Devil's Club

What it looks like

Devil's Club is a sprawling plant that grows to 3 metres tall with leaves that look like giant maple leaves and are prickly underneath. It has thick, woody stems covered with sharp spines. The bright red, shiny berries form a pyramid-shaped cluster. Devil's club is found in wet but well-drained forests and is common throughout BC.

What it was used for

Caution: This plant has sharply pointed structures on the leaves and stems that may cause injury and rash.

Devil's Club was used for medicine. Four pieces of root were held in one's mouth and the juice swallowed as a cure for stomach pains. An extract of the bark was drunk to help get rid of tuberculosis. The bark was used in steam baths to help relieve general body pains. When collecting Devil's Club, deerskin gloves were worn to protect the hands from the sharp spines on the stems. These spines were thought to be magical and to have protective powers against evil forces. It was an important medicine often used in charms such as a charm for a halibut hook to ensure good fishing.