BIDENS–Bidens
Pilosa, Bidens Radiata, Bidens Minor, Bidens Bisetosa, Bidens Cynapiifolia,
Bidens Frondosa, Bidens Parviflora, etc.
Also
known as: Spanish needles,
Devil’s needles, Pitchforks, Beggar’s ticks, Broomstick, Cobbler’s pegs,
Farmer’s friends, Blackjack, Demon spike grass, etc.
Parts
used: leaves, root, flowers, seeds
Systems/organs
affected: immune,
nervous, liver, digestive, cardiovascular, kidney, spleen, urinary, bladder
Properties: anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antifungal,
antioxidant, anti-hyperglycemic, antidiabetic, antimalarial, antibacterial,
anti-ulcerative, immunomodulatory, vasodilatory, anti-carcinogenic, edible,
anti-dysenteric, antimicrobial, astringent, blood tonic, carminative, diuretic,
galactogogue, hepato-protective, hypotensive, mucus membrane tonic,
neuroprotective, styptic, vulnerary, prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor
Bidens is a member of the
Asteraceae (Compositae or Daisy) family.
There are about 240 known species at this time throughout the
world. There is some dispute over
whether it is a perennial or annual so I would dare say there are probably both
among the species. It is an erect plant
that is either smooth or hairy depending on variety with green leaves that are
opposite. The leaves can be serrated or
lobed and either have white or yellow flowers (again depending on the species). It has long narrow black seeds that resemble
needles only thicker and can get up to five feet tall. It likes full sun and dry soil but it has
been found growing in all types of conditions. Typically it is found by
roadsides, vacant lots, railways, back yards, meadows, the desert and shores of
rivers and ponds. It propagates easily
from seed (usually within 4 days it germinates) and each plant has between
3000-6000 seeds. In many places it is
considered a noxious weed. There is also
some speculation as to the origins of the plant. Some say it originated in South America and
was brought here by the Spaniards.
Others say it originated in Europe and was brought over by the pilgrims
and yet other say it began here in North America and has spread across the
globe from here. Wherever it came from
it seems to have found a home on almost every continent.
Ancient Asian texts (Bencao
Gangmu,
1596 AD-Chinese Materia Medica penned during the Ming dynasty) lists a few
different types of bidens that were commonly used for snake bites, insect bites
and chronic diarrhea. (Bidens pilosa and
bidens tripartita). Bidens pilosa was an
herb considered to push toxins from the body and ‘clear heat’ or ease
inflammatory conditions. In volume 5 of Chinese
Medicinal
Herbs
of
Hong
Kong
(there are 10 volumes), bidens pilosa is listed as being useful for rheumatic
conditions, appendicitis, malaria, hepatitis, hemorrhoids, gastroenteritis
(stomach flu) and pruritis (severe itching of the skin). Bidens bipinnata is listed as a cooling herb
that is said to invigorate the blood and remove wind dampness (rheumatic
issues). It was also commonly used for
sprains, nephritis, insect and scorpion stings, dysentery, hepatitis, stomach
aches and more. Apparently it can be
used in much the same way as bidens pilosa (which is the variety most used
medicinally today). In a book entitiled
‘Anticancer
Medicinal
Herbs’
(Chang, Minyi, 1992), bidens bipinnata was listed as useful for gastric and
esophageal cancers. The decoction was
said to ‘cure’ cardiac spasms, dysentery, dysphagia (difficulty swallowing),
laryngalgia (neuralgia of the larynx), vomiting and diarrhea. It has been used to treat chronic
inflammation of the large intestine as well (called cecitis). In ‘Chinese Materia Medica’
it is said to ‘cure’ a scorpion’s sting by external application alone. In a ‘Thousand Formulas and
Thousand
Herbs
of
Traditional
Chinese
Medicine’
(1993), bidens parviflora was used for infant fevers with convulsions,
frostbite, carbuncles, trauma, skin rashes, snake bites, boils, etc. In ‘A New Compendium of
Materia
Medica’
(1995) it states that bidens is,
“Good for diminishing inflammation, to
cure common cold, bronchitis, hepatitis, tonsillitis, pneumonia, appendicitis
and child-fever, eliminating sputum and relieving cough and asthma, also for
curing snake bite or for external applications.”
The Native Americans would use a
tea made with the leaves to get rid of worms.
They also chewed the leaves to help relieve sore throats. The Shakers used the plant as an expectorant,
for uterine issues, to treat heart palpitations and to induce menstruation and
sweating. Ayurvedic medicine used it for
glandular sclerosis, eczema, headaches, ear infections, toothaches and leprosy. (Quite a wide range of application for a
noxious weed! Ha!)
Alexander Fleming discovered
penicillin in 1929. Dr. Fleming found
the even THEN there were a number of penicillin resistant bacteria. At that time about 14% of staph was resistant
to it. As of 1995, 95% of staph was
resistant to penicillin. Almost 90 years
since penicillin was discovered-some staph bacterium are now resistant to ALL
KNOWN pharmarceutical antibiotics!
Why? Unlike herbs,
pharmaceuticals are made using only a few compounds. Herbs generally have hundreds of compounds
within them making it nearly impossible for bacteria and/or viruses to become
resistant to them. Bidens is a natural
antibiotic with over 100 compounds in it.
It has been found to be more effective against bacteria than penicillin,
methicillin. Tetracycline and a host of other pharmaceuticals. The entire plant from seed to root is
considered medicinally active.
Michael Moore (herbalist) stated
that,
”Bidens may be our best herb for benign
prostate hypertrophy, usually decreasing the membrane irritability both in the
urinary tract and the rectum, and often, over a few weeks of use, noticeably
shrinking the prostate and giving its connective tissue better tone.”
Stephen Buhner (author of Herbal
Antivirals and Herbal Antibiotics) said that,
“Because it is a mucus membrane tonic and is
astringent, powerfully anti-inflammatory and strongly antibacterial, it is
specific for a number of diseases caused by resistant pathogens: UTI’s, chronic
diarrhea and dysentery, gastrointestinal ulcers (anywhere in the GI tract, from
mouth to anus), inflamed mucus membranes in colds and flu and respiratory
infections of any sort, sore throats from coughs or infection or even overuse
of the throat, and vaginal infections.”
Bidens contains a host of
compounds which include flavonoids, lipids, terpenes, benzenoids,
phenylpropanoids and acetylenes. The
polyacetylenes and flavonoids are the most active of these.
The polyacetylenes have been
found to inhibit yeast, bacteria and insect larvae in lab experiments. They were also found to inhibit human
fibroblast cells. (Interesting to note
that it works extremely well when combined with sunlight or light therapy. The therapeutic effects seems to diminish in
darkness so light is key). These
polyacetylenes were also effective against the malaria parasite (Plasmodium
falciparum) which explains why it is used extensively in the Amazon for just
that. When combined with chrysanthemum
and houttuynia, it effectively inhibited tuberculosis as well.
The flavonoids contain quercetin
and luteolin, both of which protect the body from toxins. Flavonoids are usually used for
cardiovascular issues of which bidens has been proven effective. A mixture of the bidens species (bipinnata
and parviflora) was found to inhibit platelet aggregation, lower cholesterol
and inhibit thrombosis. To date, bidens
has been found to be effective against candida, bacillus cereus (a bacteria
that causes vomiting and/or diarrhea), kiebsiella pneumonia, E. coli, human
cytomegalovirus (a kind of herpes virus), bacillus subtilis (bacteria commonly
found in soil and the gastrointestinal tract), Entamoeba histolytica (an
anaerobic parasite that feeds on cells in the colon), mycobacterium
tuberculosis, herpes simplex 1&2, Streptococcus faecalis (bacterium found
in the gastrointestinal tract and in diseased teeth or bad root canals),
plasmodium, leishmania amazonesis (Skin bacteria), Neisseria gonorrhea,
salmonella, shigella flexneri (Bacteria that causes diarrhea), pseudomonas
aeruginosa (the most common acquired hospital bacteria-from being IN the hospital),
staphylococcus aureus, serratia marcescens (bacteria that can be found in the
respiratory tract, urinary tract, soft tissues and surgical wounds), and
staphylococcus epidermis.
Bidens is most potent in tincture
form from fresh plants. It can be decocted
or infused but that will be much less effective than the tincture form. Bidens does have some cautions. The internet medical sites say it shouldn’t
be taken by diabetics as it lowers glucose levels, stimulates the release of
insulin from the pancreas and can increase insulin sensitivity. Bidens is also known to absorb cadmium and
arsenic from dumps and waste places so use caution when harvesting and never
harvest these plants near those areas.
Also it should not be taken by pregnant and/or nursing women. (It is amazing any woman survived through
millennia of time using plants as medicine.
How did we manage? Gasp, the
horror…) As always, consult a qualified
physician before ever beginning an herbal program or regimen.
As is customary with my posts I am including some links here for your benefit. Stay strong and healthy!
