Wild
Iris was abundant near the lakes of northern 
Minnesota
where I grew up. Born loving the color purple, I was naturally drawn
to their delicate hues. When my mother told me I could have my first
garden, I collected a pile of large rocks into a circle, painted them
bright orange (it was the 1960's), dug up the rich, black soil, and
planted iris bulbs. What joy and delight I felt to see those iris
fill that little stone circle with their luscious beauty!
As
I became an herbalist, I was naturally interested to find out about the
medicinal properties of my beloved iris. You can read more about the
history of the many varieties of iris at www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/i/irises08.html.
Names:
Iris Versicolor means Iris of many colors. They are most commonly
seen in shades of purple and yellow. Other common names include Blue Flag,
American Blue Flag, Dagger Flower, Dragon Flower, Flag Lily, Harlequin
Blueflag, Liver Lily, Poison Flag, Snake Lily, Water Flag , Water Iris,
Habitat:
Wild Iris likes water. Its natural habitat is along the edges of
ponds and moist soils; shallow waters, sedge meadows, marshes, and along
streambanks and shores, marshes, swamps, wet meadows, along shorelines,
and in forested wetlands. If you see Wild Iris, you know that water
is commonly available in that soil. Although they are most common in
the wet northlands, they can be seen even in the dry southwest. Its
most common associates include Tammarack and Black Spruce trees; Bog
Birch, Leatherleaf, and Sweet Gale shrubs, Cattails, Sphagnum Mosses, and
Moose.
Part
Used:
Leaves and roots
Indications:
Native Americans used the leaves of the wild iris for burns and sores.
They used the roots for dropsy. Used as an herbal medicine, Wild
Iris is a powerful anti-viral agent. In this mode it can be
effective against flus and colds and other viral ailments. It can
also be useful for the liver and bowels; claimed useful for syphilis,
dropsy, low-grade scrofula and skin afflictions, and as a diuretic.
Cautions:
This plant has been mentioned as causing poisoning in humans and animals,
though case reports have not been found. The plant juice can cause
dermatitis in sensitive individuals. Other iris species have also been
implicated in poisoning of animals. Because of the potential for
poisoning, care should be taken to prevent access by livestock and pets.
A glycoside, iridin (or irisin), has been implicated as the toxic compound
in iris species, although this has not been confirmed.
Preparations
& Dosage:
Preparations made from the root must be made from thoroughly dried
rhizome. The poisons that are recognized in some of their common names are
eliminated by the drying process. Once thoroughly dried, the root
can be made into alcohol tincture. Under the guidance of your
herbalist, a dose of 1 dropperful to 3 dropperfuls/day is most
common.
