The Venus Fly Trap plant, Dionaea Muscipula, is a species of carnivorous plant native to the bogs of North and South Carolina. The plant’s main feature is its’ jaw-like flowers, which remain open until triggered by unsuspecting insects. This trapping function is not only intriguing. It is also very sophisticated.

The flower of the Venus Fly Trap has many hairs; each hair oozes a viscous liquid, both attractive and sticky to small insects who get lured in by scent and then glued to the inside of the plant’s body. When the hairs are activated twice, the plant closes and traps its prey and begins to digest the insect with protein digesting enzymes.

How is the Venus Fly Trap Plant Used?

Venus Fly Trap discriminates between primitive, degenerate cells and healthy more complex cells and breaks down the primitive cells while at the same time enhancing the action of the important immune cells.

The whole plant is used medicinally. According to the Physician’s Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines, Juice from the pressed fresh plant stimulates the immune system and has antineoplastic and antispasmodic uses. The chief active ingredient is plumbagin, which some believe may help treat Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin lymphoma and solid tumors. This can also be taken by healthy beings looking to strengthen the immune system.

Research shows that plumbagin used in low doses are potent stimulators of:

  • macrophage activity (large scavenger cells that can engulf and destroy bacteria and other foreign debris)
  • anti-mutagenic (a compound acting on cells and tissues to decrease initiation of mutation)
  • HDL elevation, the good cholesterol
  • bacterial resistance to antibiotics

Because of these properties, people have been using Venus Fly Trap tincture to treat cancer and other illnesses for years. Using the Venus Fly Trap for health is certainly not new–even President Reagan sent for Germany to receive this precious liquid. He reportedly drank several drops of tea multiple times a day. Venus Fly Trap is a fascinating, unique, powerful, and gentle ingredient that we added to our Herbal Anti tincture along with Licorice and Yucca.