Grown mostly as a garden plant today, Helleborus niger, or black hellebore, is a low-growing perennial with an early history of medicinal use. The plant has dark leaves and rootstock, from which its name is thought to derive. It is also commonly known as a Christmas rose for its tendency to bloom in winter around the holiday.
Numerous legends and tales surround this interesting plant. In fact, some people believe its name Christmas rose came about through the tale of a child who picked the blossoms from the snow and presented them to baby Jesus. Other stories surrounding Helleborus niger involve ties to witchcraft, apparently due to the toxic nature of the plant. A concoction of black hellebore was even suspected in the demise of Alexander the Great.
When taken in large doses, Helleborus niger is extremely poisonous. Even low doses were used with caution and oftentimes only as a last resort. The plant possesses two poisons — one acting as a narcotic, the other being a cardiac poison. The sap of black hellebore is also irritating to the skin, producing painful blisters upon contact. Ingestion of the plant can cause anything from burning of the mouth to vomiting, dizziness, gastrointestinal inflammation, spasms and convulsions, extreme thirst, pupil dilation, cold sweats, heart failure, depression of the nervous system, and even death.
Nonetheless, in extreme cases, the plant was administered to remedy numerous conditions. The root of Helleborus niger was the part most often used for medicinal purposes. Collected and dried in the fall, the remedy could be given in powder form or tinctures. Black hellebore possesses a strong, unforgettable taste — both bittersweet and acrid.
Helleborus niger was once used to treat mental illness. It was also administered for the treatment of palsy, apoplexy, gout, epilepsy, and dropsy. Some early healers used the plant for cardiac ailments as well as a purgative or laxative. In addition, black hellebore was believed to help kill and expel intestinal parasites.
While black hellebore is seldom used for medicinal today, in very small doses and only with supervision, the remedy has been used on occasion. Helleborus niger has been helpful in the treatment of various nervous disorders. It is also useful in treating amenorrhea, or absent menstruation. Additionally, the plant has been used as a cardiac stimulant. Although the black hellebore may not be as medicinally useful as it once was, the attractive plant still possesses a very interesting history and looks great in the garden.