Handbook of Medicinal Herbs

(Dana P.) #1

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MPI); Hoarseness (f; KAB); Hookworm (f; UPW); Infertility (f; ZUL); Inflammation (f; DEP;
KAB; PH2); Insanity (f; UPW); Jaundice (f; UPW); Leprosy (f; UPW); Leukoderma (f; KAB);
Leukorrhea (f; DEP); Lumbago (f; KAB); Lupus (f; UPW); Malaria (f; UPW); Mucososis (f; JLH);
Mycosis (1; MPI); Nausea (f; UPW); Nephrosis (f; UPW); Neurosis (f; UPW); Nyctalopia (f; SKJ);
Ophthalmia (f; GMH; UPW); Pain (f; UPW); Panus (f; KAB); Paralysis (f; UPW); Pertussis (f;
DEP); Pharyngosis (f; UPW); Pulmonosis (f; PH2; UPW); Respirosis (f; PH2); Rheumatism (f;
IED; UPW); Schistosomiasis (1; UPW; ZUL); Sciatica (f; KAB); Snakebite (f; UPW); Sore (f;
UPW); Sore Throat (f; UPW); Staphylococcus (1; MPI); Stomatosis (f; UPW); Swelling (f; DEP);
Syphilis (f; UPW); Trachoma (1; UPW); Tuberculosis (f; UPW); Tumor (1; WO2); Ulcer (f; ZUL);
Vaginosis (f; JLH); VD (f; UPW); Vomiting (f; UPW); Vulvosis (f; JLH); Wart (f; ZUL); Water
Retention (f; IED; UPW); Worm (1; DAA; UPW; ZUL); Wound (f; UPW).
Dosages (Jequirity) — 5–7 grains for pertussis (DEP); some Africans take a dangerous 200-g
powdered seed as a powdered contraceptive, the effect lasting 13 menstrual cycles (UPW).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Jequirity) — Even though the plant contains
the very useful glycyrrhizin, I consider it too poisonous for folk medicine. Two seeds have been
enough to kill children (PH2), three to kill a horse (UPW). Abrin, the lectin, can cause coma,
confusion, convulsions, dehydration, gastroenterosis, and hypotension (BRU). Aqueous seed extract
is abortifacient; LD100 2 mg/kg ipr mouse (MPI), LD40 = 25 mg/kg orl mouse (MPI). If the leaves
really contain a reported 10% glycyrrhizin, and a bigger if, no toxins, they might share many of
the biological activities of licorice. One study (Choi et al., 1989) found no glycyrrhizin, rather four
abrusosides and three other sweet glycosides based on the novel cycloartane-type aglycon. Purified
abrusosides may prove useful as commercial sweeteners and lack the toxicity known in glycyrrhizin.
More extensive toxicity tests need to be conducted (ZUL). Enzymes in abrin inhibit protein
synthesis, causing cell death, more so in tumor than in healthy cells (ZUL).

JEWELWEED (Impatiens capensis Meerb.) +

Synonyms: I. biflora Walter and I. pallida Nutt. are considered synonyms by yours truly.
Regrettably, PH2 says, not too intelligently, “Impatiens is common in the temperate regions and
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