Himalayan clematis
StarClematis montana
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In Chinese folk and traditional medicine the dried stem of Clematis montana (allied to the Wei Ling Xian / Clematis group) has been used to treat rheumatism and inflammatory joint conditions and to promote urination (Chinese ethnopharmacology; genus review, Chawla et al., 2012). The fresh plant is irritant owing to protoanemonin and is used only after appropriate preparation.
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Botanical Description
Clematis montana, the Himalayan or mountain clematis, is a vigorous deciduous woody climber of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae), capable of scrambling 6-12 m through trees and over supports by means of twining leaf-stalks. The leaves are opposite and divided into three leaflets that are ovate to lanceolate, toothed or lobed, and somewhat hairy. In late spring the plant produces a profuse display of flowers, either solitary or in small clusters from the leaf axils; each flower is 4-6 cm across and composed of four (sometimes five or six) spreading, petal-like sepals that are white to pink, surrounding a central boss of creamy stamens, and true petals are absent. The fruit is a head of numerous achenes, each bearing a long, silky, feathery plume that aids wind dispersal. Native to the Himalayas, southwestern and central China, and Taiwan, it grows in mountain forests, scrub, ravines, and along rocky slopes. The fresh plant contains the acrid irritant protoanemonin.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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