Handbook of Medicinal Herbs

(Dana P.) #1

C


causes, any enteritis (appendicitis, colitis, Crohn’s disease, IBS), hemorrhoids, nephropathy, menstruation
(AHP). AHP also says not to use in cases of abdominal pain or diarrhea. Discontinue use if or watery
stools occur. Consult a health care provider before using in cases of pregnancy or nursing. Not for long-
term use or overdosage (AHP). CAN cautions that anthraquinones are laxative and irritant to the GI
tract. Because of the anthraquinones, nonstandardized preparations should be avoided in pregnancy and
lactation (CAN). Not for children under 12 years old. Do not use bark that has not been heat-treated or
aged 1 year (AHP). While widely used, anthranoid-containing laxatives can be habit forming; some
contain compounds suspected of being cytotoxic, genotoxic, mutagenic, and even tumorigenic; epide-
miological studies in Germany reveal that abusers of anthranoid laxatives have three times higher rate
of colon carcinoma (AEH). “Some herbal laxative preparations such as cascara, for example, can cause
an increase in the potency of digoxin” (D’epiro, 1997). Chronic use may lead to hypokalemia, increasing
efficacy, perhaps dangerously, of cardiac glycosides, perhaps antiarrhythmics. Hypokalemia can be
increased with corticosteroids, diuretics, and licorice root (KOM). Cathartic cascarosides induce the
large intestine to increased peristalsis, inducing bowel movement. Clinical comparison of patients
preparing for colonoscopy showed that GoLytely alone and Senna alone with enema did better than a
mix of GoLytely with Cascara. Cascara was last choice for cleanliness and quality of the exam (PH2).

CASCARILLA (Croton eluteria (L.) Sw.) +

Synonym — Clutia eluteria L.
Activities (Cascarilla) — Antiseptic (f; CRC); Aperitif (f; HHB); Astringent (f; JFM); Balsamic
(f; CRC); Bitter (f; HHB); Digestive (f; CRC); Hypotensive (f; CRC); Narcotic (f; CRC); Sedative
(f; HHB); Stimulant (f; PH2); Stomachic (f; CRC); Tonic (f; CRC; PH2).
Indications (Cascarilla) — Anorexia (f; HHB); Bronchosis (f; CRC); Cold (f; CRC; JFM); Debility
(f; CRC); Diarrhea (f; CRC; PH2); Dysentery (f; CRC; JFM); Dyspepsia (f; CRC; HHB; PH2);
Fever (f; CRC; HHB; JFM); Flu (f; CRC; JFM); Gas (f; JFM); High Blood Pressure (f; CRC);
Insomnia (f; HHB); Leprosy (f; CRC); Malaria (f; CRC); Nervousness (f; HHB); Nocturnal
Emissions (f; CRC); Vomiting (f; PH2).
Dosages (Cascarilla) — 1 g bark or 10 g bark decoction (HHB).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Cascarilla) — Not covered (AHP). “Hazards
and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2) “Possibly narcotic. As an aromatic
additive to tobacco, it is said to have caused intoxication and vertigo” (CRC). Doses more than 2 g
may induce headache, insomnia, and nausea (HHB).

CASHEW (Anacardium occidentale L.) +

Activities (Cashew) — Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor (1; WO3); Alpha-Glucosidase-Inhibitor (1;
WO3); Amebicide (1; IED); Anesthetic (1; DEP; IED); Anthelminthic (1; MPB); Antibacterial (1;
MPI; WO3); Antidiabetic (f; MPB); Antiedemic (1; X2414605); Antihepatomic (1; WO2); Antiin-
flammatory (1; MPB); Antiseptic (1; WO2); Antitumor (1; WO3); Aphrodisiac (f; MPB); Astringent
(1; MPB); CNS-Depressant (1; MPB); Cytotoxic (1; WO3); Depurative (f; MPB); Diaphoretic (f;
MPB); Discutient (f; IED); Diuretic (f; WO2); Expectorant (f; MPB); Fungicide (f; IED); Hypogly-
cemic (1; WO2); Hypotensive (1; WO2); Insecticide (1; WO2); Invertase-Inhibitor (1; WO3);
Larvicide (1; WO2); Laxative (f; WO2); 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor (1; WO3); Molluscicide (1;
MPB); Prostaglandase-Synthase-Inhibitor (1; WO3); Rubefacient (1; MPI); Sedative (1; MPB);
Stimulant (f; MPB); Tonic (f; MPB); Tyrosinase-Inhibitor (1; X8021657); Vesicant (1; MPI).
Indications (Cashew) — Acne (1; WO3); Ameba (1; IED); Amnesia (f; WO2); Aphtha (f; MPB);
Arrhythmia (f; WO2); Bacteria (1; MPI; WO3); Bleeding (f; DAV); Cachexia (f; MPB); Callus (f;
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