Native Americans were well aware of
Veratrum's extreme toxicity and used the roots to poison arrows before combat. The roots, when dried and ground into powder, were also used as an insecticide. Western American Indian tribes have a long history of using these plants medicinally, and combined minute amounts of the winter-harvested root of these plants with
Salvia dorii to potentiate the effects and reduce the herb's toxicity. The roots of
V. nigrum and
V. schindleri have been used in Chinese herbalism, where plants of this genus are known as
li lu.
Li lu is used internally as a powerful emetic of last resort, and topically to kill external parasites, treat
tinea and
scabies, and stop itching. Some herbalists refuse to prescribe
li lu internally, citing the extreme difficulty in preparing a safe and effective dosage, and that death has occurred with dosages of as little as 600 milligrams. ==Species==