Clematis

Scientific Name(s): Clematis virginiana L.
Common Name(s): Clematis, Devil's-darning-needle, Old-man's beard, Traveler's-joy, Umdlonzo (Zulu), Vine bower, Virgin's bower, Woodbine

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 9, 2021.

Clinical Overview

Use

Clematis has been evaluated for its anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and antimicrobial effects.

Dosing

No clinical evidence supports dosage recommendations for clematis.

Contraindications

Contraindications have not been identified.

Pregnancy/Lactation

Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.

Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

Skin irritation, hypo- or hyperpigmentation of the skin, profuse salivation, blistering, inflamed eyes, abdominal cramping, vomiting of blood, weakness, bloody diarrhea, and painful, excessive or bloody urine.

Toxicology

Poisoning symptoms may include dizziness, confusion, possible fainting, and convulsions.

Scientific Family

• Ranunculaceae

Botany

Clematis is a genus of mostly climbing perennial shrubs in the buttercup family with approximately 355 species worldwide, mainly in North America and Asia. Over 70 species are used in Chinese traditional medicineDing 2009 and several species are cultivated in North America for their beautiful flowers. The common species include woodbine (C. virginiana), virgin's bower (Clematis cirrhosa), old-man's beard (Clematis vitalba), and vine bower (Clematis viticella).

C. virginiana is a trailing vine that can grow up to 15 m higher than other botanicals, often resulting in a bower or shaded shelter. The long, feathery, beard-like tail on the fruit led to the common name "old-man's beard." This species is a North American native plant that was once included in a continental pharmacopeia as a medicine.

Clematis grows in thickets, roadsides, woods, and stream banks. It can be found in Manitoba and Quebec, as far south as Alabama and Louisiana, and west to Kansas. The vine has leaves divided into 3 oval and toothed leaflets, each on long, tendril-like stalks that aid in its climbing habit. From July to September, it displays creamy white flowers that bloom into large clusters that become fruit heads with long plume-like tails.Readers Digest 1986, Duke 1985

Other related species in the genus include: Clematis dioica from tropical areas of Central and South AmericaLewis 1977Clematis recta (Clematis erecta) of Southern Europe, C. vitalba of Eurasian and North African originNBII ISSG 2005Clematis chinensis Osbeck (Wei Ling Xian) of Chinese originOdy 1993 and Clematis thunbergii from Senegal.Lewis 1977

History

The popular use of C. virginiana for skin disorders (sores, cuts), itching, and venereal eruptions in North American pioneer medicine was probably learned from American Indians.Readers Digest 1986 Throughout history, the leaf of the plant was used in folk remedies for treating cancers and tumors, as well as for itching, fever, renosis, nephrosis, ulcers, and scrofula.Duke 1985 Past uses also indicate diuretic, poisonous, rubefacient, sudorific, purgative, and vesicant properties. The Chinese have traditionally used the roots and rhizomes of C. chinensis, Clematis mandschurica Rupr., and Clematis hexapetala Pall., referred to as "weilingxian" in Chinese, for their analgesic, abirritative, antibacterial, antiphlogistic, anticancer, and diuretic effects.