PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS

Other Names: Stags Horn, Witch Meal, Wolfs Claw,

Vegetable Sulfur

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

^£ Alkaloids (0.2%): including among others those of the

lycopodine- and lycodan-types (derived from piperidine

alkaloids), chief alkaloids lycopodine and dihydrolycopo-

dine, in traces also nicotine.

Triterpenes: including alpha-onocerin, lycoclavatol, lycocla-

vanol, serratendiol (demonstrated in plants of Japanese

origin)

Steroids: including beta-sitosterol, campesterol and

stigmasterol

Flavonoids: including among others chrysoeriol, luteolin

EFFECTS

Club Moss has a diuretic effect.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: In folk medicine, it is used internally for

bladder and kidney complaints, also for pharyngeal catarrh

|0 and tonsillitis, menstruation complaints, rheumatism and

impotence; externally for wounds, itching and suppurating

eczema of the skin.

Homeopathic Uses: Herb and spores are used in liver and

gallbladder complaints, general blood poisoning, inflamma-

tion of the respiratory tract, disorders of the intestinal tract,

varicose veins, metabolic diseases, chronic and acute skin

conditions, inflammation of the female genital organs and

menstruation complaints, as well as behavioral and mood

disturbances.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages. Irritations should be expected with extended used of

the drug.

OVERDOSAGE

Despite the toxicity of the alkaloids, no poisonings have

been, recorded.

g, DOSAGE
*• Mode of Administration: In folk medicine, chopped drug is
used in teas.

Daily Dosage: Single dose: 1.5 gm drug. Tea: 1 cup to be

taken 2 to 3 times daily.

Homeopathic Dosage: 5 drops, 1 tablet or 10 globules every

30 to 60 minutes (acute) or 1 to 3 times daily (chronic);

parenterally; 1 to 2 ml sc acute, 3 times daily; chronic: once

a day (HAB1)

COCA/ 197

LITERATURE

Blumenkopf TA, Heathcock CH, The Alkaloids, Vol. 5, Ed.

SW Pelletier, John Wiley 1985.

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

Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde. 1-8, Springer Verlag

Berlin, Heidelberg. New York. 1969.

Leete E, The Alkaloids, Vol. 1, Ed. SW Pelletier, John Wiley

1983.

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

Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

Wichtl M (Hrsg.), Teedrogen, 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.

Stuttgart 1997.

Cnicus benedictus

See Blessed Thistle

Coca

Erythroxylum coca

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the leaves of the

coca bush.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are small and greenish white.

They are in axillary clusters. The fruit is a red almost 1 cm

long drupe with 1 seed.

Leaves, Stem and Root: Erythroxylum coca is a small shrub-

like tree up to 5 m tall. The leaves are brownish-green, oval,

thin but tough, up to 5 cm long and 2.5 cm wide with two

lines on the surface parallel to the midrib. The margins are

entire, the apex rounded. There are 2 faint projecting lines on

the upper surface parallel to the midrib which stiffen the leaf.

There are small stipules in the leaf axils, which later become

brown and hard.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to the Andes region of

South America; it is cultivated in Indonesia, India and Sri

Lanka.

Production: Coca leaves are the dried leaves of Erythroxy-

lum coca.

Other Names: Bolivian Coca, Cocaine, Cuca, Peruvian Coca

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Tropane alkaloids: main alkaloid (-)-cocaine, including,

among others, cis-cinnamoyl cocaine, trans-cinnamoyl co-

caine, also including alpha-truxillin, beta-truxillin,

benzoylecgonin