Handbook of Medicinal Herbs

(Dana P.) #1

M


MAD); Polyp (f; BIB; JLH); Proctosis (f; JLH); Prolapse (f; BIB); Pulmonosis (1; BIB; MAD);
Pyelosis (f; BIB); Rheumatism (f; BIB); Sinusosis (f; PH2); Smallpox (1; BIB); Sore (f; BIB);
Splenosis (f; JLH); Swelling (1; MPI; PH2); Tonsilosis (f; JLH); Tuberculosis (1; MAD; PH2;
WOI); Urogenitosis (f; BIB); Uterosis (f; BIB; JLH); Wart (f; JLH); Whitlow (f; BIB); Worm (f;
BIB; PH2); Wound (1; BIB).
Dosages (Myrtle) — 15–40 grains powdered myrtle for catarrh, nephrosis, and phthisis (FEL);
1–2 drops several ×/day (MAD); 15–30 g leaf/liter water for tea, but take only 0.2 g leaf per
day (PH2).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Myrtle) — Not covered (AHP).“Hazards
and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2). Large doses may cause
diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. More than 10 g myrtle oil can threaten life due to high cineole
content (myrtle contains 135–2250 ppm cineole according to my calculations, meaning 10 g
myrtle would contain a maximum 22.5 mg cineole). Several herbs may attain higher levels of
cineole: bay, beebalm, betel pepper, biblical mint, boldo, cajeput, cardamom, eucalyptus, ginger,
greater galangal, horse balm, hyssop, lavender, nutmeg, rosemary, sage, spearmint, star anise,
sweet annie, thyme, and turmeric. So, by reduction, assuming no synergies or antagonisms or
additivities, a ridiculous assumption, one would assume that any goods (and evils) accruing to
the cineole in myrtle, should apply even more so to those listed above, which theoretically at
least, may attain higher levels of cineole, some, e.g., cardamom, attaining levels more than 20-
fold higher. Symptoms of this alleged cineole intoxication may include circulatory disorders,
collapse, lowered blood pressure, and respiratory failure. Do not apply oil to face of children as
it may trigger asthma-like attacks, bronchial spasm, glottal spasms, even respiratory failure (PH2).
Extracts (Myrtle) — Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of leaves, roots, and stems are active against
Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria. The plant contains antibacterial phenols. One thermo-
labile principle was highly active against Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus. The principle resem-
bled streptomycin in its action on Mycobacterium tuberculosis (WOI). Aqueous berry extract active
against carrageenan-induced edema in the rats paw (( = ) comparable to oxyphenylbutazone);
monoquiterpenes and sesquiterpenes are antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic (PH2).
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