HERBAL MONOGRAPHS SLOE 7 697OVERDOSAGE
Overdosage results in queasiness and vomiting.
DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: Skunk Cabbage is administered as a
liquid extract in various medicinal preparations.
LITERATURE
Adolf A. Hecker E (1980) Tetrahedron Letters 21:2887
Hegnauer R. Chemotaxonomie der Pflanzen, Bde 1-11:
Birkhauser Verlag Basel, Boston, Berlin 1962-1997.
Kern W. List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der
Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde 1-8: Springer Verlag
Berlin. Heidelberg, New York, 1969.Slippery Elm
Ulmus rubra
TRADE NAMES
Slippery Elm Bark
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is" the dried inner rind
separated from the outer bark.Flower and Fruit: The flowers are in dense, almost sessile
clusters. There are 5 to 9 tepals and the same number of
stamens. The stigmas are bright red. The fruit is almost top-
shaped to broad-elliptical, 1 to 2 cm long, wide and glabrous,
except for the rust-red downy center. The seeds are inserted
in the center.
Leaves, Stem and Root: The tree is medium-sized and grows
up to 20 m tall with spread branches forming an open crown.
The younger branches are red-brown or orange and more or
less downy. The bark is deeply fissured. The buds are large,
rust-red and downy. The leaves are obovate to oblong, 10 to
20 cm long and have a double-serrate margin. The lamina is
long acuminate and sharply asymmetrical at the base. The
leaves, are dark green above and very rough, densely downy
beneath. They darken in autumn.
Characteristics: The texture is mucilaginous and the odor
slight but characteristic. The powdered inner bark is used for
its mucilaginous quality. Taken as a drink, it relieves
irritation of the mucous membrane. The same water-retain-
ing properties allow the powder to be used as an emollient
poultice.
Habitat: The plant is indigenous to North America.Production: Slippery Elm bark is the inner bark and wood of
Ulmus fulva.
Other Names: Red Elm, Sweet Elm
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Steroids: sterols, including cholesterol, campesterol, beta-
sitosterol
Sesquiterpenes: including 5-isopropyl-3,8-dimethyl-2-naph-
thol, 2-hydroxy-5-isopropyl-8-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3-
naphthyl aldehyde
Tannins (very little)EFFECTS
Slippery Elm is demulcent, emollient and soothing to the
alimentary canal.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE " '•-
Unproven Uses: Internally, the drug is used in the treatment
of gastritis and gastric or duodenal ulcers. Externally, it is
used in the treatment of wounds, burns, skin conditions,
swollen glands, gout, and rheumatism.
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: Whole and cut drug is available in
the form of a decoction for internal use and poultices for
external use.
How Supplied: Capsules — 370 mg
Preparation: A decoction is made in a ratio of 1:8 with
ethanol.
Daily Dosage: The dose for the decoction is 4 to 16 ml per
day. Externally, the coarsely ground drug is used as a
poultice.
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.
Kim JP, Kim WG, Koshino H, Jung J, Yoo ID Sesquiterpene
O-naphthoquinones from the root bark of Ulmus davidiana.
Phytochemistry, 43:425-30, 1996 Sep.Sloe
Prunus spinosa
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the flowers.
Flower and Fruit: The white, pedicled flowers are solitary
but appear close to each other on the branches. The bush