C
(f; SKJ); Ophthalmia (f; IHB; MPI); Osteosis (f; KAB); Pain (f; KAB; PH2); Phthisis (f; SKJ);
Pneumonia (f; IHB); Rabies (f; DAA); Rheumatism (1; IHB; KAB; SKJ); Scabies (f; SKJ); Smallpox
(f; IHB); Snakebite (f; MPI; PH2); Stomatosis (f; JLH); Swelling (1; SKJ); Syphilis (f; IHB); Thirst
(f; SKJ); Tuberculosis (f; SKJ); Water Retention (1; PH2); Worm (f; MPI).
Dosages (Cane Reed) — Food farmacy; rhizome edible after cooking (WOI).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Cane Reed) — Not covered (AHP; KOM).
“Health hazards not known with proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2). Overdose might induce “Euro-
pean cholera,” diuresis, and shock (PH2). MPI gives some interesting data. Alkaloids from the plant
show in vitro and in vivo anticholinesterase activities, perhaps explaining the depurative and
ophthalmic activity (MPI). C. speciosus was found to be 2.5 times more ecbolic than Gloriosa
superba, enough to make me advise pregnant women to avoid both. Saponins from the herb caused
proliferation of uterine and vaginal tissues similar to those produced by stilbestrol (MPI). These
saponins also had antiarthritic and antiinflammatory activities.
CANOLA, OILSEED RAPE (Brassica napus var. napus) ++Synonyms — B. campestris f. annua Schubl. & G. Martens, B. campestris f. biennis Schubl. &
G. Martens, B. campestris subsp. napus (L.) Hook. f. & T. Anderson, B. napus var. annua W. D.
J. Koch, B. napus var. biennis (Schubl. & G. Martens) Rchb., B. napus var. oleifera Delile.
Many writers do not distinguish between black, brown (Indian), and white mustard (Brassica
nigra, Brassica juncea, and Sinapis alba, respectively), but the spice and medicine trade seems
to favor the white. And the canola and rapeseed varieties have been hopelessly manipulated,
even in the GMO field. Few if any taxonomists and agronomists can distinguish all Brassica
varieties and species, and probably fewer chemists, herbalists, pharmacists, and physicians can
be sure of the variety or species. My entries can be no more reliable than their sources. Seems
as though the plant group might better be treated generically than specifically or varietally.
Canola is here defined as Brassica napus but Gruenwald et al. (2000) do not index canola,
calling Brassica napus merely the Oilseed Rape. Would that it were that simple. The USDA
nomenclature database lists canola as three different taxa, B. napus var. napus, B. rapa subsp.
dichotoma, and B. rapa subsp. oleifera. I suspect that the chemical and biological activities
are more or less interchangeable.
Activities (Canola) — Antibacterial (1; WO2); Antiseptic (1; WO2); Antithyroid (1; HHB); Aperitif
(f; DEM); Cardiotoxic (1; PH2); Fungicide (1; WO2); Insecticide (f; WO2); Stimulant (f; DEM);
Tonic (f; DEM).
Indications (Canola) — Ague (f; DEM); Anorexia (f; DEM); Asthma (f; DEM); Bacteria (1;
WO2); Boil (f; DEM); Cancer (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, breast (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, groin (1;
FNF; JLH); Cold (f; DEM); Cough (f; DEM); Croup (f; DEM); Felon (f; JLH); Fever (f; DEM);
Flu (f; DEM); Fungus (1; WO2); Induration (f; JLH); Infection (1; WO2); Inflammation (f; JLH);
Mycosis (1; WO2); Nervousness (f; DEM); Palsy (f; DEM); Phthisis (f; DEM); Smallpox (f;
DEM); Sore (f; DEM); Splenosis (f; JLH); Tuberculosis (f; DEM); Wart (f; JLH); Whitlow (f;
JLH); Yeast (1; WO2).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Canola) — Not covered (AHP). Health
hazards not known with therapeutic dosages of the oil which is low in erucic acid (PH2) (but PH2
does not specify the oil dosage). Ingested over a long period, oil considered cardiotoxic (PH2).
Don’t overdo it. In huge quantities, glucosinolate/isothiocyanate containing crucifers might upset
the thyroid. And in huge doses, hard to get dietarily, indole-3-carbinol might stimulate breast cancer
rather than prevent it, because it does so at levels reasonably attainable through dietary consumption
of crucifers (Brassicaceae).