Bryonia Cretica

The redberry bryony (Bryonia cretica) is a herbaceous perennial which belongs to the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae). It is native to most parts of Europe, Western Asia and North Africa and Grows wild in thickets, undergrowth and hedges, but is particularly fond of lime soils. The bryony has a thick bulbous rhizome. The stem climbs great distances over thickets and hedges and the aid of it's clinging tendrils. The small, greenish blossoms hang in clusters from three to four leaf axils and flower from June to July. The red or orange berries grow on the female plants only. The botanical name comes from the Greek "bryo", meaning to "blaze a trail", which refers to the plants rate of growth. Cretica comes from Latin "creticus", or the Greek "kretikos", and indicates Crete as the origin. Dioca means that the plant is know as "navet du diable", "the Devil's turnip", because it is poisonous. All parts of the plants are poisonous - as a few as fifteen berries can kill a child! Hippocrates was one of the first to know about its medicinal properties. The root secretes a milky juice which has a very bitter and unpleasant taste. The greeks and Romans made use of its purgative effect. As this remedy causes irritation, bryony is no longer used as a purgative or emetic nowadays. In the past the plant was also used to treat dropsy, rheumatism and sciatica. Nowadays it is chiefly used in Homeopathy to treat whopping cough, pleurisy, bronchitis, rheumatic pain and chilblains and the hands and feet.

The following A. Vogel remedies contain redberry bryony:

Gastronol, homeopathic stomach tablets
Influaforce, homeopathic influenza drops and tablets