PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS

Flower and Fruit: The plant has long-pedicled, greenish

flowers.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a perennial, growing to

a height of up to 30 cm. It is stemless with palmate leaves.

The rhizome is about 2 to 4 cm long and 1 cm thick. It is

reddish-brown on the outside, paler on the inside and rough

with leaf scars. The rhizome is nearly cylindrical and tapers

suddenly at the end into a tail-like root with numerous

curled, wiry rootlets.

Characteristics: The taste is slightly aromatic, then acrid.

Habitat: Contrayerva is found in Mexico, Peru and the West

Indies.

Production: Contrayerva root is the rhizome of Dorstenia

contrayerva and related varieties.

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Cardioactive steroids (cardenolides): syriogenin

Furocoumarins

Volatile oil

EFFECTS

Diaphoretic and stimulant.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Preparations of the root are used as a

stimulant and to treat low stamina. It has also been used as

an antidote for snakebite (uncertain mechanism).

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

Health risks or side effects following the proper administra-

tion of designated therapeutic dosages are not recorded. The

plant can trigger phototoxicoses through skin contact.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Ground root as an infusion.

LITERATURE

Casagrande C et al., Tetrahedron 30:3587. 1974.

Hegnauer R, Chemotaxonomie der Pflanzen, Bde 1-11,

Birkhauser Verlag Basel, Boston, Berlin 1962-1997.

Kanamori H, Sakamoto I, Mizuta M, Chem Pharm Bull

34:1826. 1986.

Renner W, PA 17:763. 1962.

Reisch J, PM 15:320. 1967.

Szenedrei K, Novak I, Varga E, Buzas G, PA 23:76-77. 1968.

Renner W, PA 12:763-776. 1962.

Lewin L, Gifte und Vergiftungen, 6. Aufl., Nachdruck, Haug
Verlag, Heidelberg 1992.

COOLWORT/219

Convallaria majalis

See Lily-of-the-Valley

Coolwort

Tiarella cordifolia

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the herb.

Flower and Fruit: The plant has inconspicuous white

flowers in racemes. The buds are pink-tinged. The few seeds

are somewhat clavate. They have a light acrid taste and are

odorless.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a 15 to 20 cm high

herbaceous perennial, which produces runners. The simple

leaves are usually slightly 5-lobed and cordate. The basal

leaves are often deep red-orange. The cauline leaves have

deep red spots and veins, although the latter are often

lacking.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to North America from

Virginia to Canada.

Production: Coolwort is the aerial part of Tiarella cordifolia.

Other Names: Foam Flower, Mitrewort

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

The effective agents of the plant are unknown.

EFFECTS

The herb is a diuretic and a tonic.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Coolwort is used for conditions of the

urinary tract and digestive disorders.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

witii the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: The drug is ground for infusions.

LITERATURE

No literature is available.