HERBAL MONOGRAPHS WATER GERMANDER/ 797ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Volatile oil (1-2.5%): including among others (+)-beta-
phellandrene, dillapiol. myristicin, l-nonen-3-ol (androle),
volatile polyynes, undecen-4-ole, camphene, isopropyl cy-
clohexene-2-ole-Polyynes: including among others all-trans-pentadeca-
2,8,10-trien-4,6-diin-12-onFatty oil (20%)Lignans: including arctigenin. matairesinol, dimethyl matair-
esinol, secoisolariciresinolEFFECTS
The drug's expectorant and antitussive effects are probably
due to the essential oil. The active agents are the essential
and fatty oil, resin, wax. galacton, and mannan and rubber
substances. There is no further information available.INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: Water Fennel is used in folk medicine as an
expectorant and for the relief of coughs due to inflammation
of the bronchial mucus membranes or asthma and suppurat-
ing or festering inflammation of the lungs, as well as a
diuretic and carminative.Homeopathic Uses: Inflammation of the respiratory tract and
breast pain in nursing mothers are considered indications for
use in homeopathy.
PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction
with the proper administration of designated therapeutic
dosages.DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: Ground, as an extract and as a tea.Preparation: A tincture is prepared using the drug in a 1:5
ratio with 70% ethanol (m/m)Daily Dosage: The recommended daily dose is 4 to 5 g drug.Homeopathic Dosage: Adult dosage is 5 drops, 1 tablet or 10
globules every 30 to 60 minutes (acute) or 1 to 3 times daily
(chronic); from D4 parenterally: 1 to 2 ml sc i.v., i.m. acute,
3 times daily; chronic: once a day. Children up to 6 years are
given half the dose, children up to 12 are given a maximum
of two-thirds the adult dosage (HAB1).
LITERATURE
Hegnauer R, Chemotaxonomie der Pflanzen, Bde 1-11,
Birkhauser Verlag Basel, Boston. Berlin 1962-1997.Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der
Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. AufL. Bde. 1-8. Springer Verlag
Berlin, Heidelberg, New York. 1969.
Madaus G. Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,
Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.
Ram AS, Devi HM, (1983) Indian J Bot 6(1):21.
Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen. Pflanzengifte,- Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
Wagner H, Wiesenauer M, Phytotherapie. Phytopharmaka und
pflanzliche Homoopathika, Fischer-Verlag. Stuttgart, Jena, New
York 1995.
Water Germander
Teucrium scordiumDESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal pans are the herb harvested
during or shortly before the flowering season and the fresh
flowering herb.Flower and Fruit: The flowers are light red, 8 to 10 mm
long, with short pedicles. They are in inconspicuous clusters
in 1 to 4 blossomed cymes between bracts, which are longer
than the flowers. The calyx has 5 tips and is campanulate-
tubular with a touch violet. The tips of the deeply divided
upper lip lie on the lower lip in such a way as to make it
appear 5-lobed. After flowering, the head drops. There are 4
stamens. The nutlets are 1 mm long and punctate-reticulate.Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a perennial, downy herb
smelling of garlic. The rhizome creeps in mud and produces
overground runners, which immediately turn into leaves and
flower shoots. The stems are unbranched or branched, erect,
round and villous with soft-hairs. The Jeaves are sessile,
oblong-oval and crossed opposite.Characteristics: The plant has a garlic-like odor and a bitter
taste.Habitat: The plant is indigenous to most of Europe as far as
northern Africa and central Asia.Production: Water Germander is the aerial part of Teucrium
scordium. It is picked during or shortly before flowering.ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Diterpenes: including among others, 6,20-bisdeacetylteupy-
reinidin, 6-deacetylteupyreinidin, 2beta, 6beta-dihydroxy-
teuscordin, 2beta,6beta-dihydroxyteuscordin, dihydroteugin,
teuflidin, teucrin E, teugin, 2-keto-19-hydroxyteuscordinEFFECTS
See other Teucrium species.