Handbook of Medicinal Herbs

(Nandana) #1

A


Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Avens) — Not covered (AHP). “Hazards
and/or side effects not recorded for proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2). Due to its reputed affect
to the menstrual cycle, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided (CAN). Also advisable
to avoid excess use of tannin (CAN).


AVOCADO (Persea americana Mill.) +++

(The +++ applies only to the fruits; leaves and seeds are much less safe.)


Activities (Avocado) — Abortifacient (f; DAD; DAV; JFM); Antiaging (1; JNU); Antibacterial (1;
WOI); Antifertility (f; DAD); Antiinflammatory (1; DAV; X11193428); Antiseptic (1; DAD; WOI);
Aphrodisiac (f; DAD; DAV; JFM; JNU); Astringent (f; DAD; JFM); Carminative (f; DAD); Con-
traceptive (f; DAV); COX-2-Inhibitor (1; X11193428); Deobstruent (f; AAB); Diuretic (f; DAD;
DAV; JFM); Emmenagogue (2; DAV; JFM; TRA); Emollient (1; PHR; PH2); Expectorant (f; JFM);
Hematonic (f; JFM); Hepatoprotective (1; X11368579); Hypertensive (f; WOI); Hypocholester-
olemic (1; JNU); Hypotensive (f; JFM); Hypotriglyceridemic (1; JNU); Lactifuge (1; TRA); Lax-
ative (f; DAD); Litholytic (f; DAV); Parasiticide (f; DAD); Piscicide (f; DAD); Poison (f; DAD);
Rodenticide (f; DAD); Rubefacient (f; DAD); Stomachic (f; DAV); Uricosuric (f; DAV); Uterotonic
(1; TRA); Vermifuge (f; DAD).


Indications (Avocado) — Alopecia (f; DAV); Alzheimer’s (1; X11193428); Ameba (f; DAV);
Amenorrhea (f; JFM; TRA); Anemia (f; DAV; JFM); Arthrosis (1; X11069724); Atherosclerosis
(1; JNU); Bacteria (1; WOI); Bleeding (f; DAD); Bruise (f; DAD); Calculus (f; DAV); Cancer (1;
JLH; JNU; X11193428); Cancer, labial (f; JLH); Catarrh (f; DAD; JFM); Cold (f; AAB; JFM);
Cough (f; AAB; DAD; JFM); Dandruff (f; DAD; DAV); Dermatosis (1; DAD; PH2); Diabetes (f;
DAD; DAV); Diarrhea (f; AAB; JFM); Dysentery (f; DAV; JFM); Dysmenorrhea (f; AAB; DAD);
Dyspepsia (f; AAB); Enterosis (f; AAB); Escherichia (1; WOI); Fertility (f; DAV); Fever (f; AAB;
DAD; JFM); Frigidity (f; JFM); Gas (f; DAD; JFM); Gout (f; DAV; JFM); Headache (f; AAB;
JFM); Hematoma (f; DAD); Hemorrhoid (f; JFM); Hepatosis (1; DAD; DAV; JFM; X11368579);
High Blood Pressure (f; AAB; DAD; JFM); High Cholesterol (1; JNU); High Triglyceride (1; JNU);
Ichthyosis (1; PHR; PH2); Impotence (f; JFM); Infection (1; WOI); Inflammation (1; DAV;
X11193428); Low Blood Pressure (f; WOI); Malaria (f; DAD); Metrorrhagia (f; DAD); Mucososis
(f; JFM); Neuralgia (f; DAD); Parasite (f; DAD); Poor Milk Supply (1; TRA); Pulmonosis (f;
DAD); Pyorrhea (f; DAD); Rheumatism (f; AAB; DAD; JFM); Scabies (f; DAD); Snakebite (f;
DAV); Sore Throat (f; DAD); Sprain (f; AAB; DAD); Stone (f; DAV); Toothache (f; DAD); Water
Retention (f; DAD; DAV; JFM); Whitlow (f; JFM); Worm (f; DAD; JFM); Wound (f; DAD).


Dosages (Avocado) — Fruit pulp (and only fruit) food farmacy (JAD). For emmenagogue activity;
take 120–240 ml every 6–8 hours of the aqueous decoction (20 g fruit/liter) (TRA). For empacho
(intestinal obstruction), grind 1 seed; boil in 2 cups water; drink 1 cup hot 2 ×/day (AAB).


Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Avocado) — Not covered (AHP; APA; KOM).
“Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2) (but PH2 designates
no specific quantified dosage! JAD). Leaves contain dopamine and the leaf oil contains methyl
chavicol. Ingestion of leaves, bark, or both has caused mastitis in cattle, horses, rabbits, and goats,
and large doses have been fatal to goats. Ingestion of the leaves has proved fatal to rabbits. Avocado
leaves in a pool have killed fish. Unripe avocados said to be toxic; canaries have died after ingesting
ripe fruit. Two resins derived from the skin of the fruit are toxic to guinea pigs by subcutaneous
and peritoneal injection. Ground seeds mixed with cornmeal or cheese have been used to poison
rodents (DAD). LD50 water extracts of leaves = >8828 mg/kg ipr rat (TRA); LD50 water extracts
of fruits = >12,500 mg/kg orl rat (TRA); LD50 water extracts of leaves = >12,500 mg/kg orl rat
(TRA).

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