PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS LOTUS/481

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

Health risks or side effects following the proper administra-

tion of designated therapeutic dosages are not recorded.

However, internal administration of hematoxylin carried out

in animaJL^experiments led to elevated body temperature,

jft vomiting, anuria, coma and death. Reports of these studies

provided no information regarding dosage (Lewin).

Lonicera caprifolium

See Honeysuckle

Loosestrife
Lysimachia .vulgaris
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the dried herb.
Flower and Fruit: The flowers grow in long-peduncled
racemes in the axils of the upper stem and in terminal,
panicled inflorescence. The pedicle is about 1 cm long,
downy and glandular-haired. The calyx is split almost to the
base. The filaments are glandular-haired, usually fused to die
middle with each other and in a tube containing the ovary.
A The seeds are triangular, covered thickly in long warts,
whitish and 1.5 mm long.
Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a perennial and has
underground runners, which produce new buds. The stem is
erect, up to 1.5 m tall, branched, obtusely angular, leafy and
thickly downy. The leaves are slightly downy with glandular
hairs. The leaves are in whorls or opposite, rarely spiralled,
up to 14 cm long and 3.5 cm wide, short petioled, tightly
reticulate and red-glandular punctate.

Habitat: The plant is found in the temperate regions of

Europe and Asia.

Production: Loosestrife is the aerial part of Lysimachia

vulgaris.

Other Names: Yellow Willowherb

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Loosestrife is used for scurvy, diarrhea and

dysentery, as well as hemorrhages (nose bleeds and heavy

menstrual blood flow^ and 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: The herb is used externally in the

powdered form.

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.

Lophophora williamsii

See Peyote

Lotus

Nelumbo nucifera

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the roots, the seeds

and the aerial parts of the flowering plant.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: The drug is administered as an

infusion and a liquid extract.

Daily Dosage: A single dose of a decoction equal to 1 g of

drug is mentioned, but the number of times it could be taken

daily was not specified.

LITERATURE

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

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

Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.

Lolium temulentum

See Taumelloolch

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Flavonoids: glycosides of the myricetin, kaempferol and

quercetin, including among others rutin

Steroids: beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol

The constituents of the drug have not been extensively

investigated.

EFFECTS

Loosestrife has an astringent effect. The main active

principle is rutin.