HERBAL MONOGRAPHS WORMSEED/827Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Hrsg.), Hagers
Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6
(Drogen): Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-
1994.
Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,
Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.
Marco JL et al., Phytochemistry 21(10):2567.
Marco JL et al., PH 21:2567. 1982.
Marco JL et al., PH 22:727-731. 1983.
Velasco-Negueruela A et al., PH 29:1165-1169. 1990.
Wagner H, Wiesenauer M, Phytotherapie. Phytopharmaka und
pflanzliche Homoopathika, Fischer-Verlag, Stuttgart, Jena, New
York 1995.Wood Sorrel
Oxalis acetosella
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the fresh flowering
plant with the root.
Flower and Fruit: The solitary flower is white or reddish-
white and red-veined with yellow spots. The pedicle is
longer than the leaves. There are 5 sepals and 5 petals, 10
stamens and 1 ovary with 5 styles. The fruit is an ovate
capsule. It is pentangular, tearing open in long slits when
ripe, thus freeing the seeds.
Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant grows to a height of
between 5 and 12 cm tall. The leaves are basal, tender, long-
petioled and trifoliate. The leaflets are broad, obovate-
cordate, downy and often tinged red underneath. The stem is
leafless apart from bracts above the middle, which are fused
at the base.Characteristics: The plant has a pleasant, rather sour odor.
Habitat: The plant is commonly found in woods and forests
throughout Europe.Production: Wood Sorrel is the aerial part of Oxalis
acetosella, which is harvested while the plant is in blossom.
Other Names: Cuckoo Bread, Cuckowes Meat, Fairy Bells,
Green Sauce, Hallelujah, Shamrock, Sour Trefoil, Stickwort,
Stubwort, Surelle, Three-Leaved Grass, Wood Sour
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Oxalic acid (0.3-1.25%): especially present as potassium salt
EFFECTS
The drug, including the green parts of the plant, contains
clover acid that, in small amounts, affects gallbladder
activity by acting as a diuretic. The fresh plant provides a
substantial source of vitamin C.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: Wood Sorrel is no longer used as a remedy,
but previously was used for liver and digestive disorders.
Also, in the past, the fresh leaves were used to treat scurvy,
wounds and inflammation of the gums.
PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction
with the proper administration of designated therapeutic
dosages.
OVERDOSAGE
Oxalic acid poisonings could occur only through the
ingestion of very large quantities of the leaves, for example
as in salad. The poisonings mentioned in older scientific
literature seem dubious.DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: Ground and as an extract. Wood
Sorrel is no longer used as a remedy.
LITERATURE
Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der
Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde. 1-8, Springer Verlag
Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.
Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,
Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.
Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen. Pflanzengifte,- Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.
Tosto DS, Hopp HE, Sequence analysis of the 5.8S ribosomal
DNA and internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) from
five species of the Oxalis tuberosa alliance. DNA Seq, 6:361-4,
Tschesche R, Struckmeyer K, (1976) Chem Ber. 109:2901.
Wormseed
Artemisia cina
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are closed flower-
buds, that have not yet blossomed.
Flower and Fruit: The numerous flower heads are about 2
mm long with a diameter of 1.5 mm. They are ovoid and
greenish-yellow when fresh, later brownish-green. They
contain tiiree to five minute, tubular, androgynous florets
with a slim, cylindrical and glabrous receptacle. The
epicalyces have numerous oblong-obtuse, imbricate scales.