26 /AMERICAN HELLEBOREstitution may be necessary and possible cases of acidosis
should be treated with sodium bicarbonate infusions. Intuba-
tion and oxygen respiration may also be necessary.
DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: The herb can be found in whole and
powdered forms.
Daily Dose: The daily dose is 100 mg.
Storage: The drug should be clearly labeled as "poisonous"
and stored in a safe place.
LITERATURE
-Brossi, B, In: Brossi A, Cordell GA (Eds), The Alkaloids. Vol.- Academic Press, 1250 Sixth Avenue, San Diego, CA
- Frohne D, Pfander HJ, Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fur
Apotheker, Toxikologen und Biologen, 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlags-
Ges. Stuttgart 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.
Kupchan, S M et al., (1961) Lloydia 24(1): 17.
Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,
Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.
Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,
- Frohne D, Pfander HJ, Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fur
- Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.
American Ivy
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the bark, the
branch tips, the fresh leaves, the berries and the resin.
o
Flower and Fruit: The inflorescences are fairly small and
appear in yellowish-green racemes. They produce dark-
purple, pea-sized berries; the seeds are cordate.
Leaves, Stem and Root: American Ivy is a high-climbing
shrub with dark green branches, which sometimes develop
adventitious roots. The flowering branches turn into regular,
double-rowed creepers, which diminish toward the top. The
leaves are long-petioled and divided into 5 elliptical, ovate or
obovate, roughly serrate or dentate leaflets. The leaflets have
broad, suddenly acuminate and usually somewhat rounded-
off teeth. The upper surface is dark green, and the
undersurface is whitish-green and matte.
Habitat: Parthenocissus quinquefolia originated in North
America and is cultivated worldwide.
Production: American Ivy bark is the bark of the trunk and
branches of Parthenocissus quinquefolia.Other Names: American Woodbine, Creeper, False Grapes,
Five Leaves, Ivy, Virginia Creeper, Wild Woodbine, Wild
Woodvine, Woody ClimberACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Up to 2% oxalic acid is contained in the berries, however
there is no information available on the constituents of the
rind.EFFECTS
The plant is diaphoretic, astringent and tonic.INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: American Ivy is used for digestive
disorders.
PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
The berries are considered poisonous, however no health
hazards or side effects are known in conjunction with the
proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages.
Older scientific literature describes the death of a child
following intake of the berries (Lewin, 1992).DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: The drug is ground for use as an
infusion.LITERATURE
Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der
Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde 1-8, Springer Verlag
Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.
Lewin L, Gifte und Vergiftungen, 6. Aufl., Nachdruck, Haug
Verlag, Heidelberg 1992.
Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,- Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
American Liverleaf
Hepatica nobilis
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The drug is the herb, without roots,
harvested at flowering season.Flower and Fruit: The flowering stems are axillary, numer-
ous, pubescent and erect. They are usually reddish and have
3 entire-margined, ovate, unpetiolate, calyx-like bracts, up to
1 cm long, directly under the upright flower. The 6 to 8
bracts are sky blue, paler on the outside, occasionally pink or
white, narrow-ovate, entire-margined and dropping. There
are no nectaries. The stamens are almost white with red