508 Handbook of Medicinal Herbs Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Monkshood) — Not covered (AHP; KOM) Commission E reports the herb and tuber are not permitted for therapeutic use Usefulness is not documented adequately for most advocated uses (AEH) Use of the drug is risky and not recommended (PH2) Extremely toxic; can cause irregular heart beats, heart attack, and even death Dangerous, even topically To be avoided, especially by pregnant or nursing women On Commission E list of unapproved herbs “This means that it is not recommended for use because it has not been proven to be safe or effective” (ACS) Contains the toxic alkaloid aconitine (AEH) Aconitine first excites, then paralyzes peripheral nerve endings and the brain stem It slows respiration and extinguishes atrial impulses within the AV node It parallels other neurotoxins (batrachotoxin, grayanotoxin), which act on the sodium channels and hinder repolarization Between 1980 and 1984, there were 25 reported aconite murders in Sichuan China alone MOONSEED (Menispermum canadense L.) + M Activities (Moonseed) — Alterative (f; CRC); Cyanogenic (f; CRC); Diaphoretic (f; CRC); Diuretic (f; CRC); Laxative (f; CRC; DEM); Nervine (f; CRC; EFS); Poison (f; CRC); Stomachic (f; CRC); Tonic (f; CRC; EFS) Indications (Moonseed) — Cancer (f; CRC); Constipation (f; CRC; DEM); Debility (f; CRC); Dermatosis (f; CRC; DEM); Enterosis (f; DEM); Fever (f; CRC); Gastrosis (f; DEM); Gout (f; CRC); Scrofula (f; CRC); Sore (f; DEM); Syphilis (f; CRC); VD (f; CRC; DEM); Water Retention (f; CRC) Dosages (Moonseed) — Not covered (AHP; KOM; PHR) Handbook of Medicinal Herbs 509 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 (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 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 pregnancy (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); Antitussive (1; PH2); Cardiotonic (1; FAD); Carminative (f; MAD; PHR); Depurative (f; FAD); Diuretic (f; MAD); Emmenagogue (f; FEL; MAD); Expectorant (1; FAD; MAD; PH2); Fungicide (1; TAD); Hemostat (f; MAD); Hypotensive (1; FAD); Respiratonic (1; FAD); Secretomotor (1; PHR); Stomachic (f; MAD; PHR); Thyrotropic (1; HH2; PH2); Tonic (f; MAD); Vulnerary (f; MAD) M 510 Handbook of Medicinal Herbs Indications (Mother of Thyme) — Abscess (f; HH2); Adenopathy (f; JLH; MAD); Angina (f; FAD); Arthrosis (f; MAD); Asthma (f; MAD); Bleeding (f; MAD); Bronchosis (2; MAD; PHR; PH2); Cancer (1; COX; JLH); Cancer, colon (1; COX; JLH); Cancer, pituitary (1; COX; JLH); Cancer, spleen (1; COX; JLH); Cancer, stomach (1; COX; JLH); Cancer, uterus (1; COX; JLH); Catarrh (2; HH2; KOM; MAD; PIP); Chill (f; MAD); Chlorosis (f; MAD); Cholecystosis (f; PHR); Cholera (f; MAD); Cold (f; MAD); Colic (f; MAD; PH2); Cough (2; FAD; HH2; MAD; PHR); Cramp (1; FAD; HAD; HH2; PIP); Dermatosis (f; PH2); Diarrhea (f; PH2); Dislocation (f; MAD); Dysmenorrhea (f; PH2); Dyspepsia (f; FEL; MAD); Enterosis (f; JLH; MAD); Epigastrosis (f; MAD); Epilepsy (f; MAD); Flu (f; FAD); Fracture (f; MAD); Fungus (1; TAD); Gas (f; MAD; PHR; PH2); Gastrosis (f; MAD); Hangover (f; MAD); Headache (f; MAD); Hemicrania (f; MAD); High Blood Pressure (1; FAD); Hysteria (f; MAD); Infection (1; HH2; TAD); Ischiosis (f; HH2); Itch (f; PH2); Leukorrhea (f; MAD); Mycosis (1; TAD); Nephrosis (f; PHR); Neurosis (f; FAD; MAD); Pain (1; FAD; HH2; PH2); Pertussis (f; MAD; PH2); Phrenosis (f; MAD); Respirosis (2; KOM; HH2; MAD; PH2; PIP); Rheumatism (f; HH2; PHR; PH2); Scrofula (f; MAD); Sore (f; HH2); Sore Throat (f; FEL); Splenosis (f; JLH; MAD); Sprain (f; PHR; PH2); Stomachache (f; FAD; MAD); Swelling (f; MAD); Toothache (1; FAD; PH2; WOI); Ulcer (f; MAD); Uterosis (f; JLH; MAD); Vertigo (f; MAD); Vomiting (f; PH2); Water Retention (f; MAD); Wound (f; HH2) Dosages (Mother of Thyme) — 4–6 g/day herb (KOM; PH2; PIP); tsp (~3.8 g) herb in hot tea (MAD); 1.5–2 g drug/cup water (PHR); g herb/liter filtered water, or mg EO to bath (PH2); 5–15 g liquid extract (PH2) Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Mother of Thyme) — None reported (PIP) Oil is toxic and very irritant to the skin (FAD) M MOTHERWORT (Leonurus cardiaca L.) ++ Activities (Motherwort) — Allergenic (1; CRC); Analgesic (f; CRC; EFS); Antiaggregant (1; PNC); Antiepileptic (f; HHB); Antiischemic (1; BGB); Antileukemic (1; BGB); Antipyretic (f; CRC); Antispasmodic (1; APA; CRC; FAD; HHB); Antitumor (1; BGB); Antiviral (1; BGB); Astringent (f; CRC); Cardiotonic (1; PNC); CNS Depressant (1; APA; BGB); Cytotoxic (1; BGB); Diaphoretic (f; CRC); Diuretic (f; CRC); Emmenagogue (f; CRC; EFS; FAD; HHB); Expectorant (f; EFS; MAD); Hypotensive (1; APA; BGB; FAD; HHB); Hypotonic (1; PHR; PH2); Laxative (1; BGB; CRC); Lipolytic (1; PNC); Negative Chronotropic (1; PHR; PH2); Nervine (1; CRC; EFS; PNC); Oxytocic (1; APA; BGB); Sedative (1; APA; CRC; FAD; PH2); Stimulant (f; DEM); Tonic (f; CRC; EFS); Uterotonic (1; APA; BGB; FAD; HHB) Indications (Motherwort) — Amenorrhea (f; BGB; CRC; FAD; HHB; PH2); Anemia (f; CRC; HHB; MAD); Angina (f; HHB); Anxiety (f; APA; BGB); Arrhythmia (2, PHR); Asthma (f; CRC; HAD); Bleeding (f; CRC); BPH (f; MAD); Bronchosis (f; PH2); Cancer (1; BGB); Cardiopathy (2; APA; KOM; MAD; PH2); Cardiosclerosis (f; CRC); Catarrh (f; MAD); Childbirth (f; MAD); Cholecystosis (f; CRC); Climacteric (f; HHB; MAD; PH2); Cold (f; BGB); Constipation (1; BGB; CRC); Convulsion (f; CRC); Cramp (1; APA; CRC; FAD; HHB; MAD); Debility (f; CRC); Delirium (f; BGB; CRC; MAD); Depression (f; BGB); Dysentery (f; CRC); Dysmenorrhea (f; BGB; CRC; FAD); Dyspepsia (f; DEM); Dyspnea (f; MAD); Dysuria (f; CRC); Epilepsy (f; BGB; CRC; HHB; MAD); Fatigue (f; APA); Fever (f; BGB; CRC; FAD); Gas (f; CRC; HHB; PHR; PH2); Gastrosis (f; DEM); Goiter (f; BGB; CRC); Heart (f; CRC); Hematuria (f; MAD); High Blood Pressure (1; APA; BGB; CRC; FAD; HHB); Hyperthyroid (2; APA; KOM; PHR; PH2); Hysteria (f; CRC; MAD); Infertility (f; MAD); Insomnia (1; APA; CRC; FAD; PH2); Leukemia (1; BGB); Menopause (f; CRC); Nervous Heart Condition (2; BGB; PHR; PH2); Nervousness (1; APA; CRC; FAD; PH2); Neuralgia (f; FAD); Neurasthenia (f; CRC); Neurosis Handbook of Medicinal Herbs 511 (1; APA; BGB; CRC); Pain (f; BGB; CRC; EFS); Palpitation (f; APA; BGB; CRC; MAD); Paralysis (f; MAD); Parturition (f; FAD); Prolapse (f; MAD); Rabies (f; CRC); Restlessness (f; MAD); Rheumatism (1; BGB; CRC); Roemheld Syndrome (f; MAD); Sciatica (f; CRC; HAD); Spasm (f; CRC); Spine (f; CRC); Sterility (f; MAD); Stomachache (f; CRC; FAD); Stroke (1; APA); Syncope (f; BGB); Tachycardia (1; FAD); Tuberculosis (f; CRC); Tumor (1; BGB); Typhoid (1; BGB); Uterosis (f; MAD); Vaginosis (f; MAD); Virus (1; BGB); Water Retention (f; CRC); Worm (f; BGB); Wound (f; MAD) Dosages (Motherwort) — 1.5–6 g/day (HHB); 4.5 g (KOM; PHR); 2–4 g/day (MAD); tsp (~1 g) in cold infusion (MAD); 2–4 g in tea ×/day (PH2); 2–4 g herb, or in tea, ×/day (CAN); 1–2 tsp dry herb/cup water 1–2 ×/day (APA); 2–4 g powdered herb (PNC); 2–4 mg liquid herb extract (PNC); 2–4 ml liquid herb extract (1:1 in 25% ethanol) ×/day (CAN); 2–6 ml herb tincture (1:5 in 45% ethanol) ×/day (CAN); 10–15 drops tincture up to ×/day (APA); 2–6 ml tincture/day (PH2); 2–4 ml liquid extract (APA); 2–4 ml liquid extract ×/day (PH2) Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Motherwort) — Class 2b Emmenagogue and uterotonic (AHP) None known (KOM) “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2) CAN cautions that the volatile oil may cause phototoxic dermatitis Leaves may cause contact dermatitis Because it is reputed to affect the menstrual cycle, and of reputed uterine activity in vitro, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided (CAN; PH2) May interfere with cardiac therapy (CAN) One reference notes that doses exceeding g may cause diarrhea, dyspepsia, and uterine bleeding (AHP) Inhibits pulsations of myocardial cells in vitro (PNC) MOUNTAIN ASH (Sorbus americana Marshall) ++ So similar to S aucuparia that few people know with which they are dealing PH2 ignored the American species but gave accounts for two much more trivial species, again showing that the so called PDR for American physicians had a largely European bias Activities (Mountain Ash) — Analgesic (f; DEM); Antiscorbutic (1; FAD); Antiseptic (f; HHB); Aperitif (f; DEM; FAD); Astringent (f; HHB); Bitter (f; HHB); Depurative (f; CEB; DEM; FAD); Digestive (f; DEM); Diuretic (f; CEB); Tonic (f; FAD; HHB); Vermifuge (f; FAD) Indications (Mountain Ash) — Anorexia (f; DEM; FAD); Boil (f; FAD); Childbirth (f; DEM); Cold (f; CEB; DEM; FAD); Debility (f; DEM; FAD); Depression (f; DEM); Diarrhea (f; FAD); Dyspepsia (f; DEM); Fever (f; CEB); Gonorrhea (f; DEM); Inflammation (f; CEB); Malaria (f; CEB; HHB); Pain (f; DEM); Pleurisy (f; DEM); Stomachache (f; MIC); Tonsilosis (f; FAD); VD (f; DEM); Water Retention (f; CEB); Witchcraft (f; MIC); Worm (f; FAD) Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Mountain Ash) — Not covered (AHP; PH2) MOUNTAIN-AVENS (Dryas octopetala L.) ++ Activities (Mountain-Avens) — Astringent (f; HHB; PH2) Indications (Mountain-Avens) — Callus (f; JLH); Cancer (f; JLH); Diarrhea (f; HHB); Gastrosis (f; PH2); Pain (f; PH2); Sore (f; JLH); Stomachache (f; PH2) Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Mountain-Avens) — Not covered (AHP) “Health hazards not known with proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2) M 512 Handbook of Medicinal Herbs MOUNTAIN LAUREL (Kalmia latifolia L.) X M Synonym: K latifolia var myrtifolia Bosse Activities (Mountain Laurel) — Alterative (f; CRC; EFS); Analgesic (f; DEM); Antiinflammatory (f; PHR; PH2); Antiseptic (f; DEM); Astringent (f; CRC; EFS); Cardiac (f; CRC; EFS); Deodorant (f; DEM); Diuretic (f; PHR; PH2); Narcotic (1; CRC; EFS); Poison (1; CRC); Sedative (f; CRC; EFS) Indications (Mountain Laurel) — Angina (f; MAD); Arthrosis (f; MAD); Bleeding (f; CRC); Cardiopathy (f; MAD; PH2); Dermatosis (f; CRC; EFS); Diarrhea (f; CRC; DEM; MAD); Dysentery (f; CRC); Edema (f; MAD); Endocardosis (f; MAD); Exanthema (f; MAD); Fever (f; CRC; FAD); Gastrosis (f; MAD); Heart (f; CRC; FAD); Herpes (f; PHR; PH2); Infection (f; CRC); Inflammation (f; FAD; PHR; PH2); Insomnia (f; CRC; EFS); Jaundice (f; CRC; FAD); Myocardosis (f; MAD); Nephrosis (f; MAD); Nervousness (f; CRC; EFS); Neuralgia (f; CRC; FAD; MAD; PH2); Ophthalmia (f; CRC); Pain (f; DEM; PH2); Psoriasis (f; MAD; PHR; PH2); Rheumatism (f; CRC; DEM; FAD; MAD; PH2); Shingle (f; PH2); Stone (f; MAD); Syphilis (f; CRC; FAD; MAD; PHR; PH2); Tinea (f; PHR; PH2); VD (f; CRC; PH2); Vermin (f; FAD); Wart (f; CRC); Water Retention (f; PHR; PH2); Wound (f; DEM) Dosages (Mountain Laurel) — Homeopathic only (PH2) Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Mountain Laurel) — Not covered (AHP) Fatally poisonous May cause arrhythmia, bradycardia, cold sweats, diarrhea, dizziness, fever, headache, hypotension, parathesia, visual disturbances, perhaps death due to cardiac arrest and respiratory failure (PHR; PH2) ... PHR); Thyrotropic (1; HH2; PH2); Tonic (f; MAD); Vulnerary (f; MAD) M 510 Handbook of Medicinal Herbs Indications (Mother of Thyme) — Abscess (f; HH2); Adenopathy (f; JLH; MAD); Angina (f; FAD);.. .Handbook of Medicinal Herbs 509 MORMON TEA (Ephedra nevadensis S Watson) ++ Activities (Mormon Tea) — Astringent... Nervousness (1; APA; CRC; FAD; PH2); Neuralgia (f; FAD); Neurasthenia (f; CRC); Neurosis Handbook of Medicinal Herbs 511 (1; APA; BGB; CRC); Pain (f; BGB; CRC; EFS); Palpitation (f; APA; BGB; CRC;