Editing Clematis (section)

==Use and toxicity==
The European species did not enter into the [[herbalist]]s' [[pharmacopeia]].<ref>Of the native European ''C. vitalba'' Alice Coats observes "The leaves are acrid and poisonous, and not even the early herbalists attempted to use the plant in internal medicine", but she notes that [[John Gerard]] called ''[[Clematis flammula]]'' biting clematis or purging periwinkle. (Coats 1992).</ref> In the [[American Old West]], the Western white clematis, ''Clematis ligusticifolia'', was called '''pepper vine''' by early travelers and pioneers, who took a tip from Spanish colonials and used seeds and the acrid leaves of ''yerba de chivato'' as a [[Black pepper|pepper]] substitute.<ref>[http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=clli2 US Native Plant Database ''Clematis ligusticifolia'']</ref> The entire genus contains [[essential oils]] and compounds which are extremely irritating to the skin and mucous membranes. Unlike black pepper or ''[[Capsicum]]'', however, the compounds in clematis cause internal bleeding of the digestive tract if ingested in large amounts. ''C. ligusticifolia'' is essentially toxic. When pruning them, it is a good idea to wear gloves. Despite its toxicity, Native Americans used very small amounts of clematis as an effective treatment for [[migraine headache]]s and nervous disorders. It was also used as an effective treatment of skin infections.<ref>{{cite book |title=Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West |first=Gregory L. |last=Tilford |isbn=978-0-87842-359-0 |year=1997|publisher=Mountain Press }}</ref> Clematis is also a constituent of [[Bach flower remedies|Bach's Rescue Remedy]]. Leaf extracts from two [[Ethiopia]]n species (''Clematis longicauda'' steud ex A. Rich. and ''Clematis burgensis'' Engl.) are used locally to treat ear disorders and eczema. Phytochemical screening of the extracts from both of these species showed antibacterial and antifungal activity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ijpsonline.com/article.asp?issn=0250-474X;year=2012;volume=74;issue=1;spage=29;epage=35;aulast=Hawaze |title=Hawaze S, Deti H, Suleman S. 2012. In vitro antimicrobial activity and phytochemical screening of clematis species indigenous to Ethiopia. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 74:29-35.}}</ref> The extracts of these plants also possess wound healing and anti-inflammatory activities which could also be attributed to the phytoconstituents.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.greenpharmacy.info/article.asp?issn=0973-8258;year=2013;volume=7;issue=4;spage=304;epage=308;aulast=Hawaze |title=Hawaze S, Deti H, Suleman S. 2013. Wound healing activity of the methanol extracts of Clematis species indigenous to Ethiopia. International Journal of Green Pharmacy 7:304-308.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203024717/http://www.greenpharmacy.info/article.asp?issn=0973-8258%3Byear%3D2013%3Bvolume%3D7%3Bissue%3D4%3Bspage%3D304%3Bepage%3D308%3Baulast%3DHawaze|archive-date=2013-12-03}}</ref>

Clematis has been listed as one of the 38 plants used to prepare [[Bach flower remedies]],<ref name="Vohra2004">{{cite book |author=D. S. Vohra |title=Bach Flower Remedies: A Comprehensive Study |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=icG8onA0ys8C&pg=PR3|access-date=2 September 2013 |date=1 June 2004 |publisher=B. Jain Publishers |isbn=978-81-7021-271-3 |page=3}}</ref> a kind of [[alternative medicine]] promoted for its effect on health. However, according to [[Cancer Research UK]], "there is no scientific evidence to prove that flower remedies can control, cure or prevent any type of disease, including cancer".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative/therapies/flower-remedies |title=Flower remedies |date=14 February 2013 |publisher=[[Cancer Research UK]]|access-date=2 September 2013}}</ref>