Botanical Index No. 606

Lady’s Slipper

cypripedium spp.

Medicinal Actions

Allergenic, Analgesic, Antispasmodic, Astringent, Calmative, Dermatitigenic, Hypnotic, Sedative, Stimulant, Soporific, Tonic

Primary Conditions Treated

Aphrodisiac Hemostat Nervine Tranquilizer Anxiety Backache Bleeding Brain Childbirth Chorea Convulsion Cramp Debility Delirium tremens Depression Despondency Diarrhea Dysmenorrhea Ecstasy Epilepsy Erethism Erythema Fever Gastrosis Headache Hemicrania Hypochondria Hysteria Inflammation Insomnia Itch Menorrhagia Nerve Nervousness Neuralgia Neurosis Odontosis Pain PMS Pulmonosis Spermatorrhea Stress Stye Toothache Tremor Tuberculosis Vulvosis Worm

General Dosage

2–4 g root, or in tea, 3 ×/day; 2–4 ml liquid root extract 3 ×/day.

Safety & Contraindications

Reported to be allergenic; may cause dermatosis, giddiness, hallucinations, headache, mental excitement, and restlessness. I’m sure APA had good intentions, but their quote, which follows, may put further pressure on an already rare species, “Lady’s slipper can cause psychedelic reactions”. Foster and Duke may stir up some other unusual lady slipper diggers looking for relief from “mental depression from sexual abuse.” “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages”.

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