PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS SWEET GALE/745

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages. Administration of the drug in higher dosages can

lead to headache and stupor, transitory liver damage is

possible for a very small number of particularly susceptible

patients. Elevation of liver enzyme values usually disappears

following discontinuance of the drug. (Monitoring of the

liver enzyme values is recommended.)

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Comminuted drug for infusions and

other galenic preparations for oral use; liquid forms of

medication for parenteral application; ointments, liniments,

cataplasms and herbal sachets for external use; ointments

and suppositories for rectal use.

Preparation: To prepare an infusion, pour boiling water over

1 to 2 teaspoonfuls of comminuted, cut drug, then strain after

5 to 10 minutes.

Daily Dosage: The average daily dose of the herb or

preparation in amounts corresponding to 3 to 30 mg of

coumarin; parenteral application corresponding to 1.0 to 7.5

mg of coumarin. s

Infusion — As a therapy for varicose veins, 2 to 3 cups

daily.

External — As a poultice for hemorrhoids.

Storage - The drug must be stored away from light in sealed
containers to prevent loss of coumarin.
LITERATURE
Abou-Donia AHA, (1976) Ph. D. Thesis, Faculty of Pharmacy,
University of Alexandria, Egypt.
Bos R et al.. Analysis of coumarin in Melilotus officinalis. In:
PM 61(Abstracts of 43rd Ann Congr):68. 1995.
Foldi M, Kovach AGB, Varga L, Zoltan OT, Die Wirkung des
Melilotus-Praparates Esberiven R auf die Lymphstromung. In:
Arztl Forsch 16:99. 1962.
Foldi M, Zoltan OT, Obal F, Experimentelle lymphostatische
Encephalopathie als Folgeerscheinung einer cervikalen
Lymphangiothrombophlebitis und deren Therapie mit Cumarin
aus Melilotus officinalis. In: Arzneim Forsch 20:1626-1628.
1970.
Foldi-Borcsok E, Bedall FK, Rahlfs VW, Die antiphlogistische
und odemhemmende Wirkung von Cumarin aus Melilotus
officinalis. In: Arzneim Forsch 21:2025-2030. 1971.
Hammouda FM, Rizk AM, Seif EL-Nazar MM, Abou-Youssef
AA, Ghaleb HA, Madkour MK, Pholand AE, Wood G,
Flavonoids and coumarins from elilorus. In: Fitotherapia
54(6):249-255. 1983.

Johne HO, Experimentelle und klinische Untersuchung mit dem

Melilotuspraparat Esberiven. In: Arztl Forsch 14:473-474. 1960.

Marshall M, Wiistenberg P, Klinik und Therapie der

chronischen enosen Insuffizienz. In: Klinik und Therapie der

chronischen venosen Insuffizienz, Braun Fachverlage, Karlsruhe

1994.

Mislin H, Die Wirkung von Cumarin aus Melilotus officinalis

auf die Funktion des Lymphangioms. In: Arzneim Forsch

21:852-853! 1971.

Plouvier V, (1963) Compt Rend 257:4061.

Wiistenberg, P, Baumann G, Verdacht der Toxizitat von

Cumarin nicht bestatigt. In: PZ 139(13):1058. 1994.

Further information in: """ •"-

Kem 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,

4. Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
   Steinegger E, Hansel R, Pharmakognosie, 5. Aufl., Springer
   Verlag Heidelberg 1992.
   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.
   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.

Sweet Gale

Myrica gale
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the leaves and
branches as well as the wax extracted from the catkins.
Flower and Fruit: Sweet Gale plants are either male or
female. The male plants produce groups of stemless catkins
on the leafless branches of the previous year's growth. The
fruit catkins are about the same size but somewhat thicker
and grow in closely packed resinous nutlets. They are dry
and compressed.
Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is usually dioecious, but
plants may change sex from year to year. Sweet Gale is a
deciduous shrub up to 2.5 m high. The branches have
Hong ND et al., (1983) Korean J Pharmacognosy 14(2):51. scattered yellowish glands. The leaves are 2 to 6 cm long,