V
anxiety (CAN). Baldrinal is mutagenic to Salmonella (CAN). Alkaloids are antibacterial, antidi-
uretic, and may help prevent liver necrosis (PED). Valerian, valerenic acid, and the eugenyl and
isoeugenyl esters are antispasmodic. Valerenic acid and derivatives inhibit GABA. (PNC). LDlo
for acevaltrate, didrovaltrate, and valtrate = >4600 mg/kg orl mus (MAB)
VANILLA (Vanilla planifolia Jacks.) +++Synonyms: Myrobroma fragrans Salisb., Vanilla fragrans auct.
Activities (Vanilla) — Allergenic (1; LAF); Anticancer (1; FNF); Antioxidant (f; JAD); Antipyretic
(f; DAD; JFM); Antisickling (1; FNF); Antispasmodic (f; DAD; JFM); Aphrodisiac (f; CRC; DAD;
HHB; JFM); Carminative (f; DAD; EFS); Choleretic (1; CRC; DAD; HHB; RIN); Emmenagogue
(f; DAD; JFM); Stimulant (1; DAD; JFM); Vulnerary (1; DAD).
Indications (Vanilla) — Cancer (1; FNF); Caries (1; CRC; DAD); Cramp (1; DAD; FNF; JFM);
Dysmenorrhea (f; CRC; DAD; HHB); Fever (f; CRC; DAD; JFM); Gas (f; DAD; EFS); Hysteria
(f; CRC; DAD; HHB); Polyp (f; JLH); Rhinosis (f; JLH); Sickle-Cell Anemia (1; FNF).
Dosages (Vanilla) — Few located. Cover 4–6 pods with alcohol and steep 21 days, take 24
drops/day with sweetened water as stimulant (JFM); steep 8 g 8 days in alcohol, take 5–20
drops/day as aphrodisiac (JFM). Mom used to give me a half teaspoon of vanilla extract for
upset stomach when she was out of Castoria, which also smelled, to me, of vanilla. I thoroughly
enjoyed both, perhaps contributing to my latent love for herbal tinctures (hence my book, Living
Liqueurs) (JAD).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Vanilla) — Class 1 (AHP). Not treated
(KOM; PHR). The folk emmenagogue activity will no doubt trigger nitpickologists to warn
pregnant women against using this spice. And the plant does contain allergenic compounds, as
do most plants.
VELVETLEAF (Cissampelos pareira L.) +Activities (Velvetleaf) — Alexeteric (f; DEP; KAB); Analgesic (1; DAV; GMJ; KAB); Antiabortive
(f; IED); Antiinflammatory (1; DAV); Antipyretic (1; DAV; IED; KAB); Astringent (f; DEP); Bitter