poison is in the dose, a high content of cyanogenic glycosides being potentially deadly. In the many plants that are used which contain these, cooking or drying or some other form of processing is used to reduce said content.

Alternative Uses of Butterfly Weed

The seed pod down can be spun and used to make candle wicks.

The root makes a yellow-brown dye.

Growing Asclepias Tuberosa

Of all the native milkweeds, the dense and bright pumpkin orange flowers of butterfly milkweed are the showiest. It’s easy to grow from seed, but you can also find plugs. Just beware tropical, nonnative lookalikes in garden centers.

You’ll want a spot with loose sandy to loamy soil, and dry to average moisture. It’ll do best in full sun. It’s a bit shorter than many other native plants, making it a showy front and center all-star.

Monarchs, fritillaries, swallowtails and sulphur butterflies common here will nectar on it, and many other insects! Known to go for bright flowers, the ruby-throated hummingbird will also visit the blooms.

WARNINGS

Don’t use if pregnant.

And the Usual Cautions:

1) Most medicinal herbs, if edible, are meant to be eaten in moderation, even sparingly. Some require extra preparation. Tannins are toxic if consumed in excess. Before taking any new supplements, you should consult with a healthcare professional.

2) A vast amount of these herbs are diuretic. (See the Medicinal tags above to check if this featured herb is one of them!) Diuretics are generally safe, but they can be risky for people with other medical conditions or who take certain medications. Please consult your doctor if you have any health conditions.

3) People can be allergic or sensitive to nearly any plant; try new herbs one at a time at your own risk. For instance, saponins commonly cause stomach upset.

4) For serious medicinal use, I must recommend receiving a diagnosis and working with a reputed health care provider. I generally do not post specific treatments and dosages because I think that is best between you and your health care provider, and ideally monitored.

5) Anyone pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription drugs should talk to a health care professional before adding new food items to their diet.

6) Many plants have look-a-likes, and sometimes they are poisonous.

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RESOURCES

My new favourite foraging book is Sam Thayer’s Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants of Eastern & Central North America and this plant IS NOT featured in his book. Which to the least means it isn’t a popular edible. I highly recommend this thorough guide for your bookshelves!

https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/btf_milkweedx.htm

https://data.canadensys.net/vascan/taxon/2713

wiki/Asclepias_tuberosa

The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine

Indian Herbalogy of North America: The Definitive Guide to Native Medicinal Plants and Their Uses

Field Guide to North American Edible Wild Plants (Out of Print)

Reader’s Digest Magic and Medicine of Plants

Pollinators of Native Plants: Attract, Observe and Identify Pollinators and Beneficial Insects with Native Plants

100 Easy-to-Grow Native Plants for Canadian Gardens

The Herb Book: The Most Complete Catalog of Herbs Ever Published (Dover Cookbooks)

The Practice of Traditional Western Herbalism: Basic Doctrine, Energetics, and Classification

Herbal Medic: A Green Beret’s Guide to Emergency Medical Preparedness and Natural First Aid 1st Edition