PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS CALIFORNIA PEPPERTREE / 139

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: The drug is used in the form of teas, for

dyspeptic disorders, gastritis and ulcers. It is used externally

for rheumatism, gum disease and tonsillitis.

£ Indian Medicine: Calamus is used for dyspeptic complaints,

worms, pain syndrome and toothache.

Chinese Medicine: Acorus calamus stimulates peptic juices

for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. It is used externally

for fungal infections.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages. Long-term use of this drug should be avoided.

Malignant tumors appeared in rats that received Indian

Calmus oils over an extended period (tetraploid strain, over

80% f5-asarone in volatile oil).

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Calamus preparations are for

internal and external use. Preparations are used as a bitter,

stomachic, carminative, digestant, sedative, rubefacient,

balneotherapeutic and corrigent. Calamus is available in tea

^mixtures, as an oil or extract and as a bath oil.

Preparation: Steep with hot water to make a tea. For use in a

bath, add 250 to 500 gm of the drug to the bath water.

Storage: Store for a maximum of 18 months. If in powder

form, however, do not keep for more than 24 hours.

LITERATURE

Iguchi M et al., (1973) Tetrahedron Letters 29:2759.

Keller K et al., (1985) Planta Med 51(1):6.

Keller K, Stahl E, Composition of the essential oil from beta-

asarone free calamus. In: PM 47(2):71. 1983.

Keller K, Stahl E, Kalmus: Inhalsstoffe und (3-Asarongehalt bei

verschiedenen Herkunften. In: DAZ 122(48):2463-2466. 1982.

Mazza G, Gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric studies

of the constituents of the rhizome of calamus. In: J Chromatogr

328:179-206. 1985.

Rohr M, Naegeli P, (1979) Phytochemistry 18(2):279 and 328.

Saxena DB, Phenyl indane from Acorus calamus. In: PH

25(2):553. 1986.

•Schneider K, Jurenitsch J, Kalmus als Arzneidroge: Nutzen oder
Risiko. In: Pharmazie 47(2):79-85. 1992.
Stahl E, Keller K, Classification of typical commercial Calamus
drugs. In: PM 43(2): 128-140. 1981.
Taylor JM et al., Toxicity of oil of calamus (Jammu variety).
In: Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 10:405 (Abstract). 1967.
Further information in:
Chan, EH et al. (Eds.), Advances in Chinese Medicinal
Materials Research, World Scientific Pub. Co. Singapore 1985.

Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der

Pharmazeuuschen Praxis, 4. AufL, Bde 1-8, Springer Verlag

Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.

Leung AY, Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used

in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics, John Wiley & Sons Inc., New

York 1980.

Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,

Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,

4. Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
   Steinegger E, Hansel R, Pharmakognosie, 5. Aufl., Springer
   Verlag Heidelberg 1992.
   Teuscher E, Biogene Arzneimittel, 5. Aufl.. Wiss. Verlagsges.
   Stuttgart 1997.
   Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
   Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.
   Wagner H, Wiesenauer M, Phytotherapie. Phytopharmaka und
   pflanzliche Homoopathika, Fischer-Verlag, Stuttgart, Jena, New
   York 1995.
   Wichtl M (Hrsg.), Teedrogen, 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.
   Stuttgart. 1997.

Calendula officinalis

See Marigold

California Peppertree

Schinus molle

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: Medicinal properties have been attributed

to the plant's leaves, bark, fruit and gum resin.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are in apical, heavily

branched, hanging, 5 to 30 cm long panicles. The flowers are

small, yellowish-white, and their structures are in fives. The

calyx is 5-tipped. The flower has 5 petals, 10 stamens and a

superior ovary that develops from a carpel. The style is

divided into 3. The fruit is a coral red, single-seeded drupe

with a diameter of approximately 7 mm, a thin pergament-

like exocarp, an oleo-resin-rich mesocarp and a hard

endocarp.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The tree is an evergreen, up to 15 m

high. The leaves are alternate, up to 25 cm long and odd

pinnate. There are 17 to 35 leaflets, 1.6 to 6 cm long, 2 to 8

mm wide, sessile, linear-lanceolate, punctate with oil glands

and dentate. The branches hang down.