66 /BEAN POD PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINESWagner H, Wiesenauer M, Phytotherapie. Phytopharmaka und
pflanzliche Homoopathika, Fischer-Verlag, Stuttgart, Jena, New
York 1995.
Wichtl M (Ed.), Teedrogen, 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges. Stuttgart
1997.Bear's Garlic
Allium ursinwn
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The fresh herb and fresh bulb are the
medicinal parts of the plant.Flower and Fruit: The sheath of the terminal inflorescence is
made up of 3 ovate-lanceolate, acute, early-falling leaves,
which are almost as long as the peduncle. The inflorescence
is a loose, flat, 2.5 to 6 cm wide cyme with 6 to 20 florets.
The florets are erect, outward-inclined, pointed or blunt.
They are pure white and have 6 star-shaped, splayed petals.
Six stamens are wedge-shaped, only fused at the base and
only half as long as the involucre. One superior ovary is
formed out of 3 carpels and 3 deep grooves. The 3-valved
capsule contains black, angular seeds.Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant's compact stem is upright,
10 to 50 cm high, double-edged, half-cylindrical or triangu-
lar-to-round in shape. The leaf blade is flat, narrow-ellipti-
cal-lanceolate to narrow-ovate and acute. It is 6 to 20 cm
long and thin, with a base that is rounded to cordate and
narrows suddenly to a 5 to 20 cm long petiole. The leafs
dark-green underside is covered with irregular horizontal
veins that face upward, leaving the paler upper surface
facing toward the ground. The bulb is almost cylindrical, 2 to
6 cm long, about 1 cm wide and surrounded by transparent
or white skins.Characteristics: Bear's garlic forms many onions and has a
distinctive leek odor.Habitat: Bear's Garlic is indigenous to almost all of Europe
and Turkey, but not in the Hungarian plain and the evergreen
Mediterranean region. It is also found in the Caucasus and
Siberia as far as Kamtschatka.Production: Bear's garlic is fresh or dried herb of Allium
ursinum.Not to be Confused With: One case was reported of
confusion with Colchicum leaves.
Other Names: Ramsons, Broad-Leaved Garlic
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Alliins (alkyleysteine sulphoxides): in particular methyl alliin
(methyl-L-(+)-cysteine sulphoxide) and allylalliin (allyl-L-
(+)-cysteine sulphoxide) and presumably their gamma-gluta-
myl conjugates, that readily transform into the so-called
alliaceous oils, for example into dimethyl-disulphide-mono-
S-oxide, allicin (diallyl-disulphide-mono-S-oxide) and allyl-
methyl-disulphide mono-S-oxide and the corresponding
dialkyldi- or oligosulphidesEFFECTS
The diverse sulphur bonds are said to be lipid-reducing, anti-
oxidative, aggregation inhibiting and ACE inhibiting.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: The drug is used internally for gastrointesti-
nal complaints, fermentative dyspepsia, flatulence, high
blood pressure and arteriosclerosis; externally for chronic
rashes.Homeopathic Uses: Uses in homeopathy include digestive
disorders.
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: The drug is used internally as well
as externally.Preparation: Extract of Bear's Garlic.Daily Dosage: Due to low concentration of the active
substance, the drug must be administered in higher doses
than Allium sativum.Homeopathic Dosage: 5 drops, 1 tablet or 10 globules every
30 to 60 minutes for acute conditions, and 1 to 3 times daily
for chronic; parenterally: 1 to 2 ml daily sc (HAB1).
LITERATURE
Landshuter J et al., Comparative biochemical studies on a
purified C-S-lyase preparation from wild garlic. In: PM 58(7)66.
1992.
Sendl A, Barlauch: Alternative zu Knoblauch. In: Naturw.
Rdsch 7/94. 1994.
Sendl A, Phytotherapie: Barlauch und Knoblauch im Vergleich.
In: DAZ 133(5):392. 1993.
Veit M, Barlauch (Allium ursinum) als Ersatz fur Knoblauch
(Allium sativum). In: ZPT 13(6):201. 1993.
Wagner H, Ebl G, Lotter H, Guinea M, Evaluation of natural
products as inhibitors of angiotensin I-converting enzyme
(ACE). In: Pharm Pharmacol Letters 1(1): 15-18. 1991.