PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS

Chinese Medicine Dosage: The daily dose is 4.5 to 9 gm of

the drug.

Homeopathic Dosage: 5 to 10 drops, 1 tablet or 5 to 10

globules 1 to 3 times daily; parenterally: 1 ml injection

M solution sc twice weekly (HAB34).

Storage: Vervain must be stored in a dry environment to

avoid hydrolytic decomposition of verbenalin.

LITERATURE

Carnat A et aL, PM 61:490. 1995.

Inouye H et al., (1974) Planta Med 25:285.

Mcllroy RJ, In: The Plant Glycosides, Arnold. London 1951.

Reynaud J et al., Pharm Acta Helv 67:216. 1992.

Weber R, Dissertation Marburg. 1995.

Yip L, Pei S, Hudson JB, Towers GHN. Screening of

medicinal plants from Yunnan Province in southwest China for

antiviral activity. In: ETH 34:1-6. 1991.

Further information in:

Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Hrsg.), Hagers

Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aurl, Bde 4-6

(Drogen): Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-

1994.

4F Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3.
Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.
Wagner H, Wiesenauer M, Phytotherapie. Phytopharmaka und
pflanzliche Homoopathika, Fischer-Verlag. Stuttgart, Jena, New
York 1995.
Wichtl M (Hrsg.), Teedrogen. 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.
Stuttgart 1997.

Viburnum prunifolium

See Black Haw

Vicia faba

See Broad Bean

Vinca minor

See Periwinkle

Viola odorata

See Sweet Violet

VIROLA /789

Viola tricolor

See Heartsease

Virola

Virola theiodora

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part of the plant is the bark.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are in panicles. The male

inflorescence has numerous flowers and is brown, gold-

yellow and pubescent. The female flowers are either single

or in clusters of 2 to 10 flowers. They are fused and have 3 to

5 stamens. The ovary develops from only 1 carpel with 1

ovule. The fruit is orbicular-oval, 10 to 20 mm long and 8 to

15'mm wide.

Leaves, Stem and Root: Virola theiodora is a diclinous tree

that grows up to 23 m high. The leaves are alternate, 9 to 35

cm long and 4 to 12 cm wide; the lamina is simple, elongate

to wide oval, acute, entire and paper-like. The trunk is

approximately 0.5 m thick and cylindrical with a smooth,

brown-speckled bark with gray spots.

Characteristics: The flowers have sharply astringent

fragrance.

Habitat: Amazon region

Production: Virola bark is the dried bark of Virola theiodora.

There are various methods of production. Either the bark is

scraped off, dried over a fire and powdered, or the outer bark

is peeled off before sunrise and the inner bark with the resin

is scraped off and cooked to a syrup. The syrup is pulverized

after drying in the sun.

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Tryptamine derivatives: particularly N,N-dimethyl trypt-

amine, 5-methoxy-NN-dimethyl tryptamine (5-MeO-DMT)

EFFECTS

Due to its psychotropic and narcotic-hallucinogenic charac-

teristics (tryptamine alkaloids), the drug is chiefly used in the

form of a snuff powder in connection with ritual and

religious ceremonies. The resin is also administered topically

to yeast infections of the skin and for the promotion of the

healing of wounds.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Virola is used for skin disease and fungal

skin diseases, to speed the healing of wounds, and to clean

infected wounds (South America).