Oplopanax horridus or common name of Devil’s Club,Devil’s walking stick, or Devil’s root is native to Alaska, Pacific Northwest, Montana, Michigan and Pennsylvania and parts of Canada.

It could be grown in southern conditions but it needs a lot of high nitrogen rich compost to make it. It is in the Ginseng family but it is technically not a ginseng, it is a cousin to American ginseng and is marketed as Alaskan Ginseng, it is also closely related to wild ginger. It has been used by first nations in those regions for centuries. This is a very thorny bush and great care should be used if you decide to try to grow it. It however is very rarely cultivated and foraging for it is the main source.

You can purchase tincture,dried bark and dried bark extract or small bush starts online.

It has been studied by the NIH and they found compounds that help with many ailments including cancer

The dried bark extract is good for Coughs, Colds Bronchitis, Tuberculosis, Leprosy  and Pneumonia.

It eliminates excess mucus and toxins and a decoction of the extract treats tuberculosis and respiratory issues. Tests performed by independent sources found that Devil’s Club will effectively treat all respiratory issues but could find no correlation that it was effective on Leprosy. 

It is most effective on Mycobacterium which is the bacteria that causes Tuberculosis.

It is effect against Staph, B. subtilis( virulent bacteria found in soil and the intestinal tract of grazing animals, humans and marine sponges), E.coli,P. aeruginosa Z61( a bacteria found in urban reservoirs like hot tubs, jacuzzis and pools. It also can be found in Hospitals and is the cause of ventilator associated pneumonia, catheter associated UTIs and can be found in 

Reservoirs in the hospital setting include potable water, taps, sinks, toothbrushes, icemakers, disinfecting solutions, sanitizers, soap bars, respiratory therapy equipment, endoscopes, and endoscope washers) which will cause antibiotics to be less effective and it works against yeast infections. 

Meaning that if you have an infection that is resistant to antibiotics this will work for you as it fights the most common infections and some that are not so common. It will also work for infections of the mouth and will relieve pain, along with fevers associated with infections.

The indigenous people of the above areas used the bark to treat cardiovascular issues and gastrointestinal problems but as of 2011 which is the last study I could find there has been no testing of the properties to see if they would be effective in treating these two issues.

Devil’s Club can be used to treat diabetes and balance the blood sugar. There have only been two studies done, one in 1938 and it showed it is effective in lowering blood sugar and the second test was only done with an extract tea and in very low doses and the study group was small and that returned very poor results in lowering blood sugar.

Indigenous people of Alaska used it to treat arthritis and many stories have been told of using a decoction wash on the joints and as a tea helps with swelling. They took it internally and apple poultice externally and saw results.

If you chose to use this I would buy from a reputable source as it is starting to be harvested in greater numbers and it may soon be regulated like ginseng is as to foraging for its bark.