603Q
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QUASSIA (Picrasma excelsa (Sw.) Planch.) +Synonym: Quassia excelsa Sw.
Authors have wisely aggregated Picrasma and Quassia, two different genera in the Simaroubaceae,
which few taxonomists and fewer temperate herbalists can distinguish as wood shavings, even as
botanical shrubs with flowers and fruits.
Activities (Quassia) — Amebicide (1; APA; HH3); Antibacterial (1; APA); Anticancer (1; PH2);
Antileukemic (1; APA); Antilymphomic (1; APA); Antiplasmodial (1; HH3); Antiseptic (1; PH2);
Antitumor (1; APA); Antiviral (1; PH2); Aperitif (1; JFM; PHR; PH2); Bitter (2; APA; JAD; PH2;
SHT); Choleretic (1; APA; PHR); Cytotoxic (1; HH3); Digestive (1; CRC; JFM; PHR; PH2);
Fungicide (1; APA); Gastrostimulant (2; APA; JAD); Hepatotonic (f; APA); Insectifuge (f; APA);
Insecticide (1; CRC; JFM; PH2); Laxative (f; PHR); Narcotic (1; CRC); Negative Chronotropic
(1; PH2); Pesticide (f; APA); Piscicide (1; CRC); Positive Inotropic (1; HH3; PH2); Sialagogue
(2; APA; CAN; HH3); Stomachic (f; CRC; JFM); Tonic (f; CRC; JFM; PHR); Vermifuge (1; CRC;
JFM; PHR; PH2).
Indications (Quassia) — Amebiasis (1; APA; HH3); Anorexia (2; APA; HH3; JFM; PHR; PH2);
Bacteria (1; APA); Cancer (1; APA; PH2); Cholecystosis (f; APA); Constipation (f; PHR); Dysentery
(f; JFM); Dyspepsia (f; HH3; JFM; PH2); Epithelioma (f; CRC); Fever (f; CRC; HH3; JFM);
Fungus (1; APA); Hepatosis (f; APA); Infection (1; APA; HH3; PH2); Leukemia (1; APA); Malaria
(1; HH3; JFM); Mycosis (1; APA); Nematode (f; APA); Nephrosis (f; APA); Parasite (1; APA);
Pediculosis (1; APA; CAN); Pinworm (1; JFM); Tumor (1; APA); Virus (1; PH2); Worm (1; APA;
CRC; JFM; PHR; PH2); Wound (f; HH3).
Dosages (Quassia) — 1–2 g wood decoction/day (AHP); 1–4 ml concentrated BPC wood infusion
(CAN); 0.25 tsp (0.5 g) powdered wood/cup water, half-hour before meals (APA); 0.3–0.6 g
powdered wood (PNC); 0.3–0.6 g dry wood, or in cold tea, 3 ×/day (CAN); 2.5–5 ml concentrated
wood tea (PNC); 2.5–5 ml wood tincture or tea (APA); 2–4 ml quassia tincture (CAN); 2.5–5 ml
quassia tincture (PNC).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Quassia) — Class 2b (AHP). Excessive
amount can irritate the gastric mucosa and cause vomiting. Use during pregnancy and lactation is
discouraged. Excessive doses may interfere with cardiac and coagulant therapy (CAN). Folklore
has it that chronic use can lead to poor vision, even total blindness, shades of another bitter, absinth.
No side effects noted in 454 patients who used quassia tincture as a scalp lotion for head lice.
QUEBRACHO (Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco Schltdl.) ++Activities (Quebracho) — Adrenolytic (1; X7841224); Anesthetic (1; LAF); Antiasthmatic (f;
EFS); Antiperiodic (f; EFS); Antipyretic (1; LAF); Antispasmodic (1; LAF; PH2); Aperitif (f; PH2);
Aphrodisiac (1; LAF; PHR); Bitter (f; PHR); Diaphoretic (1; PH2); Diuretic (1; LAF); Expectorant