HERBAL MONOGRAPHS SWEET WOODRUFF/ 751The dosage of Sweet Violet syrup is 1 to 2 dessertspoonfuls
every 2 hours.
Homeopathic Dosage: 5 drops. 1 tablet or 10 globules every
30 to 60 minutes (acute) or 1 to 3 times daily (chronic);
parenterally: 1 to 2 ml sc, acute: 3 times daily; chronic: once
a day (HAB34).
LITERATURE
SWEET VIOLET RHIZOME AND HERB
Farnsworth NR, (1968) Lloydia 246.
Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H. Schneider G (Hrsg.), Hagers
Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6
(Drogen): Springer Verlag Berlin. Heidelberg, New York, 1992-
1994.
Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,
Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.
Watt JM, Breyer-Brandwijk MG. The Medicinal, Poisonous
Plants of Southern, Eastern Africa, 2nd Ed, Livingstone 1962.
Willaman JJ, Hui-Li L. (1970) Lloydia 33 (3A):1.
SWEET VIOLET FLOWER
Farnsworth NR, (1968) Lloydia 246.
Roberg'M, Arch Pharm 275.145. 1937.
Ruzicka L, Schinz H, Helv Chim Acta 25:760. 1942.
Uhde G et al., Helv Chim Acta 55:2621. 1972.
Willaman JJ, Hui-Li L, (1970) Lloydia 33 (3A):I.
Further information in: ,
Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H. Schneider G (Hrsg.), Hagers
Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6
(Drogen): Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-
1994.
Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,
Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.
Watt JM, Breyer-Brandwijk MG. The Medicinal, Poisonous
Plants of Southern, Eastern Africa, 2nd Ed, Livingstone 1962.Sweet Woodruff
Galium odoratum
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the dried or fresh
aerial parts collected during or shortly before the flowering
season.Flower and Fruit: The flowers are in loose terminal cymes.
The petals are fused to a funnel-shaped, white, 1.5 mm long
tube. The border of the tube is divided in 4 and is 2 to 3.5
mm long. The 4 stamens are fused with the corolla. The
involucre bracts are small, lanceolate or almost bristle-like.
The 2-seeded indehiscent fruit is globular. 2 to 3 mm long
and thickly covered with white barbed bristles.
Leaves, Stem and Root: Sweet Woodruff is a 10 to 35 cm
herbaceous perennial with a thin cylindrical circular rhi-
zome. The stem is erect, quadrangular, smooth and, apart
from the bristly nodes, glabrous and glossy. The leaves are in
false v/horls of 6 to 9, the lower ones are obovate-oblong, the
middle and upper ones are lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate.
They are entire-margined, thorny tipped, glabrous and rough-
edged.
Characteristics: Sweet Woodruff is aromatic when dried; the
taste is bitter and tangy.Habitat: The plant grows in northern and central Europe,
Siberian and northern Africa.
Production: Sweet Woodruff herb is the fresh or dried aerial
part of Galium odoratum. It is gathered during or shortly
before flowering. The herb must be turned regularly while
being dried.Not to be Confused With: Gallium mollugo or Gallium
sylvaticum
Other Names: Master of the Wood, Woodwrad, Woodruff
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS: IN THE FRESH PLANT
O-hydroxycinnamic acid glucoside: melilotoside
COMPOUNDS: IN THE DRIED PLANT
Coumarin (0.4-1%)
Iridoids: asperuloside (0.05-0.3%), monotropein (0.04%),
scandosideEFFECTS
The coumarin content may impart antiphlogistic, antiedemat-
ic, spasmolytic and lymphokinetic properties. However, due
to the low level of coumarin, the therapeutic effect is
doubtful.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: Sweet Woodruff is used as a treatment for
nervous agitation, sleeplessness, nervous menstrual disor-
ders, congested liver, jaundice, hemorrhoids, circulation
disorders and venous conditions.
PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
The freshly harvested plant contains melilotoside as glyco-
sidic precursor of coumarins. In the process of dehydration,
coumarin is released (content up to 1% coumarin in freshly
dried drug). Health risks or side effects following the proper
administration of designated therapeutic dosages are not
recorded. Headache and stupor can occur with the adminis-
tration of higher dosages of the drug. Susceptible patients
could experience liver damage following long-term adminis-