Handbook of Medicinal Herbs

(Dana P.) #1

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HIERBA SANTA (Piper auritum Kunth.) +

Activities (Hierba Santa) — Alpha-2-Adrenergic Agonist (1; TRA); Anesthetic (f; JFM; TRA);
Antiinflammatory (f; JFM); Carcinogenic (1; TRA); Diaphoretic (f; JFM); Digestive (f; JFM);
Diuretic (f; JFM); Emollient (f; JFM); Hallucinogen (1; TRA); Hypotensive (1; TRA); Mutagenic
(f; TRA); Psychotropic (1; TRA); Revulsive (f; JFM); Spasmogenic (f; TRA); Stimulant (f; JFM);
Stomachic (f; JFM); Uterotonic (1; TRA); Vasodilator (1; TRA).


Indications (Hierba Santa) — Angina (f; JFM); Colic (f; JFM); Diaphoretic (f; JFM); Erysipelas
(f; JFM); Fever (f; JFM); Gonorrhea (f; JFM); Gout (f; JFM); Headache (1; JFM; TRA); High
Blood Pressure (1; TRA); Inflammation (f; JFM); Pain (1; JFM; TRA); Toxic (1; TRA); VD (f;
JFM); Water Retention (f; JFM); Wound (f; JFM).


Dosages (Hierba Santa) — Infusion of^1 / 2 leaf taken after a meal as a stomachic (JFM); one leaf
in sweetened water (180 cc) (JFM); 15–30 drops tincture (10 g leaf in 150 cc alcohol) every 3
hours (JFM).


Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Hierba Santa) — Not covered (AHP; EFS;
IED; KOM; PH2). Very rich in the carcinogen safrole.


Extracts (Hierba Santa) — At 0.1 ml/kg intravenously in dogs, the aqueous extract is
hypotensive (TRA). The 95% ethanolic extract at 0.33 ml/l is spasmogenic and uterotonic in
vitro (TRA). At 3 ml/l, the aqueous extracts have a vasodilator effect on lab rats (TRA). Safrole
and elemicin may exert hallucinogic and/or psychotropic activities (TRA). Myrcene has anti-
nociceptive activities. As an alpha-2-adrenergic agonist, myrcene affects arterial blood pressure
(TRA).


HIMALAYAN FIR (Abies spectabilis (D. Don) Spach) ++

Synonyms: Abies webbiana Lindl., Pinus spectabilis D. Don, P. webbiana Wall. ex Lamb.


Activities (Himalayan Fir) — Antispasmodic (f; KAP); Aphrodisiac (f; WO2); Astringent (f;
KAB); Carminative (f; DEP; KAB; SUW); Contraceptive (f; WO2); Expectorant (f; KAB; SUW);
Stomachic (f; KAB; SUW); Tonic (f; KAB).


Indications (Himalayan Fir) — Asthma (f; KAB; SUW); Bronchosis (f; KAB; KAP; SUW);
Catarrh (f; KAB); Childbirth (f; DEP; WO2); Cough (f; DEP; KAP); Cramp (f; KAP); Cystosis
(f; KAB); Fever (f; DEP; KAB; WO2); Gas (f; DEP; KAB; SUW); Headache (f; KAB);
Hemoptysis (f; WO2); Hoarseness (f; DEP; WO2); Malaria (f; DEP; KAB); Neuralgia (f; KAB;
WO2); Phthisis (f; KAB); Pulmonosis (f; KAB; WO2); Splenosis (f; KAP); Teething (f; DEP;
KAB; WO2).


Dosages (Himalayan Fir) — 5–10 drops fresh leaf juice in water or mother’s milk, for malaria
in infants (DEP); 0.5–1 drachm dry leaf for gas (DEP); 16–48 ml leaf tea for pulmonosis (KAP);
0.5 to 1 g powdered leaf (KAP); 2–4 ml leaf tincture (f; KAP).


Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Himalayan Fir) — Not covered (AHP;
KOM; PH2). Resin said to intoxicate when taken internally (WO2). Believing that the resins
and the turpentines are similar chemically, I should estimate this to be as good as the American
and European Abies.

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