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OriginallypresentedasapaperattheScottishSchoolofHerbalMedicine

AnIntuitiveStudyof
RabbitTobacco
GnaphaliumobtusifoliumL.

SweetEverlasting,Cudweed,OldFieldBalsam,SweetWhiteBalsam,
IndianPosy,LifeofMan,PovertyWeed,FussyGussy

MatthewWoodMS(HerbalMedicine)
RegisteredHerbalist(AHG)

Abstract
Theisolatedbiologicallyactivemoleculeisthebasisforthedefinitionofthepropertiesofadruginbiomedicine.The
associationofaparticularmolecularstructurewithanidentifiablefunctioninthebodyisthebasisofthe
structure/functionclaimwhichadrugisentitledtobear.Bycomparison,inherbalismthewholeplantisused.Thus,
themedicinalpropertiesoftheplantneedtobedefinedintermsoftheactionofthewhole.Thisrequiresdifferent
methodsofanalysisanddifferentstandardsofdefinition.Thesehavenotyetbeensettleduponbyherbalists.For
instance,dowedefinethemedicinalpropertiesoftheplantbyitsmajormedicinalconstituentsorasawholeentity
containingthoseconstituentparts?Thistouchesupontheissueofreductionismversusholism.Herbalistsas
individualsandasacommunitycanmakethechoicewhethertheywanttodefinemedicinalplantsaccordingtothe
reductionistapproachofbiomedicine,theholisticapproachofnaturalmedicine,orboth.Thefollowingpaper
representsastudyofamedicinalplantaccordingtotheholisticapproach,sothattheemphasisisplacedupon
understandingtheplantasawholeentity,containingconstituents,ratherthanasagroupofconstituentparts.An
intuitivemethodisused,sincetheintuitioncomprehendspatternsthatuniteseparatephenomenaintoawhole.The
resultsofintuitiveresearcharecheckedagainsthistoricalusage,pharmacology,andclinicalexperience.Thepaper
thereforesuggestsmethodsanddefinitionsthroughwhichtheunderstandingofthewholeplantasamedicinalagent
canbedeveloped.Inaddition,itprovidesademonstrationofhowanherbalist(theauthor)enlargedhisunderstanding
ofthemedicinalpropertiesofanherb,(RabbitTobacco,GnaphaliumobtusifoliumL.),fromreputationonlytoactive
use.

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Introduction
Theusualapproachinscienceisreductionistic,i.e.,thewholeisreducedtoitsparts.Thepartcanisolated,quantified,
anditsactiontested.Thus,biomedicinewouldstudytheactiveingredientsinordertounderstandtheactionofthe
wholeplant.Inholisticmedicine,ontheotherhand,thegreatestvalueisplacedonunderstandingandtreatingthe
wholeorganism.Likewise,itissupposedthatthewholemedicinalsubstance,saytheplant,issuperiortothe
fragmentedpartstheconstitutethewholeplant.

MethodsofStudy
1.Thewholeplantcanbetreatedlikeapersonality.Inordertounderstandthewholeplant,ratherthantheisolated
ingredient,wefirstofallneedtobeabletovisualizethattheseparateconstituentsoftheplantareunitedtogetherintoa
wholeandthatthiswholecanhaveattributes.Inotherwords,theplantisnotjustaslurryofdifferentchemicals,but
possessesaninherentwholenessthatunitesthesediverseingredientsintoasingle,operativeentity.
Wearenotusedtothinkingofplantslikethis.Wedonotthinkofthemasbeingindividualentitieswithspecifictraits.
Thismakesitsoundtoomuchliketheplanthasorisapersonality.This,however,isexactlywhatweneedtolearn.
Theplantisnotabundleofseparatechemicals,butisanintelligentbeingthedirectsalloftheseconstituentsinan
integrated,selfmaintaining,selfhealingfashion.Theseparatepartsareboundtogetherbyanentitylikecore,andthis,
asdirectoroftheparts,hascharacteristichabitsandexpressions,justlikeapersonality.
Nowwearereallyspeakingoftheplantspeciesasanuntity,ratherthantheindividualplant,becauseeachindividual
reactsmuchthesameasothermembersofthesamethespecies.Allhavethesamegeneticprogramming.Thus,the
personalitythatthespecieshasisnotsomuchlikethepersonalityofaseparatehumanordog,forinstance,butthe
personalityoftheentirespecies.
Wereallyhavetoposittheexistenceofpersonalityinalllifeformsbecausetheyuniteseparatecomponentsintoa
wholeentitythatreactstoexternalstimulationinacharacteristicfashion.Abunchofchemicalsbythemselvescould
notnavigatethemanythreatsposedbyevolutionandnaturalselectionratheritistheintelligenceofthespecificlife
formthatreactstoenvironmentalstress.Thisunderlyingpersonalityinturnreflectsthemedicinalpropertiesofthe
wholeplantbecauseitcontainsthemandusesthemaltogether,inconcert,foritsownsurvival.
2.Studyingpersonalityviatheintuition.Inordertounderstandaplantinsuchawayitisnecessarytodrawupona
widerangeofresourcesthanthematerialalone.Wemightthinkofhowwedothisinregardtoanalyzinghumans.
Somearemorehiddenandsomearemorereadilydisplayed.Some,likeGeorgeWashington,AdolfHitler,orLeonardo
daVinci,remaintosomeextenthidden,unknown,andinexplicable,whileothers,likeAbrahamLincoln,VincentVan
Gogh,orWinstonChurchill,seemalmosttohavepouredthemselvesout,tothelastdrop,andleftverylittleinhiding.
Itisthroughtheiractionsandappearancethatweunderstandsuchpeople,nottheirchemistry,anditisthesamewith
themedicinalpowersofplants.Inusingthemwegainexperienceandinsight.Additionalinformationissuppliedby
theirtaste,smell,touch,andappearance.Thenaturalhistory,stagesofgrowth,andenvironmentalnichesupply
additionalknowledge.Chemicalconstituentscontributetoourunderstanding,buttheyarenotthebasisforawell
roundedknowledgeofeitherthemedicinalproperties,orthepersonalityoftheplant.
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Undoubtedlywerunariskofanthropomorphizingoursenseofplantidentity,justaswetendtoprojectourown
characteristicsonthepeoplewestudy.Ourknowledgeisimperfectthismustbefreelyadmittedbuthowmuchless
perfectisitwhentheplantismerelyviewedasabunchofchemicalsindependentofanyguidingintelligence,overall
purpose,orforlackofabetterwordpersonality?Ifthescientistignoresthepersonality,becauseitistoosubjective
ordoesnotleavematerialtraces,thenscientificknowledgeistruewithinitsownsphere,butincompletefromanother
perspective.
3.Plantpropertiesandmorphology.Amongtheoldmethodsusedtodiscerntheessentialnatureoftheplantisthe
doctrineofsignatures.Thisiswidelydismissedaschildsplayinconventionalscience,butIfindthedoctrinetobe
particularlyhelpful.Thesignatum,ifrightlyunderstood,reflectstheinnateenergypatternorpersonalityoftheplant
veryclosely.AsRudolfSteinerexplains,thesignaturerepresentsabunchingupofenergyinresistancetoexternal
environmentalstresseswhich,inahumanbeingwouldcauseadisease,butwhichinaplantcausesadaptationresulting
inadistortionorchangeofstructure(WilhelmPelikan,1997,12).Thesignaturethusrepresentsthestresstheplant
hassurvivedandalsoitshealingproperty.Manyregretthedoctrineofsignaturesasanarchaicsurvivalofmagical
thinking.Asamatteroffactweneedtocultivatethepoeticfacultyorimaginationtooftentimesseethesignatureand
thisisbasisfortruemagicalthought.Wemightjustaswellcriticizesuchpeoplefortheirmaterialisticthoughtbut
suchargumentsarecircular.
Closelyrelatedtothedoctrineofsignaturesarethephysicalpropertiesoftheplant,suchaswefindthroughour
senses.Thetastecloselycorrespondstothemedicinalpropertiesoftheplant,amethodusedintraditionalChinese,
Ayurvedic,andWesternherbalismformillennia.Theseinturnoftenreflectthemedicinalconstituentslocatedinthe
laboratory.Forinstance,flavonoidsareusuallyassociatedwithfruitacidsandthuswiththesourtaste,atastewhichwe
likeinhotweatherforitscoolingcapacities(lemonade,fruit,etc.)
Asweanalyzethepropertiesandconstituentsoftheplantwenaturallyfindaneedtoexpressthesepropertiesin
generalterms.Thisgivesrisetothedoctrineofenergetics.Thus,plantsaredividedintotwocategories,hotandcold,
suitedtothetreatmentofcold,stagnant,depressedconditionsandhot,overexcited,irritatedonesrespectively.Further
categoriesincludedampanddry.Dampnessmaybefurthersubdivideintodampflowing(whichrespondsto
astringents)anddampstagnation(whichrespondstoalteratives).IntheEastanothercategory,wind,representsspasm
andtension.Energeticcategoriesvaryfromculturetoculture,butgenerallywehavefromtwotosix.
Anotherimportantareaofinsightcomestousthroughexaminationofthemorphologyandbotanicalkinshipof
aplant.Studyofthemorphology(shape)iscloselyrelatedtothedoctrineofsignaturesinsomeways,butalsomore
closelyrelatedtoscientificinterests.ThismethodcomesdowntousthroughtheworkofJ.W.Goethe,RudolfSteiner,
JoakimBockemuhl,andMargaretColquhoun.Byunderstandingtheshapeofaplantthroughitsdifferentperiodsof
growth,andinitsdifferentstructures,aswellasbyrelationshipwithitsclosekin,wecangraspitsenergy,personality,
oressence.
Thestudyoftherelationshipofaplanttoitskinisalsoimportantbecausetheremaybearelationshipbetween
themedicinalconstituentsandpropertiesintheplantanditscloserelatives.Whenthereisnotwhencloserelatives
havehighlydifferentpropertiesthisalsoisinteresting.
3.Empiricalknowledge.Finallywecometothescientificstudyofplantchemistry.Weoftenfindplantconstituents
listedintextbooksinadisorganizedframeworkintheplantofcoursetheyformafunctionalunit,eachcompound
undertakingworknecessaryforplantsurvival.Ifwetrulyunderstandtheenergetics,taste,morphology,andsignatures
ofaplant,wewillbegintounderstandhowthesemultipleconstituentsfalltogetherintoameaningfulwhole,bothfor
theplantandforthepersonwhoreceivesitasamedicine.
Ourlearningdoesnotstophere,withtheplantitself,butalsoincludestheactionoftheplantonthehuman
being.Often,indeed,itisnoteasyforustounderstandthepropertiesofaplantuntilitistranslatedintothehuman
realm.Thismeansthatweinteractwiththeplantinourmind,emotions,andbody.Theplanthasaneffectonall
levels.Probablythemostprofoundlearningpossiblecomesfromactualcommunicationwiththeplant,asanequalit
cantellusforwhatitismedicinal.Wecanalsotaketheplanttoproducephysiologicalsymptoms,asisdoneina
homeopathicproving.Finally,however,itisintheactualuseoftheplantinaclinicalsettingthatourknowledge
becomegalvanized.Asweseetheplantwork,inmoreandmorecases,weunderstandmoredeeplyandmultifacetedly
itspersonalityandproperties.
Conventionalevidencebasedmedicinedisapprovesoftheuseofcasehistoriesforlearningabouttheactionof
drugsorherbs,butitisherethatthestorylineisrichestandwehavethemosttolearn.Again,however,thereisan
argumentbetweenthosewhovaluetheprimalconstituentsofhumannatureintuition,imagination,andinstinctand
thosewhoconsiderthemunreliable.Theargumentiscircularbut,formyself,Ichoosetoknowthestoryofcreation,in
itslargeandsmallparts.
ToillustratethesedifferentmethodsoflearningIhavechosenaplantcalledsweeteverlastingorrabbittobacco
intheUnitedStates.Ichosethisfortworeasons,firstbecauseIcameacrossacasehistorythatindicateditsuseina
veryhardtotreatcondition(congenitalasthma)andsecond,becauseIknewithadanassociationwiththespiritworld
inAmericanIndianmedicine(tobaccoisusedforcommunicationwithspirits).Verylateinmystudytherelationship
betweenthesetwofactsbecameclear,atleastinmymind,andthatledmetofeelthatIdidinfacthaveawellfounded
understandingofthisplant.

I.RabbitTobacco
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Theeverlastingsareagroupofplantsknownforthesurvivaloftheirflowersinadried,preservedstateafterthe
endofthegrowingseason.Thenameisnowappliedgenerallytoanyplantwhichtendstobepreservedinthisway,but
theoriginaleverlastingsbelongedtofourcloselyrelatedgeniiintheAsteraceaefamily:Gnaphalium,Anaphalis,
Antennaria,andHelichrysum.
DioscoridesusedtheGreekwordgnaphalon(alockofwool)todescribeamemberofthisgroup(orprobably,
severalrelatedspecies).Thetermgnaphaliumwassubsequentlyadoptedtodescribethevariouseverlastings.Bythe
presenttimemosteverlastings,includingmembersofallfourgenera,havebeenknownbythisnameatsometimein
theirhistory.Changesinbotanicalnomenclaturehaveseparatedthemintofourgroups,buttheirkinshipisapparentin
appearance,popularnames,andmedicinaluses.Ifwelookthroughtherecordsofdiversetimes,cultures,and
continents,wefindgeneralagreementintheuseoftheeverlastings,exceptforoneunusualmember(Gnaphalium
arenarium).Inshort,thiswidegroupofplantsneedstobestudiedasawholetoprovideacontextforthediscussionof
evenoneofitsmembers.
OneofthemostoutstandingoftheeverlastingsisGnaphaliumobtusifoliumL.,orsweeteverlasting.Notonly
isitaneverlastingbutithasabeautifulscentand(mostremarkableofall),thissmellisspontaneouslyemitted,from
timetotime,monthsandyearsafteritwasdried,duetochangesinthemoistureoftheairorbarometricpressure.
Standingoutinafieldofsweeteverlasting,whenthefirstdropsofrainfall,isquiteanexperience:Whatsthat
smell?UnliketheEuropeaneverlastings,whichwerenotwidelyusedinfolkandprofessionalmedicine,sweet
everlastingisanimportantplantinthemedicineoftheIndianpeopleofeasternNorthAmerica.
SweeteverlastingisaprominentinhabitantofoldsandyfieldsandmeadowsineasternNorthAmerica.Itwas
wellknowntotheIndianpeopleandstillcarriesthenamerabbittobaccoastestimonytotheirideaofitsplaceinthe
universe.ItissaidthatRabbit,whileuntanglinghimselffromathicket,firstdiscoveredthepropertiesofthisplantasa
cureforcuts.ItwaswidelyusedbytheIndianpeopleaswellasEuroAmericansforthispurpose.Anotherstory
explainsthatRabbitusessweeteverlastingasatobaccotocommunicatewithCreator,justashumanshavetheirown
kindsoftobacco.ItwasandstillisusedintobaccosmokingmixesbysomeIndianpeople.Yet,becauseofcertain
properties,itisavoidedinsmokingmixturesbyothers.
UponthediscoveryoftheNorthAmericancontinentbyexplorersfromEurope,variouseverlastingswere
recognizedascousinsoftheOldWorldeverlastings.SpecimenswerefirstidentifiedasGnaphaliumAmericanum,but
duetoaglitchincommunicationitwasnotclearwhereintheWesternhemispheretheyoriginated.(Theboatonwhich
theyarrivedhadbeeninbothNorthandSouthAmerica).However,G.Americanumbecamethetechnicalnamemost
commonlyusedbyearlywritersontheAmericaneverlastingssuchasJohnGerard(1597)ofLondon,JohnClayton
(1687)ofVirginia,andWilliamSalmon(1710)ofSouthCarolinaandLondon.In1756Linneusgavethisparticular
speciesthenameG.obtusifolium,referringtotheappearanceofthebluntlowerleaves,andthisistheappellationunder
whichitisknowninbotanytoday.MichauxattemptedtomakeanendrunaroundLinneus,callingitG.polycephalum
in1806.ItappearsunderbothnamesinnineteenthcenturymedicalliteraturebuttodaytheLinneandenominationis
consideredcorrect.
TheEnglishsettlersrecognizedthisnewplantasarelativeoftheirowncudweed,cottonweed,oreverlasting,
butbecauseofitsbeautifulsmellitwasknown,indistinctiontotheothers,assweeteverlasting.Throughoutits
Americanrangeitisoftenassociatedwithacousinfromwhichitneedstobedistinguished,pearlyeverlasting
(AnaphalismargaritaceaL.)Thisplanthaspearlywhite,unscentedflowers,andoverlapsinrange.Ittendstogrow
furthertothenorthandwest.
Fromitshabitatinpoorsandyandexhaustedsoils,rabbittobaccoalsocametobeknownasoldfieldbalsam
andpovertyweed.CollectedinbouquetsasaneverlastinggaverisetothenameIndianposy.Themostpoeticname
isfussygussy,whilethemostmysteriousisperhapslifeofman.Themostspookyisowlscrown,sincetheowlis
consideredtobeamessengerbringingtidingsofdeathinAmericanIndianmedicine.Itisalsothechiefpredatorofthe
rabbit.ThefollowingcommonnamesarecollectedbyTimothyCoffeyinTheHistoryandFolkloreofNorthAmerican
Wildflowers(1993,260):
Balsam(N.Y.),BalsamWeed,Chafeweed,FeatherWeed(N.Y.),FiledBalsam,FragrantLifeEverlasting,Fuzzy
Guzzy(Ohio),GoldenMotherwort(N.C.),IndianPosy(LongIsland),LadiesTobacco(Wis.),LifeEverlasting
(NewEngland,Ohio),LifeofMan(N.H.),Moonshine(Vt.),NoneSoPretty,OldFieldBalsam(NewEngland),
OwlsCrown,PoveryWeed(Maine),RabbitTobacco(Ga.,Ky.),SweetBalsam,SweetLifeEverlasting,White
Balsam.
ItisremarkablethatfewofthesenamesbetrayOldWorldorigins,andthatthemostcommonBritishnames,
cudweedandcottonweed(Salmon,1710),werecompletelyunknownintheNewWorld.Manysettlersapparentlysaw
thisplantforthefirsttimeonthesandycoastalshoresofeasternNorthAmerica.Thestrikingappearancestimulated
theirimaginationtoprovidenewnames.However,CoffeytrackedthenamechafeweedtoWilliamTurner(1551)and
goldenmotherworttoJohnGerards(1635)goldenmothwort.CoffeyexplainsthatthesoftleavesoftheBritish
specieswereusedtopreventchafingand,mixedwithfat,weregiventocattlethathadlosttheircud.Gerardexplains
thatmothwortormothweedrepelsmoths.Coffeytracesthenamefeatherweedtothepracticeofthepoor,inNew
York,whostuffedtheirmattresseswiththeplantwhentheycouldntgetgoosedown.
AtthetimewhentheEnglishsettlersfirstarrivedinNorthAmericatheEuropeaneverlastingswerewidely
appreciatedbyhousewivesinBritainfortheirdecorativepotential(Gerard,1635,642),buttheywerehardlyusedin
medicine.Ihaveseenitusedonlyinoneplace,testifiedNicholasCulpeper(1652,45).However,aswillbenoted
below,cudweedisstillinuseinEnglishfolkmedicinetoday.
InNorthAmerica,theuseofsweeteverlastingasanindoorbouquetorposywasawellestablishedfolkcustom
amongearlyAngloAmericanhousewives.PeterKalm(1751,70)notesthatEnglishladies(asopposedtoGerman,
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DutchorSwedishAmericanhousewives)likedtopicktheplantstalk,leafandflowerandputthebouquetinthe
house,aboutthewindowsorchimney.Icarryonthispracticemyself:theoccasionalreleaseofthebeautifulscentat
unexpectedmomentswhenthereissomekindofatmosphericchangemakesitaspecialingredientinthehome.Rabbit
tobaccowasalsousedinthehomebyAmericanIndians,thoughhereitwasused,notjustforitssmell,butfor
protectionagainstghostsandwitchcraft(seeSmithandMerring,below).
ThepopularitywhichrabbittobaccoachievedamongtheAngloAmericansettlersasamedicinewasprobably
duetoIndianinfluenceratherthanEuropean.Culpeper(1652)testifiesthatitwaslittleusedinEngland.Thebestowal
ofnewnamesalsoshowsthatEuropewasprobablynottheoriginofmedicalknowledgeofthisplant.Bythetime
ConstantineRafinesquewrotein1830,rabbittobaccowaswellestablishedasanAmericanfolkremedyforcuts,colds,
asthma,diarrhea,andpain.Itwasusedbylayhealersandprofessionaldoctors.However,Gnaphaliumneverentered
deeplyintothemedicaltraditionandtodaywouldbeconsideredanobscureandseldomusedmedicinalagentby
herbalistsfollowingtheliterary(asopposedtothefolk)tradition.Itremainssomethingofafolkremedyinthe
AmericanSouthandissometimesusedbyEasternEuropeanssearchingforGnaphaliumuliginosum.
Duringtheheightofitspopularityinthenineteenthcentury,Gnaphaliumobtusifoliumwasgivenahomeopathic
proving,i.e.,itwasgiveninrepeateddosesuntilitproducedsymptoms.Theserevolvedmostlyaroundmuscularand
skeletalissues,especiallysciatica.Someofthesesymptomswereconfirmedinpractice,butduetoitsnarrowscope
Gnaphaliumremainedaremedyoflittleconsequenceinnineteenthcenturyhomeopathyandhaslargelypassedinto
oblivionincontemporaryhomeopathy.Thefactthatthetraditionalfolkmedicalusesoftheplantwerenotbroughtout
intheprovingsmaybesignificant.Agoodsensefortheplantwasnotdevelopedinthehomeopathicprovingsor
clinicalexperience.
Inthetwentiethcenturytheuseofrabbittobaccoinherbalmedicineandhomeopathydeclinedsignificantlyto
thepointwhereitmustbeconsideredmostlyalocalSouthernfolkremedyofsporadicapplication.Ifirstlearnedabout
itsefficacyincongenitalasthmafromawomaninVirginia.However,sweeteverlastingisstillavailableinWestern
herbalcommerceanditisstillwellknownamongAmericanIndianpeople.

II.Botany,History,andTraditionalUses
Botany
TheGnaphaliumsarenativethroughouttheworld.InNorthAmericathereareabout10representatives,plusa
closecousin,Anaphalismargaritacea(pearlyeverlasting).AnothergenuscloselyrelatedtoGnaphalium,foundinboth
theNewandOldWorld,isAntennaria.InEuropetherearealsoaboutadozenGnaphaliums,aswellasafew
Antennarias.Thenthereisafourthgenus,Helichrysum,onlyfoundintheOldWorld.

Table1.Geographicaldistribution

AmericasBothEurasia
|\/\/|
AnaphalisGnaphaliumAntennariaHelichrysum

GnaphaliumobtusifoliumisthemostcommonrepresentativeoftheeverlastingclanineasternNorthAmerica
andthemosteasilyrecognized,withitsdistinct,pleasantsmell.ItrangesfromtheCanadianmaritimes,Quebecand
Ontario,southtoFlorida,westtoTexasandWisconsin.Itpreferspoor,sandysoil,hencethenameoldfieldbalsamor
povertyweed.Equallyascommon,Anaphalismargaritacearangesfurthernorthandwestandnotasfarsouth.

NorthAmericanIndianMedicine
RabbittobaccoiswidelyusedamongtheSouthernIndians.ThenameisundeniablyofAmericanIndianorigin.
ItisusuallyappliedtoGnaphaliumobtusifolium,butsometimestoAnaphalismargaritacea.J.T.Garret(2003,91,
236),anEasternCherokee,usesthenamerabbittobaccoforGnaphaliumobtusifolium,Anaphalismargaritacea,and
Antennariaplantaginifolia.
GarrettreatsustoaCherokeefolktaledescribingtheoriginofthename.Rabbitwascaughtintheunderbrush
onedayandwhilefreeinghimselfhegotcut.Therewassomesweeteverlastinggrowingnearbyandhequickly
discoveredthattheplantwascurativeforcuts.Thisstoryreflectsaknowledgeofthehabitatinwhichrabbitsliketo
hideandfeed(thickets)andtheirweaknesses.Rabbitskinisverythinanddelicate.Ifarabbitischasedbyadogor
predatortheskincantearandbleed.

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ThistaledoesnotexplaintheassociationwithtobaccosoIaskedmyfriendSondraBoyd,R.N.,Ph.D.,of
Erwinna,Pennsylvania,aCherokeetrainedinmedicinebyboththeEasternandWesternbands,whytheplantwas
calledrabbittobacco?Sheexplained,theoldpeoplenoticedthattherabbitslikedtogatherwheretherewasalotof
thisplantgrowing,sotheythoughtitmustbetheirtobacco,theirwayofconnectingtotheCreator.
In1687theRev.JohnClaytonnotedthattheIndiansofVirginiaweremostfamedforcuringofwounds.
AmongthediverseverygoodwoundherbstheyutilizedweretheGnaphaliumAmericanumcommonlyknownby
thenamewhitePlantain(ErichsenBrown,1989,403).Thereputationofsweeteverlastingasawoundremedywas
reportedbyPeterKalm(1751,70).HelearnedofitfromJohnBartram,thenotedbotanistwidelytraveledinboth
IndianandcolonialAmericaalongtheeasternseaboard.
Mr.Bartramtoldmeanotheruseofthisplant:adecoctionoftheflowersandstalksisusedtobathepainedor
bruisedpartsofthebody,ortheymayberubbedwiththeplantitselftiedupinathinclothorbag.
Hereweseetheideaofthesweeteverlastingpillow,whichwillbefurtherencounteredbelow.
JamesMooney(1886,325),whostudiedextensivelyamongtheEasternCherokee,wroteabouttheuseof
Gnaphaliumdecurrens,wingedcudweedorwingedlifeeverlasting.Thisspecies,nowknownasG.viscosum,is
identicaltoG.obtusifoliumexceptthattheleavesarestalkless.Itisprobablethatthetwowerenotdifferentiatedbythe
Cherokees.Hewritesthatitisconsideredoneoftheirmostvaluablemedicalplants.Thedecoctionisdrunkfor
coldsanditisusedinthesweatlodge.Asthenextsourcenotes,itisalsodiaphoretic.
SeveralbooksbymodernCherokeeauthorsmentiontheuseofrabbittobacco.PaulB.HamelandMaryU.
Chiltoskey,CherokeePlants,andtheirusesa400yearhistory(1975,51),identifyrabbittobaccoasGnaphalium
obtusifoliumandrecordthefollowinguses:
Decoctionforcoldsusewithcarolinavetch[Viciacaroliniana]forrheumatismsweatbathforvariousdiseases
warmliquidisblowdownthroughthroughjoypyeweedstemforcloggedthroat(diphtheria)ingredientin
medicineforlocalpains,muscularcramps,andtwitchingchewforsoremouthorthroatsmokeforasthma
coughsyrup.
Theuseofrabbittobaccoforcrampsandtwitchingsremindsusofrabbit,atwitchycritter.
WealsofindGnaphaliumobtusifoliumtobeaplantofimportanceamongIndianpeoplefurtherwest.Huron
Smith(1923,30)reportsitsusebytheMenominiIndiansofcentralandnorthernWisconsin.Smithhimselfwas
knowledgableabouttheuseofherbs(heoftenquotestheeclecticmateriamedica)andwasasympatheticinterviewer,
sohisinformationisunusuallygoodcomparedwithsomeotherethnobotanists.
Itisusedseparately,ormixedwithgallfromthebeaversbody,tomakeasmudgeasareviver.Whenonehas
faintedthisisusedtobringhimbacktoconsciousnessagain,thesmokebeingblownintohisnostrils.Then
again,whenoneinthefamilyhasdied,hisspiritorghostissupposedtocomebacktotroubletheliving.Bad
luckandnightmareswillresulttothefamilyfromthetroublesomeghost.Thissmudgediscouragesand
displeasestheghostwhich,afterafumigationofthepremiseswiththissmudge,leavesandneverreturns.
Smithclearlyseestherelationshipbetweengettingthesouloftheconsciouspersonback,andgettingridofthe
unwantedspirithauntingthehouse.TheuseofGnaphalium,tocorrectproblemsarisingattheborderbetweenlifeand
deathwillbefurtherdescribedbelow.Smithcontinues,burningoftheseherbsgivesoffapeculiarcharacteristicodor,
remindingoneofthesmellof[slippery]elmbark,driedmedickflowers,andcoltsfootherb.(ThisshowsSmiths
depthofknowledgeaboutherbalmedicinesevenmostherbalistscouldnotcharacterizeordescribethesmellproduced
byburninganyoftheseplants).Smithalsonotesthatitisaveryimportantsorcerersmedicine.Smith(1928,214)
alsofoundthattheMeskwakiIndians,formerlyofsouthernWisconsin,nowlivingincentralIowa,alsoused
Gnaphaliumobtusifoliumasasmudgetoawakenfromunconsciousness.
MyfriendPaulRedElk,whowasraisedbyhisgrandfatherandgrandmother,traditionalpracticingherbalistson
theRosebudReservationinSouthDakota,communicatedhisgrandfathersopinionsaboutrabbittobacco.Hehesitated
duringhisdescription,saying,therearentanywordsinEnglishforthis,soIhavetorememberhowtosayitinLakota
first.Hewentontoexplainthatrabbittobaccoisaplantthatwalkstheborderlinebetweentheworldsoftheliving
andthedead.Itishelpfulwhenthedeadhavebeencutofffromthelivingandhavesomethingtheywanttoshareor
say,butithaspotentiallyunpleasantsideeffectsandapplications,soithastobeusedwithcaution.
Sweeteverlastingpointsoutitsuseasawalkerbetweenworldsbecauseitdoesnotreallydieinthefall,but
continuestoliveandcommunicateevenafterithaswiltedaway.Thedriedflowersarepickedinthefalland,because
thelifestillremainsinthem,GrandpaRedElkwouldnotallowthemtobetakeninsidethehouseforanothersix
months.Theassociationwiththedeadandtheafterlifeissuggestedinthenameowlscrown.InAmericanIndianfolk
loretheowlisoftenconsideredaveryunwelcomeguestaroundhouseholdsbecauseitistakenasasignthatsomeoneis
goingtodie.Itissometimesalsoassociatedwithsorcerors.Theowlisalsoamajorpredatoroftherabbit.
PaulRedElksgrandfatheralsowarnedhimthatrabbittobaccopicksupthepsychicimpressionofpeople
aroundit,whethergoodorbad,andcancarryitformanyyears.Thisistrueofapickedclumporastandoftheplants
inafield.Therefore,onehastobecarefulwithboththewildandthepickedplants,tomakesuretheyarenotcarrying
somethingunhealthywiththem.
AlthoughPaulRedElkwasunwillingtousesweeteverlastingasatobacco,anothernativeAmericanfriendof
minehadnosuchcompunctions.
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AswemoveWestwefindthatAnaphalismargaritaceaorpearlyeverlastingismoreoftencitedbyIndian
medicinepractitioners,sinceitisavailableoutontotheGreatPlainsandintotheRockyMountains.HuronSmith
(1932,362)foundthattheFlambeauOjibweofnorthwesternWisconsin,livingoutsidetherangeofsweeteverlasting,
usedpearlyeverlastingflowersonafiretoreviveapersonparalyzedfromastroke.TheMinnesotaOjibwelikewise
usedpearlyeverlastingcombinedwithwildmintinadecoction,sprinkledonhotstones,asamedicinetorevivefrom
paralysis.TheForestPottawatomi(Smith,1933,48,117),scatteredacrossnorthernWisconsin,usedthesameasa
smudgeandtobaccotodriveorkeepevilspiritsoutoftheroom,whichmightpreventapatientfromrecovering.It
wasusedasawitchcharmtodriveorkeepevilspiritsoutofthehouse.Thetopisdriedandplaceduponapanoflive
coalsbecauseitissupposedtohurttheeyesoftheevilspiritsandcausethemtostayawayfromthehouse.In1950
theWalpoleChippewaofsouthernOntario,accordingtoGeorgeMerring,usedsweeteverlastingasasmudge,burning
thedriedplanttoprotectthehousefromwitches(ErichsenBrown,1989,405).
AmericanFolkMedicine
Asmentionedabove,rabbittobaccowasoneofthemostimportantplantsintheCherokeepharmacopoeia.By
contrast,theEnglishcudweedwasbutlittleused.Thus,itseemslikelythattheuseofGnaphaliumowesmoretothe
AmericanIndianthantheEuropeanmateriamedica.Veryfewpeoplewereinapositiontocomparethetwoplants,
thoughonepersonwhodoessowastheEnglishherbalistWilliamSalmon(1709,262).Henotesthatwhenhewasin
AmericahefoundcudweedgrowingnaturallyinsomeoftheSouthernpartsofCarolina.Thatwouldbeabout
1665.HeattributestoitthesamepropertiesastheEnglishcudweed(Antennariadioeca).Theyarepeculiaragainst
Catarrhs,FluxesoftheBowels,ProfusionsofBloodinanyPart,andtheQuinsy.However,weconcludethatitwas
thereputationoftheplantderivedfromIndianpracticethatleadtoitswidespreadapplicationintheBritishcolonies.
Thiswascertainlytheimpressionofthenineteenthcenturyphysicianswhostoodclosertothefolktraditionthanwe
ourselves.Nevertheless,thepointhastobemadethatEnglishcudweedwasusedonalmosttheexactsameindications
asrabbittobacco.
CharlesMillspaugh(1892,89)givesthefollowingsynopsisofthemedicinalhistoryofGnaphalium
obtusifolium.TheEverlastingsformedpartofaboriginalmedication,andfromtheretheydescendedtothewhite
settlers,who,inconjunctionwiththemoreorlessbotanicphysicians,usedthemaboutasfollows.Theherb,asa
masticatory,hasalwaysbeenapopularremedy,onaccountofitsastringentproperties,inulcerationofthemouthand
faucesandforquinsy.Ahotdecoctionprovespectoralandsomewhatanodyne,aswellassudorificinearlystagesof
fevers.Acoldinfusionhasbeenmuchusedindiarrhea,dysentery,andhemorrhageofthebowels,andissomewhat
vermifugalitisalsorecommendedinleucorrhea.Thefreshjuiceisconsideredantivenereal.Hotfomentationsofthe
herbhavebeenusedlikeArnicaforsprainsandbruises,andformagoodvulneraryforpainfultumors,andunhealthy
ulcers.Thedriedflowersarerecommendedasaquietingfillingforthepillowsofconsumptives.(Theusesgivenby
Millspaughreflecthissourcesratherthanhisownexperience).Rabbittobaccowasalsousedasamedicineinthe
AfroAmericancommunity,accordingtoDr.W.McGeorge(JohnH.Clarke,1900,I:805).
ThefirstdetailedreportonthefolkmedicalusesoftheeverlastingscomesfromConstantineRafinesque(1830,
224),professorofbotanyatTransylvaniaCollege,inKentucky.HeusesthenamesGnaphaliummargaritacea,
cudweed,silverleafandnonesopretty.Theseprobablyreferstopearlyeverlasting,butRafinesquenotesthatmany
othersp.ofthegenusareequivalent.Herecordstheuseoftheseplantsonthefrontierasananodyneandpectoral,in
colds,coughsandpainsinthebreast.Theyaremildastringentsandvermifuges,usedindysenteryandhemorrhage,in
powderordecoction.Externallytheyareappliedtotumors,contusionsandsprainsasawash.Theyaregivenina
diseaseofsheep.[Salmonmentionsadiseaseofhogs].Finally,theyareoneofthegoodsubstitutesfortobaccoin
smoking.
Inthetwentiethcenturytheuseoftheeverlastingsinfolkmedicinelargelydiedout.Oneofthefewherbalists
intheliteratureIhavebeenabletofindwhoregularlyusedrabbittobaccointhelatetwentiethcenturywasTommie
Bass,afolkpractitionerlocatedonShinboneRidgeinnorthernGeorgia(CrellinandPhilpott,1990,2:36566).He
usedrabbittobaccoquiteabit,especiallyasaningredientinhisfavoritecoughsyrup,arecipeforwhichisgiven
below.Bassdidntknowwhyitwascalledrabbittobaccosince,asheobserves,rabbitswonteatit.Henotesthat
peopleformerlyusedtosmokeit.Heliststhefollowinguses,whicharefairlystandardinfolkmedicine:inducessleep,
oneofthemostvaluableplantsinmigraine,sinustrouble,cough,asthma,andstomachproblems(toincreaseappetite).
Bassmadeacoughsyrupthatincludedrabbittobaccothatwasverypopularwithhiscustomers.Hementionsit
fivetimes,givingfivedifferentformulations,butthebasiccompoundseemedtobe:boneset,wildcherry,sweetgum
bark,mulleinandrabbittobacco.Hisformulationforcommerceaddedyellowroot,redshank(redroot)andsumach
leaf(Ibid.,106,151,308,365,419).
TommieBasssCoughSyrup
bonesetequalparts
wildcherrybark
sweetgumbark
mulleinleaf
rabbittobacco

HomeopathicProvingsandClinicalUse
Dr.EdwinM.Halewasthenineteenthcenturyhomeopathmostresponsiblefortheintroductionofmanywidely
usedAmericanherbalmedicinesintohomeopathy.Hiswritingsshowhimtobewellacquaintedwiththefolkmedical
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usesandtheliteratureofbotanicalmedicine.Unfortunately,hedoesnotgiveanextensiveaccountofthemany
headedEverlasting,whichhecallsGnaphaliumpolycephalumremember,thisisanothernameforG.obtusifolium.
However,Haledoesgiveahistoryofitsuseinhomeopathy,themajorsymptomsderivedfromitsproving,andthe
symptomsconfirmedinpractice.
Hale(1875,2:271)writes,thismanyheadedEverlastingwasfirstintroducedintoourpracticebyDr.
WoodburyandothersofBoston.Itssphereofactionappearstoincludecertainnervesofthefaceandlowerextremities,
andthemucousmembraneofthebowels.Theprovingsshowittocauseanintermittentneuralgiaofthesuperior
maxillarynerveofbothsides,andanoccipitalheadache,withshootingpainsintheeyeballs.Dr.Banks,selectingthe
remedyfromitssymptoms,intensepainalongthesciaticnerve,followingthelargerramifications,curedseveral
casesofsciaticaandDr.Woodburyhaslatelyreportedacasecured.Byreferencetotheprovings,youwillseethatthe
painisattendedbycrampsofthecalvesandfeet,andanumbnesswhichtakestheplaceofthepain,attimes.
Ithasbeenusedsuccessfullyincolic,evidentlyflatulentinmorningdiarrheaofdarkcolored,liquid,
offensivestoolinchildrenalsoincholeramorbusandcholerainfantum,withthesymptomsrecordinginthe
pathogenesis.ItseemstofaintlyresembleColocynthandVeratrumalbum.
In1885,Dr.W.McGeorgeaddedsomeclinicalobservationsandcasehistories.Theprovingproducedthe
symptomofweightandfulnessinthepelvis.HeusedGnaphaliumsuccessfullytotreatthesymptomdysmenorrhea
whenthemensesarescantyandverypainfulthefirstday.Healsocuredaseverelyaggravatedcaseofsciaticaonthe
leftsidethathadresultedfromastrain.Thelegwascrampedanddrawnup,worseincoldanddampweather(Clarke,
1900,I:829).
In1888,Dr.GeorgeSheltoncontributedtwocasehistoriesofsciaticatreatedwithGnaphalium1x(10%
dilution).Thefirstwasaclergyman,aged27,whohadsharpcuttingpains,startingfromtheinnersideoftheright
thigh,justbelowPoupartsligament,extendingdownthecourseoftheanteriorcruralnervetoapointaboutitslower
third.Thepainswereparoxysmal,comingonwhenwalking,occasionallywhilelyingdown.Hedhadoneortwo
attacksinthepulpit.Inseveralinstancesthepanextendeddowntherightcordintothetesticleandcausedhimtodraw
uptheleg,flexingthethighontheabdomen.AfewdosesofGnaphalium1xcuredhimcompletely.
Thesecondcasewasawidow,aged68,whohadseverepainsintheoutersideoftherightthighforsixyears,
duringpartofwhichtimeshehadbeenconfinedtobed.Thepainswereparoxysmal,cutting,tearing,extendingdown
thecourseofthesciaticnerve.Attackswereworseatnightandmorefrequent,causinghertorollaboutthebedandcry
outwiththepain.AfterunsuccessfulallopathicandhomeopathictreatmentGnaphalium1xwasgivenwithgradual
improvement.Ineightweeksthecurewascomplete(Ibid.,1900,I:830).
Dr.J.H.Clarke(Ibid.,1900,I:830)sayswithGnaphalium30xhecuredseveralcasesofsciaticainwhich
numbnessalternatedwithpain.Thiswouldresembletheparoxysmalattacksmentionedabove,i.e.,comingin
paroxysmsorwaves.Onewasinaverygoutyman,thealternationofnumbnessandpainbeingpresent.
HomeopathicSymptomology
Dr.EdwinHalegivesalistofsymptomsproducedinthehomeopathicprovings.IhaveselectedwhatIthought
werethemostpromisingfromthelist.WilliamBoericke(1927,307),fiftyyearslater,includesthemoreprovenand
characteristicsymptoms,butdoesnotaddmanynewones.Notethatasthmaticandrespiratorysymptoms,soimportant
intraditionalliteratureinbothNorthAmericaandEurope,werenotproducedbytheprovings,exceptforthe
suggestionofmaxillarysinusproblems.
Dull,heavyexpressionofcountenancefaceappearsbloated.
Fullnessaboutthetemples.
Neuralgicpain,ofaintermittentform,ofthesuperiormaxillaryofbothsides.
Mouthfeelsparched.
Badtaste.
Tonguecoveredwithlongwhitefur.
Flatusofthestomach,windyeructations,nauseaandhiccough.Colicpainsinvariouspartsoftheabdomen,
whichissensitivetopressure(confirmed).
Vomitingandpurging,likecholeramorbus(confirmed).
Borborygmus(abdominalbloating),withmuchemissionofflatus.
Diarrhea,withirritabletemperpainsinthebowelsofchildren(confirmed).
Constipationforthreedaysafterthediarrhea.
Offensivestool.
Fullnessandtensioninthebladder.
Paininthekidneys.
Irritationoftheprostate(confirmed).
Increasessexualdesire.
Dysmenorrheamensesscantyandpainfulthefirstdayweightand
fullnessinthepelvis(McGeorge).
Debilityandrheumaticpainsinarms.
Chronicbackacheinlumbarregion.
Lumbagopainandnumbness.
Intensepainalongthesciaticnerve(confirmed,Shelton).
Frequentcrampsofthecalvesofthelegs.
Crampsofthefeetwheninbed.
Rheumaticpainsinthekneeandanklejoints.
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Gout(Clarke,Boericke).
Painsalternatingwithnumbness(confirmed,Clarke).
Theincreaseinsexualdesireconfirmsafolkmedicalusageforimpotence.

EuropeanFolkMedicine
TheEuropeanGnaphaliumssufferfromasmuchormorenomenclaturalconfusionthantheAmerican.In
additiontobeingmixedupwiththeAntennarias,theyarealsocrisscrossedwiththeHelichrysums.Andliketheir
Americancousins,theyarenotgenerallyusedinprofessional,orevenfolkmedicine.Anexceptiontoallthisbotheris
themarsheverlasting,GnaphaliumuliginosumL.,whichhasalwaysheldaplaceofhighregardinRussianfolkand
professionalmedicine.Ithasalsobeenmarkedlyfreeofnomenclaturalconfusion.
ThesecondmemberofthisfamilythatfiguresinmedicineisGnaphaliumdioecumL.,alsocalledAntennaria
dioecaGaertner.ThisistheonlymemberoftheentireeverlastingclannativetoEngland,whereitiscalled
cottonweed,pettycotton,cudweed,andcatsfoot.ThisseemstobetheoriginalgnaphalonofDioscorides,oratany
ratewasusedinitsplacebytheRenaissanceherbalists.Thus,ithasalong,butnotveryextensive,historyofmedicinal
use.
AthirdmemberoftheclansometimesappliedasamedicineisGnaphaliumarenarium,alsoclassifiedas
Helichrysumarenarium.ItisnativetoGermany,Scandinavia,andRussia,asfareastasJapan.InRussiaboththis
plantandGnaphaliumuliginosumareknownastheimmortalizer,buttodayitismoregenerallyknownas
strawflower.Thisplantisalsousedfordiarrhea,likemostallofthemembersofthegreatereverlastingclan.
However,themodusoperandiseemstobesomewhatdifferentstrawflowerisabitterthatstimulatestheliverandgall
bladder,whiletheothereverlastingsaremorewidelyusedasastringents.
ThefourthmemberofthefamilyusedinmedicineisGnaphaliumstoechasL.,nowdenominatedHelichrysum
stoechas.Thedistilledoilisanessentialarticleinaromatherapy.Itisknowneitherashelichrysumorimmortelle.
Interestingly,itisusedinamannersimilartotheothereverlastings.
Ashortreviewofthemedicinalhistoryeachofthesefourplantswouldhelpkeepthemstraight.

GnaphaliumdioecumL.,AntennariadioecaGaertner
Dioscorides(III:132)describesaplantcalledgnaphaloninthethirdbookofhisMateriaMedica.He
recommendsitadministeredinsourwine,i.e.,vinegar,asaremedyfordysentery.Hiscontemporary,Plinius,
recommendeditforquinsyortonsillitis.ApeculiarityofPliniuswritingstyleishyperbole,soheaddsthatthosecured
ofthiscomplaintwithgnaphalondonotgetitagain.Thatsoundslikeatalltale,butonethingthatstruckmeabout
PhyllisHensleysstorywasthelackofrelapseintoasthma,whichissuchacommonoccurrence.
TheRenaissanceherbalistsidentifiedgnaphalonwithAntennariadioeca,thoughtheancientsprobablyused
anotherofplantsinterchangeably.MatthiolirecommendsRuhrkrautzforthepainoftonsillitiswhileDodoensgives
itfordiarrheaandotherkindsofflux,andforsoresinthelungs.Wecancertainlyseethedependenceontheold
authorities.WilliamTurner(1551,1,124)identifiedthisplantwiththecudweedinYorkshireandthechafweedin
Northumberland.Herecommendsitforthebloodyflux,menstrualbleedingandrunningsores.
TheherbaloftheDutchmanRembrandtDodoensformedthecoreofJohnGerardsGreatHerbal(1597)infact
thelatterisconsideredtohavebeenguiltyofplagiarismtoacertaindegreethroughhisunattributeduseofthissource.
However,whenitcomestohisaccountofcudweed,Gerard(1633,644)doesnotfollowthereceivedtraditionatall.
Rather,hisobservationsseemtoreflectfolktradition:
Gnaphaliumboyledinstrongleecleanseththehairefromnitsandlice:alsotheherbebeinglaidinwardrobes
andpresseskeepethapparellfrommoths.
Thesameboyledinwineanddrunken,killethwormesandbringeththemfourth,andprevailethagainstthe
bitingsandstingingsofvenomousbeasts.
Thefumeorsmokeoftheherbedried,andtakenwithafunnell,beingburnedtherin,andreceiuedinsuch
manneraswevsetotakethesumeofTabaco,thatis,withacrookedpipemadeforthesamepurposebythe
Potter,preuailethagainstthecoughofthelungs,thegreatacheorpaineofthehead,andclenseththebrestand
inwardparts.
Gerardalsodescribestheuseofthedriedeverlastingasaposyinthehouse.Itmaybekeptforaslongasayear
inthehouseorachest,whereforeourEnglishwomenhauecalleditLiuelong,orLiueforeuer.
Culpeper(1652,44)assignscudweedtoourladyVenus,thenlaunchesintoanaccountbasedonconventional
literature.Heisrathercomprehensiveinroundingupthereceivedtradition:
Theplantsareallastringent,ordryandbinding,andthereforeprofitablefordefluxionsofrheumfromthe
head,andtostayfluxesofbloodwheresoever.Thedecoctionmadeintoredwineanddrunk,orthepowdertaken
therein,alsohelpeththebloodflux,andeaseththetormentsthatcomethereby,stayeththeimmoderatecoursesof
women,andisalsogoodforinwardoroutwardwounds,hurtsandbruises,andhelpethchildrenbothof
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burstings[hernia]andtheworms,andthediseasecalledtenesmus,(whichisanoftenprovocationtothestool,
anddoingnothing,)beingeitherdrunkorinjected.Thegreenleavesbruisedandlaidtoanygreenwound,
stayeththebleeding,andhealethitupquicklythedecoctionorjuicethereofdoththesame,andhelpetholdand
filthyulcersquickly.Thejuiceoftheherbtakeninwineandmilk,is(asPlinysaith)asovereignremedyagainst
themumpsandquinsyandfurthersaith,thatwhosoevershallsotakeitshallneverbetroubledwiththatdisease
again.
Thisconventionalaccountisfollowedbyapersonalobservationandcasehistory.Culpeper(1652,44)grewup
inSussex,whereheevidentlyobservedthefollowing:
Ihaveseenitusedonlyinoneplace.ItisfrequentinCharltonForest,inSussex,andwasgivenwith
successforthatalmostincurabledisease,thechincough.Beatitupintoaconserve,veryfine,withadealof
sugar,andletthebignessofapeabeeatenatatime.
Chincoughisanoldnameforwhoopingcough.Hereweagainfindcudweedusedinthetreatmentofvery
irasciblerespiratoryproblem.
WilliamSalmon(1710),oneofthelastoftheRenaissanceherbalists,givesthesamebasicinformationas
Culpeper,lessthecasehistory.Hedefinesthequalitiesofcudweedastemperatewithregardtohotorcold,butdry
(astringent)inthethirddegree.
AlthoughCulpeperwaslittleacquaintedwiththeactiveuseofcudweed,IaminformedbyAnitaRalph,medical
herbalist(NIMH),livingeastofSussex,inKent,thatcudweedisstillusedbylocalpeopleasaremedyfordifficult
casesofthroatinfection.Thuswehaveaninstanceinwhichafolktraditionsurvivedbeneaththeliteraryradardownto
thepresenttime.
ThereputationofcudweedwasbarelykeptaliveinGermanprofessionalmedicine.TheactiveingredientsofG.
dioecumareconsideredtobetannins,aromaticoils,phytosterols,resins,andbitters(Pahlow,1989,192).

GnaphaliumuliginosumL.
AlthoughlittleusedelsewhereinEurope,GnaphaliumuliginosumholdsapositionofhighregardinRussian
folkandprofessionalmedicine.Thechemicalcompositionhasbeenstudiedandwillbereferredtobelow.TheLatin
namederivesfromthenounuligooruliginis,meaningwetnessordampness.Thisreferstothehabitatwhereitgrows.
Itissometimesknownasmarsheverlasting.
Zevin(1996,73)saysthatGnaphaliumuliginosumisnamedtheimmortalizerinfolktraditionandhasbeen
usedsincethemostancienttimes.Thiscontrastswithmanyotherculturesandcountrieswhereitislittleused,but
resemblestheNorthAmericanIndianperspective.ItwasusedinimperialRussiaforcenturies,mostcommonlyfor
treatingwounds,opensores,andstomachpain.Anothercommonname,translatedtoadshead,referstothefactthat
itwasusedtotreatquinsyortonsillitis,knownastoadinRussianfolkmedicine.Theimmortalizermaintainedits
reputationlargelythroughtheoraltradition,ratherthanintheprintedherbals,buteventuallyattractedtheattentionof
Russiandoctors.SeriousmedicalexperimentationwithGnaphaliumuliginosumwasbegunintheearly1930sandit
wasadoptedintomainstreampracticebeforeWorldWarII.
Apoulticeisusedexternallytostopbleeding.Alcoholoroilextractorinfusionisusedforwounds,oldsores,
chemicalandthermalburns,dermatomycosisandweepingeczema.Anoilextractisreputedtopreventbaldingif
rubbedintothescalp.Infusionsanddecoctionsareusedforthetreatmentofstomachandduodenalulcer,gastritisand
diarrhea.Itisusedtostopinternalbleedingintheintestinesoruterus.Soresorabrasionsoftheuterusandvagina.
Infusionsarealsousedtotreatnervousexcitability,insomnia,headache,tonsillitis,asthmaanddiabetes.Infusionsand
footbathsofthedecoctionareusedtotreatincipienthypertension,stenocardiaandheartpalpitations.Asdescribed
below,theseconditionsarespecificallyassociatedwithamedicalconditioncalledhypotoniainRussianmedicine.
Theherboraerialpartsoftheplantareused.TheyarecollectedinAugust,whentheplantisinflowerand
driedinashadyplace.Theinfusionismadefrom1cup(250ml)ofboilingwaterpouredover1tablespoon(15g)of
thedriedherbandsteepedfortenminutes.Thestandardrecommendationis1cup,3timesaday.
Thedecoctionismadebyboiling2tablespoons(30g)ofthedriedherbin1cup(250ml)ofwaterfor15
minutes.Coolatroomtemperaturefor45minutes,strainanddrink1/2cup,3timesadayaftermeals.Itmaybetaken
for12months.Thedecoctionisusedasafootbathtotreathypertension.Place9ounces(250g)oftheherbin11/4
gallons(5liters)ofwaterheatedto9095F.Letstandfor30minutes.Useasafootbathonceaday,ahalfanhour
beforebedtime.
GnaphaliumuliginosumisusedforaconditionknowninEuropeanmedicineashypotonia,whichissaidto
affectnearlyhalfofalladultsoverfiftyyearsofageinRussia.Zevin(1996,193)explains,inhypotonia,themuscular
tensionofthearteriesrelaxes,whichcanimpairtheflowofbloodintotheheart.Thisconditionisnotrecognizedin
modernAmericanmedicine,butwasknownaspassivevenouscongestioninearlytwentiethAmericanpracticeand
wastreatedbyastringentssuchasAesculushippocastanumandCollinsoniacanadensis.Evidently,everlastingishere
beingusedasanastringentand,likeHelichrysum,abloodthinner.AllformulaeforhypotoniagivenbyZevin(1996,
196)includeeitherCrataegus,amildastringent,orGnaphalium.Themostsimpleformulaisthefollowing:
1partcudweed
2partshorsetail
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1partperiwinkle
1partyarrow

TheImmortalizerisalsomentionedinaformulaforthrombophlebitis:
1partyarrowflowers
4partseverlastingflowersandleaves
2partsbirchleaves
2partschamomileflowers

AcomparisonofGnaphaliumuliginosumwithG.obtusifoliumshowsthattheyhavesimilarpropertiesinthe
folktraditionwoundhealing,headache,asthma,digestivetract,diarrhea,andkidneys.Themajordifferenceisthe
useoftheformerinhighbloodpressure,hypotonia,andbloodcoagulation.

GnaphaliumarenariumL.,HelichrysumarenariumG.
Thisplant,althoughamemberofthegreatereverlastingtribe,haspropertiesofadifferentnaturefromallthe
rest.Itseemstobeprimarilyabitterwhichincreasessecretionsfromthegallbladderandbiletoimprovedigestion.
LudwigKroeber(1948,211)saysthatunderthecommonnamesstrawflowerandsandimmortelle,andthebotanical
namesGnaphaliumarenariumorHelichrysumarenarium,itisassociatedwithchronicaffectionsofthegallbladder,
poorsecretionofdigestivejuicesandintestinalworms.Zevinhasanaccountofthemodernusesofthisplantin
Russianmedicine.

Helichrysumitalicumvar.serotinumG.
ItwouldseemthereareaboutfivehundredspeciesofHelichrysum,writesaromatherapistPhillipe
Mailhebiau,M.D.(1995,66).Theyarepolymorphousanditisdifficulttodistinguishbetweenthem.Severalspecies
areextractedforthevolatileoil,ofwhichtheaboveistheonepreferredbyMailhebiau.Oninhalingessenceof
Helichrysumitalicum,onegetsthepleasantsensationthatthebloodcirculationiscomingaliveandthatthebloodis
fluidifyingandpurifyingitself.Helichrysumitalicumis,infact,ananticoagulantandfluidifier,andmustbeprescribed
incasesofcirculatorypathologiesrosacea,violaceousacneandvaricosities.Itisavasoconstrictorand
antispasmodic,recommendedtopreventcardiacinfractionandcardiovascularspasm.Itisalsoantiinflammatory,
thereforeusefulinphlebitisandarteritis.Itismucolyticandrecommendedinheadcoldsandsinusproblems.
Mailhebiauusesitwithoiloflavenderforpainandwoundhealingfromblows,bruises,andtrauma.Itisuseful
externallyorinternally,inverysmalldoses.
Thetypicalpatientisayoungwoman,blonde,blueeyed,withveryfair,eventransparentskin,adelicate
constitution,andadreamycountenance.Shehascirculatoryproblems,causingarednoseorrosacea,clammy,pale
handsalternatingwithred/bluebloodstagnation,coldhandsandfeet,generalcoldness,butsensitivetosunlight,
sunburn,andallergies.

III.AnalysisofRabbitTobacco
Theholisticstandpointrequiresustoanalyzerabbittobaccoonatleastthreedifferentlevels:thesubjective
experience,theempiricalpropertiesoftasteandsmell,andtheobjectivepharmacologicalconstituents.Wealsowantto
learnfromclinicalexperience.Togethertheseundertakingsprovidethemostcompleteviewoftheplant.
PersonalExperience
Howcanonenotlikesuchabeautifuleverlasting,withasweetsmell,deadstalksthatopenandclosewiththe
weathersendingforththebeautifulscent,withsucharichfolklore.Eventhecommonnamesalonestirinterest.Yet,I
wasslowtobeginmystudiesofthisplant.
Myinterestinrabbittobaccowasstirredbynumberofexperiences.Thereisconsiderableconfusionintheold
medicalliteratureaboutthedifferenteverlastingsandIwantedtogetacorrectpictureofthebotanyofthefamily.The
namerabbittobaccoisenticing,hintingatitsprominenceinAmericanIndianmedicaltradition.Iheardseveral
impressivestoriesaboutitsuseasamedicinewhichledmetobelievethatitwouldprovetobeavaluableadditionto
mypracticeasanherbalist.IalsolearnedaboutitsmagicalusesfromIndianpractitioners.Thesewereconfirmedfor
meinseveralremarkabledreamsIhadabouttheplant.
Forawhileitseemedthatrabbittobaccowaseverywherearoundme,eventhoughitgrowsfaraway(orsoI
thoughtandthebookstaught).ForyearsIhadbeenputtingbundlesoftheplantaroundthehouseandIfoundIdidnot
liketobewithoutit.IevencameintopossessionofanoldpharmacybottlelabeledGnaphallium[sic]polycephalum
witharemnantoftheherbinside.Ihadbeenintroducedtothisherbfromhalfadozendifferentdirections,yetIstill
wasuncertainaboutitsbotanicalnomenclatureandrelationships,soatlastIdecidedImustmakeitanarticleofstudy.
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Thefinaleventwhichforcedmetoexperimentwiththisherbasamedicinewasanaccountofhealingwhich
wasconveyedtomebyastudentinVirginia.PhyllisHensley,ofMcGaheyville,wasraisedonamountainfarmin
theBlueRidgewherethepeopleweretoopoortopayformedicaladvice.Shewasafflictedwithasthmafrombirthto
ageseven.Hermothertreatedherwithhomemadepineoilpreparationsandothermethodswhichdidnotcure.The
neighboringfarmerPhylliscalledhimanaturalistpickedabunchoftheflowersandhiswifesewedthemupinto
apillowwhichtheygavetotheyounggirl.Inanerawhencountrychildreninbigfamiliesoftenhadnostorebought
toysorpersonalpossessions,Phyllistooktothepillowasaprizepossession.Itwaslikeasecurityblanketforherand
shesleptwithitforayearuntil,Isuppose,itdisintegrated.Bythattimeshewascompletelycuredoftheasthma.I
foundsomeGnaphaliumobtusifoliumonherlandandshepositivelyidentifieditastherabbittobaccogiventoherby
herneighbor.Tothisdaysheisfreeofasthma,thoughsufferingfromtendenciestobronchitisinthewinter.
KnowingthegreatdifficultyintreatingchildrenoradultswithcongenitalasthmaIconsideredthistobea
remarkablestoryworthinvestigatingandthusbeganatlastmyclinicalandliterarystudyofrabbittobacco.
Mostplantshaveoneortwounusualandinterestingqualitiesrabbittobaccohasmany.Itisusedasbotha
medicineandatobacco,andisassociatedwithrabbitinbothapplications.Inaddition,itmakesanexcellentposeyor
sweetscenteddriedflowerdecorationforthehouse.Thescentisbothbeautifulandcomplex.Itisoneofthefew
medicineswhichisadministeredintheformofapillow.
Thefreshflowerdoesnothaveasmuchscentasthedried,becauseitisnotasopen.Moistdropsofrainorfog
fallingonthedrying,dyingplantopenuptheflowerandthusincreaseitsscentduringthefallmonths.Afteritis
picked,theflowerdriesandopensup.Thefluffydownwithitsseedisnowreadytobedispersed.Thescentofthe
driedflowerissweet,spicyandlemonysomewhatlikethesmellofslipperyelmbark.Thestoryisnotyetover,
however,sincechangesinthehumidityortemperaturecausethedriedplant,fromtimetotime,todispersethebeautiful
scent.Thiscontinuestohappenforseveralyearsaftertheflowershavebeenpicked.Thusitwalksbetweenthe
worldsoflifeanddeath.
AratherdramaticincidentconfirmedPaulRedElksteachingaboutrabbittobaccoasthewalkerbetween
worlds.TheweekaftertalkedtohimIwasdowninnorthernAlabama,visitingmygoodfriendPhyllisLight,askilled
practitioneroftraditionalherbalmedicine.IdescribedPaulsteachingaboutthisplant,usingthenamesweet
everlasting,whichPhyllisdidnotrecognize.Thatnightshehadadream.TheplantItoldherabouthelpedherinthe
dreamtoconnectwithalongdeceasedfriendwhohadbeenamentortoherwhenshewasyoung.Heappearedand
said,Immovingontoanotherplanenow,butIhavesomegiftsIwanttohandontoyou,andproceededtogiveher
booksandmemorabilia.Infact,asthismanwasdying,twentyyearspreviously,hisjealous/abusivedivorcedwifetook
booksandpaperswhichhehadintendedforPhyllis.Theplantyoutalkedabouthelpedinthedream,saidPhyllis.
Butitlookedlikewhatwecallrabbittobacco.
AnotherincidentconfirmedPaulsteachingaboutrabbittobaccocarryingthevibrationsofactivityandpeople
whichhavebeenaroundit.Ileftmyhouseinthecareofahousesitteronetimewho,havingheardPaulsaythis,was
superstitiousabouttheplantandremoveditfrommyhouse.Ifeltthattheplantswereviolatedandcontaminatedbythe
actionandthiswasconfirmedbyacallfromoneofmyIndianfriendswhosaid,Idontknowwhatyourcaretakerdid,
buttherearesomeherbsthatsheruined.IliketheplantinmyhouseandIfeelitspreadsgoodvibrations,butafter
thisbatchwasruinedIhadtomakeasixhourtriptopickmore.Thathousesitterwasnotinvitedback.
Fortunately,sincethattimeIhavemanagedtolocaterabbittobaccowithinanhourofmyhouse.Itseemstobe
movingwestward,probablybecausetherehasbeenmoreraininMinnesotainthelastseveraldecades.Allofus,
includingbotanistsandIndianplantpickers,havebeensurprisedbythischange.
Ihavefoundsweeteverlastingvaluableasatobacco.IhadadreamthatthefairiessaidthatIshouldmakemy
ceremonialtobaccooutofthreeplants.Onewouldhelpopenthedoortotheotherworld,thesecondwouldhelpopen
meuptothemillionsofpossibilitiesinthatworld,andthethirdwouldhelpmefocusonwhatIwasexperiencingin
thatworld.Theydidnttellmewhichplantwaswhich,thoughIknewthefirstoneautomatically.
OrdinaryNicotianarusticaorN.tabacumopensthedoortotheotherworldwhensmokedresponsibilityina
pipe.IwasalreadyusingNicotianawiththetwoplantsinthedream.Oneofthemwasrabbittobacco,soitseemed
likelyitwouldbetheplantthatwouldhelpopenupthepossibilities.IcontinuedtosmokethethreeplantsIwas
accustomedtousing,butafterawhileIcutbacktotwotobaccoandrabbittobaccoinordertobuildupmy
experienceoftheireffectbeforeaddingathird.
OnetimeIwasjustsmokingthechanupa(peacepipe)withNicotianatabacumandGnaphaliumobtusifolium
whenRabbitputinanappearance.Hesaid,youareusingmyrabbittobacco,butifyouuseityoushouldremember
thatIamatrickster.Thenheshowedmehisearsandcontinued,Iamaperfectlistenerandheareverything,butI
dontalwaysfollowthrough.Ifyouuserabbittobaccoitwillhelpyoutohearwhatsgoingoninthespiritworld,but
youmayneedanotherhelperinordertoretainwhatyouhear.

EmpiricalStudy
Theoperationofoursensesonaplantismostimportant.Taste,smell,texture,andappearanceareallofgreat
importance.
Taste.Hale(1:221)offershisopinionthattheleavesarearomatic,slightlybitterandastringent,butratheran
agreeabletaste.Iconsiderthetastetobepredominatelysweetandspicy,moderatelywarm,andslightlyastringent.I
wouldnotthinkofitasbitterperhapsHaleusedthetermbitterinageneralway,asmanyAmericansdo,foraflavor
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theydontparticularlylike.NotethecompositionofG.uliginosumgivenbelow(nobitters,thoughthereisanalkaloid,
whichcanbebitter).
"Fromthetastesrabbittobaccoshouldhavethefollowingproperties:
Astringentpullstogetherrelaxed,boggytissues,reducesdischarges,driesandslightlywarms.
Aromatic,spicy,orpungentstimulating,warming,andenergizing.Itmayinfactbesomewhatthinningand
fluidifying,asMailhebiausaysofHelichrysum.Aromaticsalmostalwaysactontherespiratorytract.
Sweetnourishing,perhapsmoistening,reducingdrynessandatrophy.
Notethattheastringence,whichisdrying,andthesweetness,whichismoistening,areopposingqualities.This
polarityisalsoseeninthewayinwhichtheverydryflowerreleasesasweetsmellwhenitisslightlymoistened.Damp
anddryinterplayinthisplant.
Stimulantsareoftenbeneficialfornumbnessandpain,symptomsbroughtoutinthehomeopathicprovings.
Theyarealsooftengoodforlow,putridconditions,ortheypreventtheseconditionsfromarising.
Smell.Rabbittobaccoisaninterestingplantbecauseitisoneofthefewwhichistraditionallyadministeredby
thesenseofsmell.InNorthAmericawehavethetraditionofthesweeteverlastingpillowinEuropethehelichrysum
isusedasavolatileoil.
Gnaphaliumobtusifoliumhasabeautifulfragrancewhichcouldbeanalyzedassweet,resemblingvanilla,with
justahintofspice.Thesmellisnotactuallythesameasthevanillalikescentfoundinplantsthatcontaincoumarins
newmownhay,yellowclover,alfalfa,redclover,cleavers,woodbetony,sweetwoodruff,etc.Interestingly,itreminds
onesomewhatofthesmellofsweetfern(Comptoniaasplenifolia),whichisalsofoundgrowinginthesame
environment:sandy,barrensoil,oftenwithanacidiccontent.However,sweeteverlastingisfoundonacidsoils
associatedmorewithoaks,whilesweetfernisfoundonthosewithmorepine.Bothhasascentandtastenotunlikechai
teamilkyandspicy.Thepioneersinfactusedcomptoniawithmilktomakeaspicytea.
Thepropertythatdosenotcomeacrossinthescentofrabbittobaccoistheastringence,soitmustbesupposed
thatthemedicinalpillowdoesnotpassthisontothepatient.Therespiratorytractisespeciallysuitedtoinhalation
therapyanditseemslikelythatthecompoundsassociatedwiththesweetandspicysmellsaretheactiveingredients
here.Butwhatistheavenueofactivity?FromwatchingandtalkingtopersonsrespondingtorabbittobaccoIhave
concludedthatitrelaxesthemuscles,butitmayalsopenetratethroughthealveoliandopenuptheoxygenexchange
withthebloodstream.Asweknow,theEuropeaneverlastingsarecreditedwithanactionontheblood,thinningitand
makingitmorecirculable.
AppearanceandTexture.Plantswithahardstalkthatremainslongaftersummerisover,likethisone,are
presumablyhighinminerals.Interestingly,rabbittobaccoissomewhatsofterandgentlertothetouchthanmanyofthe
plantstalkswhichsurviveinwinter.Thatindicatesanunusualstrengthassociatedwithsoftness.Note,inthefollowing
list,thatmanyofthemineralsfoundinGnaphaliumuliginosumarenotthestandardcalcium,magnesium,and
potassiumsooftenfoundinplantassaysbutunusualonesiron,copper,aluminum,chromium,andmanganese.

ClinicalExperience
Ihavehadalimitednumberofexperienceswiththisremedyuptothispoint.OnethingIcansayforsure:
rabbittobaccohasanamazingusefulness(palliativeorcurative?)onasthma.WhileIwasteachinginLondonIusedas
anexamplepatientastudentwithchronic,lifelongasthma.Hiscomplexionwaspale,dark,andsallow.Helooked
asifhedidnotgetenoughoxygen.Thelungsandtongueweredry.AftergivinghimsomeGnaphaliumobtusifolium
tincturehetooksomedeepbreaths,experiencedapainintheleftcenterofthechest,andbegantolooklesspale.The
asthmaticsymptomsdiminishedthoughhedidnotlikethepain.Haveyoufeltthatpainbeforeornotatall?Iasked,
tryingtodeterminewhetheritwasanaggravationoftheunderlyingsymptoms(andhencecurative)oracreationof
newsymptoms(inwhichcasetheremedywasprobablynotappropriate).Thatswhatitfeltlikewhenthisrecent
attackfirstcameonandIwenttothedoctorforsteroids.Ilosttouchwiththisstudent,buttheinitiallessonwasnot
lostonme.
SeveralweekslatterIwasconsultedbyoneofmylongtermclients.Shehadasthmasincechildhoodandhada
pale,dark,sallowcomplexionverysimilartotheformercase,soIthoughtofrabbittobacco.Shewasasmoker.She
feltrelieffromitsuse,butnotcure.Anapprentice,whowassittinginatthetime,alsohadasthmaandasallow,pale,
thoughnotdarkcomplexion.Shetriedrabbittobaccoandalsofoundithelpful,butnotpermanentlycurative.Both
begantobreathdeeperandlooklesspallidandsallowwhentheytookthefirstdoseofrabbittobacco.
ThatfallIcollectedenoughrabbittobaccotomakeapillow,followingthefolkmedicalcustom.Igaveittothe
firstofthetwoclientsmentionedintheprecedingparagraph.Shehasuseditforaboutthreemonths,andfeelsvery
goodaboutit.Herasthmaisslowlygettingbetter.Sheusestheinhaleralotless.NowwhenIrunupmystepstomy
apartmentIdonthavetostophalfwaytocatchmybreath,shesays.Shesleepswithitandfindsitlikearefuge.
Thefactthatitwasassociatedwithrabbitsmeantalottothispatient.IveskinnedoutalotofsnowshoehairsandI
knowalotaboutrabbits,shesaid.Theskinisverythinanddelicate,anditiseasilyinjured.Ifadogchasesthe
rabbittoolongitcangetblistersontheskin,orlittletearswithbitsofbloodinthefur....Iguessyoucouldsaythatit
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islikearefugeforthewoundedsmallanimalpartofme.Shenotedthatherasthmawasconnectedtofear.Thinkof
thelittlescaredrabbit.

Pharmacology
ThechemicalcompositionofGnaphaliumuliginosumL.hasbeenstudiedmostextensively,sinceitisan
importantmedicinalplantintheformerSovietUnion.Itcontainstannins(upto4percent)volatileoils(0.05percent)
fatsresinsthealkaloidgnaphalinmanyminerals,includingiron,copper,aluminum,chromium,manganese
phytosterols,flavonoids,thiamin,carotenes,ascorbicacid,andphytocides,thechemicalcompositionofwhichhasnot
beenmuchstudied.Itcontainsnoglycosides,saponins,orbitterprinciples(A.Petersone,1976).

IntuitiveStudy
AtfirstIwasnotabletostringtogethertheoddassortmentofsignatures,folkuses,traditions,subjective
experiences,popularnames,tastes,symptoms,andactionsofrabbittobaccointoaunifiedconceptionoftheplant.
Thenanasthmaticcommentedtome,IfeelasifIamnottotallyalive,asifdeathissqueezingmeoutofmybody.
Thisseemedappropriateforsomeonewhocouldnotgetenoughairintoherself,assheexplainedit.Rabbittobaccodid
nothelpthiswomanagreatdeal,butdidithelpanotherwomanwhofeltexactlythesameway.Thesecasestaughtme
thatsweeteverlastingwasindeedaplantthatwalkedtheborderoftheworlds.
Theconnectionwiththesensitiveskinwasbroughtoutinanothercase.Iwasexaminingalifelongasthmatic
withmyfriendMargiFlint,registeredherbalist(AHG).Shenotedthatthewomanhadusedalotofprednisoneandthat
thismadetheskinthinandweakwhenitcametogiveoffasweat.Sherecommendedastiffdecoctionofyarrowto
wakenuptheskin,whileIthoughtofrabbittobacco.Thewomanwasafraidofthestrongyarrowandusedtherabbit
tobaccoatthenextclasseveryoneremarkedontheimprovementinherskin,thoughshehesitatedtoattributean
improvementintheasthmatotheremedy.
Sorabbittobaccoissuitedtopersonswithadelicaterespiratoryapparatusanddelicate,thinskin.Thereisalso
anervousdelicacyseenintheproblemswithsciaticaandneuralgia,whichtheplanteasilyproducedinthehomeopathic
provings.Theassociationwiththerabbitalsoremindsustothinkintermsofsympatheticexcessorfightorflight.
Werememberthewoundedsmallanimalpartofmewhichtheonewomandescribed.
Thephysicalpropertiesastringence,sweetness,andspicinessindicateagentle,permeatingqualitywhich
mightbevaluableforthosewhoaretooeasilyimpresseduponbysmells,emotions,andchemicals.Thesweetness,
whichisthestrongesttaste,wouldindicateanabilitytostrengthenandbuildtissue,whilethespicinesswouldbe
slightlywarmingandstimulating.Theastringence,whichisverymild,wouldtonethetissuesslightly,makingthem
lesspermeableaswell.ItislikelythattheAmericanrabbittobaccoalsothinsthebloodandactsonthecardiovascular
systemlikeitsclosecousinmarsheverlastingorliketheslightlymoredistanthelichrysum.
Today,whenweareconfrontedwithsomanydelicatechildrensufferingfromasthmaandfoodsensitivitiesit
maybethattherabbittobaccocouldprovehighlyefficacious.Certainly,ithasproveditselftobesomethingofuse,
eithercurativelyorpalliatively,inthatextremelydifficulttotreatandunpleasantcondition,congenitalasthma.It
seemstohaveageneralpositiveeffectonmanyrespiratoryconditions,asindicatedbytheesteemedpositionitheldin
thecoughformulasofTommieBass.Hisassociationofitwithwildcherrymakesagreatdealofsense,sincethisisan
herbIwouldassociatewithhistaminicoveractivity,respiratorysensitivity,andfoodallergy.Itmayalsohavea
positiveeffectoncirculatorycongestion,aproblemsocommoninthoseofincreasingyears.Intheveryelderlywe
oftenfindthethinskinanddelicacyofconstitutionthatthisplantdemonstrates.

Conclusion
WhenIunderstandaplantinacompletefashionIusuallyfindanexactcorrespondencebetweenthephysicalproperties
oftheplant,thepsychologicaltraitsassociatedwithit,andtheoutstandingsignatureorphysicalexpressionofthe
plant.Thesethreepicturestogether,inunity,pointtothecorepersonalityoftheplant.IhaveconfidencewhenIhave
allthreetogether,ratherthanoneortwo.Thisis,Ibelieve,becausetheintuitivemethodlooksforresonancebetween
differentpicturesinordertofindthecoreresonanceorpersonality.Althoughtheprecedingdiscussionoffershintsof
resonancebetweendifferentlevelsandportraitsoftheplant,Iwouldpointoutthefollowingasthemostprecise
correspondences:

1.Physicalhealth:Rabbittobaccoisusedforcongenitaldefectorweakness,i.e.,incompleteinheritance.
2.Psychologicalhealth:Itisusedwhenalegacyfromamentororancestorisnotpassedonandthereisabreak
inthepsychologicalinheritance.
3.Signature:Somethinglikelifecontinuesinrabbittobacco,afterthedeathoftheplant,sothatitcarriesona
communicationbetweenthelivinganddead.

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ThecongruenceofthesethreetraitsofrabbittobaccotogethergivemeconfidencethatIunderstandtheplantto
itscore,eventhoughitisastrangelycomplexentityandseeminglyaselfprofessedtrickstermedicine.

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