Botanical: Asclepias tuberosa   (also known as Aesclepias tuberosa)
Family: Apocynaceae (dogbane) - formerly Asclepiadaceae (milkweed)
Other common names: Pleurisy Root, Silkweed, Flux Root, Tuber Root, White Root, Wind Root, Canada Root, Orange Swallow Wort, Orange Milkweed, Colic Root, Swallow Wort

Butterfly Weed is considered one of the finest plant expectorants   that has been used to ease pleurisy, pneumonia and other pulmonary and respiratory ailments.  It also has been used to promote sweating, which will help to cool the body and reduce eruptive and burning fevers.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Herbal Extracts Plus is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

History:
Butterfly Weed is an herbaceous milkweed that is native to North America, and unlike other milkweeds, it does not produce a milky, latex-like sap.  It is a handsome, fleshy-rooted perennial that may grow to a height of three feet and bears beautiful clusters of deep yellow and orange flowers. The plant is sensitive and difficult to establish and thrives in dry, sandy, neutral-to-acid soil in full sun, but when cultivated, Butterfly Weed does not like to be disturbed and prefers good peat soil.  It is considered rare and protected in some states.  Butterfly Weed is an important nectar source for bees and other insects and a larval food source for Monarch butterflies, thereby giving rise to its name, Butterfly Weed.  The seed pods in the plant contain soft filaments that are known as "silk," which suggests another of its common names, Silkweed, and this material is considered a fine insulation that may be superior to down feathers for warmth. Its botanical genus, Asclepias (sometimes spelled Aesclepias) is derived from the Greek god of healing, Aesclepius, because of the plant's many medicinal applications; and another of its common names, Pleurisy Root, is an obvious reference to its historical use to treat pleurisy and other pulmonary ailments.  Early Western tribes enjoyed the high dextrose content in Butterfly Weed as a natural sweetener, and Canadian tribes considered it a fine vegetable for the pot.  The Natchez people employed Butterfly Weed as a remedy for pneumonia, and the Catawbas used it for dysentery.  It is interesting to note that Native Americans used Butterfly Weed in their medicines (mostly for lung ailments) for over one thousand years before the herb entered European pharmacopoeias of the eighteenth century or was listed in the United States Pharmacopoeia in the nineteenth century (1820-1920).  It is a bitter, acrid, nutty-flavored tonic herb, and its dried roots are used in herbal medicine.  Some of the constituents in Butterfly Weed include alpha- and beta-amyrin, resins, amino acids, volatile oil, flavonoids (rutin and quercetin), glucosidal principal (asclepiadin), kaempferol and lupeol.

Beneficial Uses:
Butterfly Weed has been a very valuable herb in the treatment of pleurisy (reaffirming its common name, Pleurisy Root).  It not only eases the pain associated with the illness (which helps to make breathing easier), but most importantly, it is also considered an effective expectorant that encourages, loosens and removes phlegm from the respiratory tract.  The herb is said to reduce inflammation of the pleural membranes of the lungs, enhance secretion of healthy lung fluids and stimulate the lymphatic system.  Its specific action on the pulmonary and respiratory system is said to help break up colds, ease consumption, bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, dry cough, clogged nasal passages, catarrhal affections of the lungs and throat, and virtually all bronchial complaints.

Butterfly Weed is thought to be good for the digestive system, although not often used for this purpose. It has been used to relieve indigestion and a "gassy stomach" and for flatulent colic.

As a diaphoretic, Butterfly Weed is said to promote perspiration and sweating, and herbalists have used it to cool the body and reduce eruptive fevers.  It has been utilized to ease the feverish stages of colds and flu, scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, bilious fever, low typhoid states, measles and other burning fevers.

Several of Butterfly Weed's historical applications have included treatment for dysentery, diarrhea and has been called an effective antispasmodic.

Recommended Dosage:
Take two (2) capsules, one (1) to two (2) times each day with water at mealtimes.

Contraindications:
Pregnant and nursing women should not use Butterfly Weed.  Overuse (many times the

recommended dosage) may cause diarrhea and vomiting.   Do not use in conjunction with

prescription heart medication, diuretics or hormonal medications.

Capsule Size:
We use only 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose "00" capsules for all of our encapsulated products. (click here for size comparison)

• Butterfly Weed (sold as Pleurisy Root) -- Approximately 600 mg. each.