{"id":1682,"date":"2022-01-12T09:15:23","date_gmt":"2022-01-12T08:15:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alleanzaverde.com\/blog\/?p=1682"},"modified":"2022-01-13T20:08:41","modified_gmt":"2022-01-13T19:08:41","slug":"ilex-aquifolium-l-monography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alleanzaverde.com\/blog\/ilex-aquifolium-l-monography\/","title":{"rendered":"Ilex L. – Monography"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Order<\/b>: Aquifoliales Senft
Family<\/b>: Aquifoliaceae<\/i> Bercht. & J.Presl<\/p>\n

Ilex <\/em>is a genus comprising over 560 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae<\/em>, and it is the only living genus in that family. The Ilex species are evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs, and climbers from tropics to temperate zones worldwide. The type species is Ilex aquifolium<\/em>, the common European holly.<\/p>\n

Several Ilex <\/em>species are used worldwide as medicine or to make traditional beverages.\u00a0 Mate <\/em>or mat\u00e9<\/em>, also known as chimarr\u00e3o<\/em>, is a traditional South American infused drink prepared by soaking dried leaves of Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis<\/em>) in hot water. Also, I. guayusa<\/em>, Kuding (I. kaushue<\/em>), Yaupon (I. vomitoria<\/em>) are used to make similar infusions. Leaves of other species, such as gallberry (I. glabra<\/em>) are bitter and emetic. [HPathySchool]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In the American southeast & southwest, yaupon holly (I. vomitoria<\/em>) was used in mystic cultic practices, overimbibed to induce vomiting & hallucination as a purification ritual. Archeologists have found ritual shell-cups with the evaporated holly residue dating to 1,200 BCE. [HpathySchool]<\/p>\n

Some Ilex species are also used in Chinese medicine (see the \u201cIlex species used in Chinese Medicine<\/em>\u201d paragraph).<\/p>\n

Modern scientific research has highlighted the neuroprotective action of the extracts of different species of Ilex, in models of ischemia and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson\u2019s and Alzheimer diseases (see for instance [Kim, Fang, Medeiros, Milioli, Nguyen, Taravini, Tribbia]).<\/p>\n

Ilex aquifolium L.<\/h1>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Primary functionality:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Saturn<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Secondary functionality:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Mars, Jupiter<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Nature:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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ambivalent with respect to the Warm\/Cold polarity, slightly warm<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Taste:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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bitter, slightly acrid, slightly sweet, slightly astringent<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Tropism:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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kidneys and adrenal glands, eye, ear, breast, lung, central nervous system, osteoarticular system, veins<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Humoral actions1<\/sup><\/em><\/a>:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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expel corrupt humors (Phlegm, also thickened, Yellow Bile and Tension) and regulates Melancholia. Tonify the function of the kidneys\/adrenals and stomach<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Tissue states<\/em>:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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excess of phlegm, yellow bile and tension; deficiency or excess of Melancholia; functional deficiency of kidneys\/adrenals and stomach<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Clinical actions:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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analgesic\/anti-inflammatory, antiarthritic, antidiarrheal, antiepileptic, antigout, antirheumatic, antisclerotic, antispasmodic, expectorant, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, emmenagogue, emollient, febrifuge, hypotensive, laxative\/purgative, nervine, resolutive, venotonic, adrenal tonic, antitussive<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Used parts:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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leaves, roots, berries, bark; young shoots<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Description<\/h2>\n

Holly is an evergreen, dioecious shrub or small tree up to 8-10 m tall. Used mostly for decorative purposes, especially during the Christmas period, it is actually a plant with remarkable therapeutic virtues, even if it is no longer used for curative purposes because it is considered toxic or even poisonous. In fact, the only part of the plant that has a certain toxicity is the berries, which are highly purgative and emetic (see paragraph \u201cContraindications and side effects<\/em>\u201d).<\/p>\n

The leaves of Ilex aquifolium <\/em>are persistent (they last on average 2-3 years) and leathery and show a strong polymorfism: some have oval or elliptical, wavy lamina, with a thorny margin (generally these are found on the lower branches), while others (generally localizedon the upper branches and on the suckers) have an entire lamina which is sharp only at the apex.<\/p>\n

The production of prickly leaves in Ilex <\/em>L. is a plastic defensive response induced by mammalian browsing, aimed at reducing herbivory. Browsed shrubs tend to exhibit reduced annual shoot growth, increased branching, and produce smaller leaves with high spinescence. The regrowth on browsed branches of holly trees is characterized by increased leaf spinescence relative to unbrowsed branches. The two leaf types differ in the extent of genome-wide DNA cytosine methylation, as shown by the significant decline in mean per-marker probability of methylation from nonprickly to prickly leaves on contiguous positions of the same branchlet. [Herrera, Obeso]<\/p>\n

Spinescence therefore represents a natural defense of the species against the bite of herbivores and therefore it is present mostly on the lower branches, which are more easily accessible: the tree protects itself only when it needs to do so<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The upper surface of the leaves is shiny and this allows the holly to disperse the light that comes from the sky towards the interior of the forest.<\/p>\n

Although it is an evergreen mountain tree (it tends to vegetate in beech, fir-beech and oak-hornbeam forests, up to 1500m above sea level), it does not have needle-like leaves. Clearly, however, unlike conifers, it does not produce resin.<\/p>\n

In windswept areas, the holly branches tend to curve downwards, forming a barrier against the incident wind, as if to protect the undergrowth. Where the wind always blows in the same direction (for example, at the edge of a grove), the branches that are located in the direction from which the wind blows curve down to the ground, while the branches placed in more sheltered positions tend to grow straighter. Again, the holly protects only when there is a need: [Holly] speaks of protection with discernment. [\u2026] The tree only protects when it needs to. A lesson for us we don\u2019t need our defenses up all the time!<\/em>\u201d [SensSol].<\/p>\n

A sacred plant among the Celts, the holly was consecrated to the god Taranis (the equivalent of Thor among the Germans). The club of the green giant Yul, guardian god, is made with holly and has the ability to ward off lightning. Traditionally, the Celts used to hang holly fronds on the house doors and stables to protect them from lightning and to ward off evil spirits and malevolent forces. [Andrianne]<\/p>\n

The dried holly branches ignite easily and hold the flame without making much smoke; with their living flame they are able to illuminate the surroundings [Atzei].<\/p>\n

In the Black Forest and, in ancient times, also in Sardinia, an herbal tea similar to South American Mate was prepared with the leaves. [Atzei, Globalnet, Grieve] Although a 1967 study reported the presence of theobromine in holly leaves [Bohinc], recent studies have instead demonstrated the complete absence of methylxanthines [Negrin].<\/p>\n

In Sardinia, the roasted seeds were used as a substitute for coffee and the berries were sometimes put in wine to make it sweeter. The decoction prepared with the dried bark, after macerating it in water for two days and throwing away the steeping water, was used as a refreshing drink and thirst quencher, sweetened with honey. [Atzei]<\/p>\n

Holly is anti-arthritic, anti-epileptic, anti-diarrheal, pain-relieving\/anti-inflammatory, anti-gout, anti-rheumatic, anti-sclerotic, antispasmodic, febrifuge, expectorant, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, emmenagogue, emollient, hypotensive, purgative, nervine, resolutive, venotonic, adrenal gland tonic, antitussive remedy. It has been used for the treatment of fevers (especially intermittent ones), chronic catarrh, pleurisy, gastrointestinal colic, urinary tract problems. The juice of the leaves has been recommended for jaundice.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The bruised and fermented bark yields a viscous substance called birdlime<\/em> that has been used to \u201cstick\u201d birds: applied externally as a cataplasm, it has a resolving or maturative qualities and has been used to alleviate the pain of gout. [Piter\u00e0, Piter\u00e02, Rousseau]<\/p>\n

The root has the same emollient and resolving properties as the bark. [Rousseau]<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Properties<\/h2>\n

Temperature and taste<\/h3>\n

Holly leaves have a bitter, acrid (due to the presence of saponins), slightly sweet, slightly astringent taste.<\/p>\n

In the fresh leaf, the tastes are not particularly intense. However, the bitterness is immediately perceived also at the root of the tongue, an area where also an acrid sensation is felt, that is probably due to the presence of saponins. The leaf confers a slight waxy sensation in the mouth, most likely due to the waxy substances present in the cuticle.<\/p>\n

The sweet taste (similar to that of apple and olive leaves and probably not due to sugars) is vague, faint, but persistent and also remains as an aftertaste in the throat. The astringent sensation is not very strong, but it also remains persistent, along with the sensation of wax in the mouth.<\/p>\n

The leaf has also a herbaceous smell that is very reminiscent of freshly cut English ivy.<\/p>\n

The plant can be classified as slightly warm, but its temperature is actually ambivalent with respect to the Heat\/Coldness polarity: as a Saturnine plant, it has a decidedly cooling action which is however more than mitigated by the secondary Martial function (which, for example, manifests itself both in the acrid pungency of the saponins and in the more \u201cphysical\u201d pungency of the spines). It is a plant capable of retaining heat even when vegetating in the mountains, despite having not needle-like leaves.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Signatures<\/h3>\n

An evergreen and \u201cdark\u201d plant, holly has a primarily Saturnine functionality. Even the color of the wood, very light or almost white when dry, reminds of the white\/black polarity of the functionality. The Romans used to wear holly wreaths or sprigs during the Saturnalia.<\/p>\n

The spininess (present where and when needed) and the spherical red berries (blood) are both signs that refer to the secondary martial function of holly, a plant which is traditionally associated with lightning (from which it protects) and consecrated to the gods of thunder and of war, Tharanis (Celtic) and Odin and Thor (Scandinavian). According to some authors (see, for example, [Forest]), Gungnir, the spear of Odin, is said to be made from holly wood.<\/p>\n

According to Angelo Angelini, the primary holly function is Saturn; the secondary function is Jupiter (Veins); the Potentials are: Aquarius (Veins) and Libra (Kidneys) [Angelini]<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tissue phases<\/h3>\n

2 (inflammation), 3 (deposition), 6 (disorganization) [DewitLeunis]<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Actions and indications<\/h2>\n

Humoral actions<\/h3>\n

Holly has a complex action upon the human body. Like all plants which are at the same time bitter and sweet, it is eliminative, tonifying and soothing. For this reason, it is able to eliminate phlegmatic and phlegmatic-bilious humoral dregs, and to moderate inflammation and spasms. Therefore it acts as an anti-inflammatory\/pain relieving, expectorant, fluid draining remedy.<\/p>\n

Its acrid pungency dissipates excess Tension, moderating spasms, convulsions, epilepsy, hypertension, and promotes diaphoresis, diuresis and menstrual flow. At the same time, being also sweet, it tonifies some body \u201cfunctional\u201d aspects (it treats Tension deficit), acting, for example, as an adrenal tonic.<\/p>\n

Being bitter and acrid at the same time, it has a marked action on fevers, especially on intermittent ones. Its sweetness moderates this action which develops gradually and does not cause excessive \u201cdissipation\u201d of humors and Tension.<\/p>\n

Its astringency makes it able of acting as a hemostatic (also thanks to the Martial function) and a venous tonic (Jovinian function). However, it is mainly an eliminative plant, so it is not generally indicated (alone) in cases of body fluid deficiency.<\/p>\n

The Saturnine function gives holly competence over the spleen and the ability to act on hardened tissues (sclerosis), on the elimination processes, and on bone consolidation (fractures).<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tropism<\/h3>\n

Holly has an elective tropism for the kidneys and adrenal glands, eye, ear, breast, lung, central nervous system, osteoarticular system, veins. It has also a marked action upon sclerotic tissues.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Clinical actions<\/h3>\n

Analgesic\/anti-inflammatory, antiarthritic, antidiarrheal, antiepileptic, antigout, antirheumatic, antisclerotic, antispasmodic, expectorant, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, emmenagogue, emollient, febrifuge, hypotensive, laxative\/purgative, nervine, resolutive, venotonic, adrenal tonic, antitussive.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Principal actions:<\/em><\/p>\n