W
Gastrosis (f; KOM; PH2); Gout (f; HAD); Headache (f; HAD); Hepatosis (f; KOM; PH2); High Blood
Pressure (f; HAD); Hyperglycemia (1; PH2); Hysteria (f; HAD); Induration (f; JLH); Infection (f; KOM;
PH2); Inflammation (f; HAD); Insanity (f; HAD); Insomnia (f; HAD); Leprosy (f; HAD); Lockjaw (f;
HAD); Lumbago (f; HAD); Madness (f; HAD); Myalgia (f; HAD); Neuralgia (f; HAD); Neuromyososis
(f; HAD); Pain (f; EFS); Paralysis (f; HAD); Pertussis (f; HAD); Pleurisy (f; EFS); Polyp (f; JLH);
Psoriasis (f; HAD); Pulmonosis (f; HAD); Radiculomyososis (f; HAD); Sciatica (f; HAD); Respirosis
(f; KOM; PH2); Rheumatism (f; PH2); Sclerosis (f; JLH); Splenosis (f; JLH); Tonsilosis (f; HAD);
Tuberculosis (f; HAD); Tumor (1; PH2); Ulcer (f; HAD); Virus (f; HAD); Wart (f; HAD); Water
Retention (1; EFS; KOM); Whitlow (f; JLH); Worm (1; EFS; HAD; JAD); Wound (f; JLH).
Dosages (White Bryony) — Do not take (JAD); 0.5–1 g drug/cup water (PH2); 300–500 mg
powdered herb as emetic and laxative (PH2).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (White Bryony) — Not covered (AHP). Not
approved (KOM). Commission E reports the root is a drastic laxative and emetic, while other
therapeutic uses are not adequately documented. Contains toxic cucurbitacins (AEH). May cause
abortion, anuria, blisters, colic, collapse, convulsions, cramps, death, dermatosis, diarrhea, dizzi-
ness, emesis, hematochezia, nephrosis, neurosis, paralysis, rash, and/or vomiting (KOM; PH2).
Extracts (White Bryony) — Powder has low toxicity. Rats, guinea pigs, and dogs chronically
treated show no cancerogenic, teratogenic, or other toxic effects. LD = >10,000 mg/kg ipr rat,
LD50 = >4000 mg/kg ipr mus, chronic (9-month) and subchronic (3-month) doses (30 mg/kg orl
mus) did not induce mortality. Alcoholic extracts (20% ethanolic) and dry powdered roots recog-
nized in U.S. Dispensatory and Martindale for asthma, bronchosis, pertussis, pleurisy, and other
inflammatory disorders. Various preparations are used for myalgia and epilepsy.
WHITE COHOSH, BANEBERRY (Actaea pachypoda Elliott) +Synonym: Actaea alba auct.
APA confusingly aggregates Actaea pachypoda, the White Baneberry, and Actaea rubra (Aiton)
Willd., the Red Baneberry, as White Cohosh. I have joined them, but may treat them separately
later. PHR treats Actaea spicata L. as an emetic, purgative poisonous plant.