Medicinal Herb InfoA reference archive of plants and their traditions
Not medical advice. This site documents how plants have been described and used historically. It is a botanical and folklore reference, not guidance for treating illness, and it carries no dosing instructions. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before using any plant medicinally — herbs interact with medication and some are toxic.

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Great Rhododendron

Botanical reference entry

On this page

Parts Usually Used

Leaves

Description of Plant(s) and Culture

Thicket-forming evergreen shrub or small tree; 10-14 feet high. Leaves are large, leathery, without teeth; edges rolled under. Rose-pink (white) spotted flowers in very showy clusters; June to July. Easily confused with mountain laurel.

Where Found

Damp woods. Southern Maine to Georgia; Alabama to Ohio.

Uses

Native Americans traditionally applied poulticed leaves externally for arthritis pain and headaches, and also administered the plant internally for heart ailments.

Warning

Leaves are toxic. Ingestion may cause convulsions and coma. Avoid use or use only with medical supervision.

Bibliography

Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants , by Steven Foster and James A. , Houghton Mifflin Company, 215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10000 Chinese Medicinal Herbs , compiled by Shih-Chen Li, Georgetown Press, San Francisco, California, 1973. , 15 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10023