Virginia creeper’s all over the place here, and I was wondering if anyone’s found the vines useful for anything. Do they work well for baskets or cordage? I’ve read that the plant has some medicinal properties, but have never used it. It is hardy and extremely fast growing, and if useful could be a great resource.
According to the Peterson guide, American Indians used the tea for jaundice, the root tea for gonorrhea and diarrhea, and the leaf tea as a wash for swellings and poison sumac. It has been mixed with vinegar for wounds and lockjaw, and used as an astringent and diuretic. The leaves are toxic, and contact dermatitis is a risk. Peterson Guide states that the berries may be toxic.
Plants For a Future has a page about it here http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Parthenocissus+quinquefolia
Apparently the stalks are edible, and here it is reported that the fruit may be also. The fruit can be used to make a dye as well. There are some additional medicinal uses also, notably use of the tea to treat jaundice, and the fruit to treat fevers.
Peterson’s is known to be way alarmist at times unfortunately… and you can get contact dermatitis from damn near anything.
Here’s a nice link for medicinal uses, it’s not much used currently but is having a small comeback http://herbwifery.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=138
Thanks for the responses.
I’ve tromped through miles of the stuff, and uprooted it with my bare hands, and never got a rash or any symptoms whatsoever. It doesn’t appear to be very drought tolerant; We’ve had a dry spell, and most of the creeper shriveled up pretty quickly.