M
MORMON TEA (Ephedra nevadensis S. Watson) ++Activities (Mormon Tea) — Astringent (1; APA; CRC); Depurative (f; APA; CRC; DEM); Diuretic
(1; APA; CRC; DEM); Fumitory (f; CRC); Tonic (f; APA).
Indications (Mormon Tea) — Burn (f; APA; DEM); Cold (f; APA; CRC); Diarrhea (1; APA);
Dysuria (f; DEM); Enterorrhagia (f; CRC); Headache (f; APA; CRC); Gonorrhea (f; APA; CRC);
Nephrosis (f; APA; CRC; DEM); Sore (f; APA; DEM); Syphilis (1; APA; CRC); VD (f; CRC;
DEM); Water Retention (1; APA; CRC; DEM).
Dosages (Mormon Tea) — (Based on recommendations for the alkaloid rich ma huang) 1–4 g
powdered stem (PNC).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Mormon Tea) — Class 1 (AHP).
MORNING GLORY (Ipomoea hederacea Jacq.) +Synonyms: I. barbigera Sweet, Pharbitis hederacea (Jacq.) Choisy
I fear PH2 may have gone generic without telling us so. I do not find this species in my Chinese
book, although many species are cosmopolitan. So many of the PH2 entries may not necessarily
apply to this species.
Activities (Morning Glory) — Ascarifuge (1; PH2); Diuretic (f; DEP); Laxative (1; DEP; PH2);
Taenifuge (1; PH2); Teratogenic (f; PH2); Vermifuge (1; DEP; PH2).
Indications (Morning Glory) — Ascaris (1; PH2); Biliousness (f; DEP); Constipation (1; DEP;
PH2); Dyspepsia (f; PH2); Edema (f; PH2); Gas (f; PH2); Parasite (1; PH2); Satiety (f; PH2);
Scabies (1; PH2); Tapeworm (1; PH2); Water Retention (f; DEP); Worm (1; DEP; PH2).
Dosages (Morning Glory) — 0.5–3 g seed (HHB); 30–40 grains (DEP); Chinese Dosage 1.5–15
g drug (PH2); 24–30 g in tea (not for me).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Morning Glory) — Not covered (AHP).
Laxative action may be accompanied by cramping. Possibly teratogenic, not for use during preg-
nancy (PH2). “Inadmissable in inflammatory states of the alimentary canal” (DEP).
MOTHER OF THYME (Thymus serpyllum L.) +++Foster and Duke (1985) treat mother of thyme as T. pulegioides (FAD), Tucker and Debaggio
(TAD) add that most so-called wild thyme or mother of thyme on sale or escaped in the U.S. is
T. pulegioides or T. praecox var. arcticus (“distinguishing characteristics are tiny” (TAD)). USDA
recognizes both T. pulegioides and T. serpyllum as wild thyme. It is highly likely that most
chemical and medicinal studies are unvouchered so we’ll never really know which species was
intended. I suspect that Americans had best consult data on T. pulegioides and Europeans this
entry, T. serpyllum. There are few major differences in the chemical and medical, as with the
morphological characteristics.
Activities (Mother of Thyme) — Analgesic (1; FAD; PH2); Antihormonal (1; HH2; PH2);
Antiseptic (2; KOM; PIP; TAD); Antispasmodic (1; FAD; PIP); Antithyroid (1; AKT); Anti-
tussive (1; PH2); Cardiotonic (1; FAD); Carminative (f; MAD; PHR); Depurative (f; FAD);
Diuretic (f; MAD); Emmenagogue (f; FEL; MAD); Expectorant (1; FAD; MAD; PH2); Fun-
gicide (1; TAD); Hemostat (f; MAD); Hypotensive (1; FAD); Respiratonic (1; FAD); Secre-
tomotor (1; PHR); Stomachic (f; MAD; PHR); Thyrotropic (1; HH2; PH2); Tonic (f; MAD);
Vulnerary (f; MAD).