180 /CHERRY LAUREL PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINESPRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction
with the proper administration of designated therapeutic
dosages.
OVERDOSAGE
Overdoses of Cherry Laurel water prepared from the drug
can lead to fatal poisonings. Ingestion of the leathery leaves
and the seeds is improbable; the fruit pulp is low in
cyanogenic glycosides (yielding 5-20 mg HCN/lOO gm). The
recommended antidotes include the injection of solutions of
Dicobalt-EDTA or thiosulfates, or the administration of
methemoglobin-forming agents, e.g., amyl nitrite, 4-dimeth-
yl aminophenol. The inducement of vomiting or gastric
lavage should be done in parallel fashion. Circulatory
support and artificial respiration may also be required.
DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: The drug is available as a watery
extract, an aromatic, a breathing stimulant and an
antispasmodic.
LITERATURE
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. I-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,- Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
Sommer W, Dissertation Universitat Kiel. 1984.
Steinegger E, Hansel R, Pharmakognosie, 5. Aufl., Springer
Verlag Heidelberg 1992.
Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.
Teuscher E, Biogene Arzneimittel, 5. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.
Stuttgart 1997.
Wagner H, Wiesenauer M, Phytotherapie. Phytopharmaka und
pflanzliche Homoopathika, Fischer-Verlag, Stuttgart, Jena, New
York 1995.
Chickweed
Stellaria media
TRADE NAMES
Chickweed Herbs, Wild Countryside Chickweed
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the fresh flowering or
dried herb.Flower and Fruit: The solitary white flowers are located in
the leaf or branch axils. They open at 9 am and, in good
weather, remain open for 12 hours. The 5 double petals are
shorter than the oblong-lanceolate sepals. There are 2 to 5
stamens and 3 stigma. The fruit is globular or ovate and
covered in teeth. It opens when ripe and the seeds are shaken
out through the movement of the plant.Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is 5 to 30 cm high. The
stem is decumbent and weak, heavily branched and often
grows to an impressive length. It creeps along the ground, is
fleshy, pale green, and slightly thickened at the nodes. The
leaves are opposite and orbicular-ovate. The lower ones are
long-petioled and the upper ones are sessile. They are 1.25
cm long and 0.70 cm wide and sit in pairs on the stem.Characteristics: The stem is pubescent on one side.Habitat: The plant is found worldwide as a weed.Production: Chickweed is the fresh herb in flower of
Stellaria media.Other Names: Adder's Mouth, Passerina, Satin Flower,
Starweed, Starwort, Stitchwort, Tongue-Grass, Winterweed
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Flavonoids: including, among others, rutinAscorbic acid (vitamin C, 0.1-0.15%)Alkaloids
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: Internally. Chickweed is used for rheuma-
tism, gout, stiffness of the joints, tuberculosis, and diseases
of the blood. Externally, it is used for poorly healing
wounds, hemorrhoids, inflammation of the eyes, eczema and
other diverse skin diseases.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 herb is used as a tea or in the
form of juice for poultices, and in baths for medicinal
purposes.LITERATURE
Tsotsoriya G et al., (1977) Kromatogr Met Farm 172 (via CA
90:51421).