PDR for Herbal Medicines

802 /WHITE BRYONY PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Wagner H, Wiesenauer M, Phytotherapie. Phytopharmaka und

pflanzliche Homoopathika, Fischer-Verlag, Stuttgart, Jena, New

York 1995.

White Fir

Abies alba

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part of the trees is the timber

of the Fir.

Flower and Fruit: The ovules are in pairs on the upper

surface of the seed scales, in axils of the spirally arranged

covering scales, which are in turn fused into cones. The

cones are 10 to 16 cm long and 3 to 5 cm thick, with

protruding surface scales that are green and tinged brown-red

before ripening. The stamens are arranged like catkins. The

fruit is diclinous, monoecious. The seeds are long-winged on

one side.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The tree grows up to 50 m and

occasionally up to 75 m tall. The needles are 1 to 3 cm long,

1.8 to 2.3 mm wide. The needles are dark green on the upper

surface with two white stripes on the lower surface. They are

divided with a blunt apex indented at the tip. The trunk is

initially grayish, later scaly.

Habitat: White Fir is found in the Balkan countries. It

originated from former Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Poland, Roma-

nia and Albania.

Production: The essential oil of White Fir is extracted from

the needles and branch tips by aqueous steam distillation for

5 to 6 hours,

Not to be Confused With: May occur with turpentine oils,

cone oils, fir needle oils, camphors, bornyl acetate and

various Pinaceae oils.

Other Names: Common Silver Fir, Swiss Pine

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS.

Limonene (25 to 55%)

Alpha-pinene (6 to 35%)

Camphene (9 to 20%)

Bornyl acetate (2 to 10%)

Santene (2 to 3%)

Tricyclene (1.0 to 2.5%): including among others beta-
pinene, beta-phellandrene and delta3-carene

EFFECTS

The essential oil has secretolytic and mildly antiseptic effects

on the bronchial mucous membrane area and hyperemic

effects on the skin. The constituents' camphene, limonene

and alpha-pinene are responsible for the strong expectorate

effect connected with its inhalation.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Approved by Co mm is ion E:

• Neuralgia


• Rheumatism
  Unproven Uses: Internally, the drug is used for catarrh of the
  respiratory tract. Externally, it can be used for nervous unrest
  and neuralgic pain. It can also be used for sprains, strains,
  contusions, bruising and as a prophylactic treatment for
  bedsores.
  CONTRAINDICATIONS
  The plant is contraindicated for conditions like bronchial
  asthma, other obstructive bronchial diseases and whooping
  cough. Whole-body baths involving the essential oil should
  only be undertaken in consultation with a physician in the
  presence of larger skin injuries, severe feverish or infectious
  diseases, cardiac insufficiency or hypertonia. Inhalation is to
  be avoided when the patient suffers from acute infections of
  the respiratory passages.
  PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
  No health hazards are known in conjunction with the proper
  administration of designated therapeutic dosages. Bronchial
  spasms could become worse following administration of the
  drug.
  OVERDOSAGE
  Poisonings are possible in connection with overdose and
  large-area external administration, including injuries to the
  kidneys and the CNS. The use of outdated essential oils with
  unsaturated terpene carbohydrates could lead to severe
  irritation of the skin and mucous membranes.
  Severe poisonings are possible following the ingestion of
  very large doses, leading to nausea, vomiting, reddening of
  the face, salivation, throat soreness, thirst, diarrhea, intestinal
  colic, dyspnea, dizziness, staggering walk, twitching, stran-
  guria, dysuria, hematuria, albuminuria and skin efflores-
  cence. It should be followed with gastric lavage with sodium
  sulfate solutions, intestinal emptying through administration
  of sodium sulfate, instillation of paraffin oil and medicinal
  charcoal, and shock prophylaxis (suitable body position,
  quiet, warmth).

The treatment for poisonings consists of the treatment of

spasms with diazepam (I.V.), electrolyte substitution and the

countering of any acidosis imbalance that may appear

through sodium bicarbonate infusions. In the event of shock,