PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS

crassifolia. Hoppe Seylers Z Physiol Chem, 350:1289-90, 1969

Oct.

Elettaria cardamomum

See Cardamom

Eleutherococcus senticosus

See Siberian Ginseng

Elm Bark

Ulmus minor

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the inner bark of the

young branches.

Flower and Fruit: The reddish brown flowers appear before

the leaves. They are androgynous, short-pedicled and in

globular clusters. The perigone is campanulate-top-shaped

and greenish with a purple margin. There are 3 to 4 stamens

witii dark violet anthers. The tree is wind pollinated. The

fruit is a broad-winged, almost circular, oval or elliptical and

glabrous achaene. The reddish nutlet reaches to the front

margin of the notch.

Leaves, Stem and Root: Ulmus minor is a 40 m high tree

with black-brown, finely fissured bark. The branches, which

develop long grooves, have alternate, petiolate, 6 to 10 cm

long leaves with 8 to 12 lateral ribs. The leaves are ovate.

The lamina is irregular and the margin double-serrate. The

petioles are 8 to 15 mm longer than the buds, which develop

in spring on short branches and form into clusters before

flowering.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to Europe as far as the

Mediterranean.

Production:. Smooth-leaved Elm bark is the bark of Ulmus

minor. The bark is gathered for therapeutic or medicinal

purposes. It is manually cut in circles and the bark is

removed from the young (new) twigs (the diameter of the

twig should not be more than 1 cm). The long grain and the

upper layer of the bark must be removed, then the bark is

dried.

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Mucilage: yielding mainly D-galactose, L-rhamnose, D-ga-
lacturonic acid after hydrolysis

ENGLISH ADDERS TONGUE/269

Tannins (3%)

Caffeic acid derivatives: chlorogenic acid

Sterols: including, among others, beta-sitosterol, stig-

masterol

EFFECTS

The drug has diuretic and astringent properties.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Internally, the drug is used for digestive

disorders and severe cases of diarrhea. Externally, it is used

to treat open wounds.

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: Elm bark is used both internally

and externally in various preparations.

Preparation: The ground bark is used for infusions. A

decoction from the bark can be prepared using 2 teaspoons

of the drug per cup of water. Externally, a 20% decoction is

used, which is diluted 1:1 with water, for the treatment of

festering and open wounds.

Daily Dose: The dosage of the decoction prepared from die

bark is 1 cup 2 to 3 times daily. In powder form, a dose of 2

to 5 gm may be taken daily.

LITERATURE

Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H. Schneider G (Hrsg.), Hagers

Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6

(Drogen): Springer Verlag Berlin. Heidelberg. New York, 1992-

1994.

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

Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

English Adder's Tongue

Ophioglossum vulgatum

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts of the plant are the

root and leaves.

Flower and Fruit: The plant's 12 to 40 ripe yellow sporangia

on either side of the middle panicle form an acuminate spike.

The tip contains no sporangia.

Leaves, Stem and Root: This fern grows from 8 to 25 cm

high. The stems, covered in the remains of leaves, grow

singly from the underground roots. The stems consist of a

few sturdy, yellow fibers and are round, hollow and