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Hepatica, An Early Sign of Spring, and the Doctrine of Signatures

© Gregg Pasterick

It was called "The Doctrine of Signatures", and it was where the medicinal properties of a plant were determined by its shape. Early bloomer Round-lobed Hepatica (Hepatica americana) is a perfect example.

The three-lobed leaves of this plant resemble a liver, and as they dry up later in the season, the leaves take on a rusty, liver-like color. Not coincidentally, the Greek word for liver is, of course, hepatica. Of its uses, Nicholas Culpepper wrote, "It is a singular good herb for all diseases of the liver, both to cool and cleanse it, and helps inflammations in any part, and the yellow jaundice.".

Well, I've never used it for my liver, but I did count on it as an early sign of spring when I lived "back east".

There was a certain area in the woods near my home in Ohio where I knew to look for it each year, and sooner or later, sometimes when there was still snow ion the ground, there it would be, harbingering spring all over the place. My first sight of it never failed to elevate my dismal spirits.

It's not as common as it used to be, mostly because of picking (Stop That!), and the loss of woodlands. It grows close to the ground, often in colonies, and its flowers range from pink or white to blue to lavender. Such lovely and delicate colors seem incongruous with a plant that can survive early spring, when winter weather still rears its ugly head now and then. Perhaps those first fuzzy little buds are in fact attired in fur as protection against those persistent blasts of cold.

It can be found from Alaska and Manitoba to Nova Scotia, south to Florida, west to Alabama, and north to Missouri and Minnesota. It, and Sharp-lobed Hepatica (H. acutiloba) are members of the Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae). Its flowers, as well as its shape have accounted for a variety of folk names over the years such as liverwort, liver-moss, liverleaf, mouse ears, golden trefoil, herb trinity and squirrel cup.

The flowers can self-fertilize, and thus do not require insects form pollination. That makes sense, given how few insects are out and about on wintry spring days.

No longer considered useful in treating liver ailments, Hepatica tea is still used as a treatment for bronchitis, and as a diuretic. The Chippewas once used it as a treatment for convulsions, while the Cherokee made a tea of Hepatica and Walking Fern that would induce vomiting. More importantly, it would also banish snake dreams. (I wonder if Freud ever got wind of that?)

Sharp-lobed Hepatica

Sharp-lobed Hepatica

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