PDR for Herbal Medicines

794 /WALNUT

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Approved by Commission E:

• Inflammation of the skin
  H Excessive perspiration

Unproven Uses: Externally, Walnut is used for mild,

superficial inflammation of the skin and excessive perspira-

tion. Internally, the drug is used for gastrointestinal catarrh

and as an anthelmintic (so-called blood purifier).

Chinese Medicine: In China, Walnut is used to treat asthma,

lumbago, beriberi, impotence and constipation.

Indian Medicine: In India, Walnut is used for alternating

rheumatic complaints, and the oil of the seeds is used for

tapeworms. The seeds are said to have an aphrodisiac effect

and are also used for dysentery and colic.

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: Comminuted drug for decoctions

and other galenic preparations for external use.

Preparation: To prepare a decoction, soak 2 teaspoonfuls of

drug in 1 cup of water, boil and strain. An infusion is

prepared by using 1.5 gm of finely cut drug, soaked in cold

water, brought to simmer and strained after 3 to 5 minutes.

Daily Dosage: The average daily dose for external use is 3 to

6 gm of drug.

LITERATURE
Hegnauer R, Chemotaxonomie der Pflanzen, Bde 1-11,
Birkhauser Verlag Basel, Boston, Berlin 1962-1997.
Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,
Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.
Nahrstedt A et al., (1981) Planta Med 42(4):313.
Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.
Teuscher E, Biogene Arzneimittel, 5. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.
Stuttgart 1997.
Thomson RH, Naturally Occuring Quinones, 2nd Ed., Academic
Press, New York, 1971.
Wagner H, Wiesenauer M, Phytotherapie. Phytopharmaka und
pflanzliche Homoopathika, Fischer-Verlag, Stuttgart, Jena, New
York 1995.

Willuhn G, Pflanzliche Dermatika. Eine kritische Ubersicht.. In:
DAZ 132(37): 1873. 1992.

PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Water Avens

Geum rivale

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the dried, under-

ground parts of the plant, the fresh, flowering plant and the

roots.

Flower and Fruit: The flowering peduncle usually sprouts

singly from the axils of the rosette leaves, rarely from the

ends of the stems. It is often tinged red-brown and is downy.

The flowers and subinflorescences are on long, dense and

glandular-haired pedicles. The 5 sepals are red-brown. The 5

petals are pale yellow and tinged dirty pink. The flower

remains attached long after flowering. The carpel axis is

stemmed and villous, and stretches when mature. The fruit is

hooked at the tip.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a 30 to 100 cm high

semi-rosette shrub with the primary root replaced by

adventitious roots. The rhizome is simple, thick, cylindrical

and crooked with a terminal rosette. The rosette leaves are

long-petioled, irregularly lyre-shaped and pinnate. The upper

surface is glandular and hairy. The underside is heavily

ciliated along the veins.

Habitat: The plant is found in Europe, temperate Asia and

North America.

Production: Water Avens root is the root of Geum rivale.

Other Names: Cure All, Water Flower, Indian Chocolate,

Chocolate Root, Throat Root, Water Chisch

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS: IN THE FRESHLY HARVESTED RHIZOME

Gein (eugenol vicianoside): transformed into eugenol

through drying or cutting into small pieces

Tannins

COMPOUNDS: IN THE DRIED RHIZOME AND ROOT

Volatile oil (traces): chief component eugenol

Tannins (15-20%)

EFFECTS

See Geum urbanum; overall, Water Avens has very weak

action.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Uses are the same as for Geum urbanum.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

Health risks or side effects following the proper administra-

tion of designated therapeutic dosages are not recorded.

DOSAGE

No information is available.