Handbook of Medicinal Herbs 693 Indications (Spring Snowflake) — Alzheimer’s (1; FNF); Cardiopathy (1; FNF); Insomnia (1; FNF); Myasthenia (1; FNF); Nervousness (1; FNF); Neurosis (1; FNF); Pain (1; FNF); Senile Dementia (1; FNF); Xerophthalmia (1; FNF) Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Spring Snowflake) — Not covered (AHP; KOM; PH2) Emetic and poisonous; possibly edible after processing (HHB) Bulb is emetic but said to be edible cooked (HHB) SPURGE (Chamaesyce hypericifolia (L.) Millsp.) X Synonym: Euphorbia hypericifolia L Activities (Spurge) — Antipyretic (f; CRC); Astringent (f; CRC); Diaphoretic (f; CRC); Diuretic (f; CRC; JFM); Emmenagogue (f; CRC); Hemostat (f; CRC); Laxative (f; CRC); Narcotic (f; CRC) Indications (Spurge) — Abrasion (f; CRC); Bleeding (f; CRC); Buccal Ulcer (f; CRC); Callus (f; CRC); Cancer (f; CRC); Colic (f; CRC); Coma (f; CRC); Constipation (f; CRC); Diarrhea (f; CRC); Dysentery (f; CRC); Dysuria (f; DEM); Fever (f; CRC); Gynecopathy (f; CRC); Intestinal Ailment (f; CRC); Leukorrhea (f; CRC; JFM); Marasmus (f; CRC); Menorrhagia (f; CRC); Ophthalmia (f; CRC); Respirosis (f; CRC); Ringworm (f; CRC); Sclerosis (f; CRC); Stomatosis (f; CRC); Toothache (f; CRC); Tumor (f; CRC); Uterosis (f; CRC); Wart (f; CRC); Water Retention (f; CRC; JFM) Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Spurge) — “Narcotic Juice may cause temporary blindness if introduced into the eyes” (CRC) SQUAW VINE (Mitchella repens L.) ++ Activities (Squaw Vine) — Antiinflammatory (1; APA); Astringent (1; CRC; FAD); Collyrium (f; CRC); Depurative (f; DEM); Diuretic (f; APA; FAD); Parturient (f; APA; PNC); Uterotonic (f; APA; CRC) Indications (Squaw Vine) — Alactea (f; APA); Amenorrhea (f; CRC; FAD; PNC); Arthrosis (f; DEM; FAD); Backache (f; DEM); Bleeding (f; DEM); Childbirth (f; CRC; DEM); Chill (f; DEM); Convulsion (f; DEM); Cramp (f; DEM); Cystosis (f; DEM); Dermatosis (f; DEM); Diarrhea (1; APA; CRC); Dropsy (f; CRC); Dysentery (f; CRC; DEM; FAD); Dyslactea (f; DEM); Dysmenorrhea (f; CRC; FAD; PNC); Dysuria (f; CRC; DEM); Enterosis (f; DEM); Fever (f; DEM); Gastrosis (f; DEM); Gonorrhea (f; CRC); Gravel (f; CRC); Hemorrhoid (f; FAD); Hive (f; DEM; FAD); Hysteria (f; CRC); Inflammation (1; APA); Insanity (f; DEM); Insomnia (1; APA; DEM); Leukorrhea (f; CRC); Mastosis (f; DEM); Menorrhagia (f; CRC); Myalgia (f; DEM); Nephrosis (f; DEM); Ophthalmia (f; CRC); Orchosis (f; DEM); Pain (f; DEM; FAD); Parturition (f; FAD); Polyuria (f; CRC); Rash (f; DEM); Rheumatism (f; APA; DEM; FAD); Rickets (f; DEM); Rupture (f; DEM); Side Ache (f; DEM); Sore Nipple (f; FAD); Stomachache (f; DEM); Swelling (f; DEM; FAD); Typhoid (f; DEM); Uterosis (f; CRC); Vaginosis (f; CRC); VD (f; CRC; DEM); Water Retention (f; APA; FAD); Wound (f; DEM) Dosages (Squaw Vine) — 2–4 ml liquid herb extract (PNC) Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Squaw Vine) — Class (AHP) Not covered (KOM; PHR) SQUILL, SEA ONION (Urginea maritima (L.) Baker) X Synonyms: Drimia maritima (L.) Stearn, Scilla maritima L., Urginea scilla Steinh S 694 Handbook of Medicinal Herbs Gruenwald cites this under Drimia maritima in edition 1, under this name in edition HH2 maintains separate entries for U indica (Roxb.) Kunth and U maritima, a practice I follow, so far resisting the temptation to aggregate Activities (Squill) — Anticancer (1; CRC); Cardiotonic (f; CRC); Diuretic (f; CRC); Emetic (f; CRC); Expectorant (f; CRC); Hypotensive (2; KOM); Negative Chronotropic (2; KOM); Poison (f; CRC); Positive Inotropic (2; KOM); Rodenticide (1; CRC) Indications (Squill) — Adenopathy (f; CRC; JLH); Arrhythmia (2; CRC; PHR); Asthma (f; CRC); Bronchosis (f; CRC); Bruise (f; CRC); Burn (f; CRC); Callus (f; CRC); Cancer (1; CRC); Cancer, eye (f; CRC; JLH); Cancer, liver (f; CRC; JLH); Cancer, parotid (f; CRC; JLH); Cancer, spleen (f; CRC; JLH); Cardiac Insufficiency (2; KOM); Catarrh (f; CRC); Congestion (f; CRC); Corn (f; CRC); Cough (f; CRC); Croup (f; CRC); Dandruff (f; CRC); Edema (f; CRC); Felon (f; CRC); Gas (f; CRC); Heart (f; CRC); High Blood Pressure (2; KOM); Induration (f; CRC); Kidney Insufficiency (2; KOM); Nephrosis (f; CRC); Nervous Cardiopathy (2; PHR); Pertussis (f; CRC); Seborrhea (f; CRC); Sore (f; CRC); Stomachache (f; CRC); Tumor (f; CRC); Varicosis (2; PHR); Wart (f; CRC); Water Retention (f; CRC); Wound (f; CRC) Dosages (Squill) — 0.1–0.5 g StX sea onion powder (2; KOM) Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Squill) — Commission E reports contraindications: potassium deficiency, and therapy with digitalis glycosides; adverse effects: diarrhea, gastrosis, irregular pulse, nausea, and vomiting; and interactions with other drugs: potentiation of calcium, cardiac glycosides, extended glucocorticoid therapy, laxatives, quinidine, and saluretics (AEH; KOM) I thought that was a pretty big dose of Commission E, but here’s what Gruenwald has to say: Should not be used in 2nd or 3rd degree atrioventricular blocks, carotid sinus syndrome, hypercalcemia, hypokalemia, hypertropic cardiomyopathy, thoracic aortic aneurysm, ventricular tachycardia, and WPW Syndrome (PHR) SQUIRREL-CORN (Dicentra canadensis (Goldie) Walp.) + Synonym: Corydalis canadensis Goldie Some Europeans (e.g., EFS) aggregate D canadensis and D cucullaria (L.) Bernh Their chemicals and activities seem thus to be rather interchangeable I’ll not recommend either, though I don’t feel they are a serious hazard S Activities (Squirrel-Corn) — Alterative (f; EFS); Antispasmodic (f; HHB); Bitter (1; PH2); CNS Depressant (1; FAD); Diaphoretic (f; FAD); Diuretic (1; EFS; FAD; HHB; PH2); GABA Antagonist (1; PH2); Spasmogenic (1; PH2); Tonic (1; EFS; HHB; PH2); Toxic (1; FAD; PH2) Indications (Squirrel-Corn) — Cancer (f; JLH); Cramp (f; HHB); Dermatosis (f; FAD; PH2); Dysmenorrhea (f; PH2); Dyspepsia (f; PH2); Fever (f; FAD); Paralysis (f; FAD); Rash (f; PH2); Syphilis (f; EFS; HHB; PH2); Tremor (f; FAD); Urethrosis (f; PH2); UTI (f; PH2); VD (f; PH2); Water Retention (1; EFS; FAD; HHB; PH2) Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Squirrel-Corn) — Not covered (AHP; KOM) None recorded at proper dosage (not given) (PH2) Bicuculline could cause poisoning in high doses (PH2) STAR ANISE (Illicium verum Hook f.) ++ (raised from CRC) Activities (Star Anise) — Allergenic (1; LAF); Analgesic (f; CRC; EFS); Antibacterial (1; APA); Antiseptic (f; CRC); Antispasmodic (2; DEP; KOM; LAF; PH2); Bronchosecretolytic (2; KOM); Handbook of Medicinal Herbs 695 Carminative (1; APA; CRC; DEP; PNC); Digestive (f; CRC); Diuretic (f; CRC; EFS); Estrogenic (1; APA; LAF); Expectorant (2; APA; CRC; HHB; PH2); Fungicide (1; LAF); Insecticide (1; APA; LAF); Lactagogue (1; APA; CRC); Mutagenic (1; LAF); Pediculicide (1; APA; CRC); Piscicide (f; CRC); Stimulant (f; CRC; PNC); Stomachic (f; DEP; EFS; CRC) Indications (Star Anise) — Anemia (1; APA); Anorexia (2; PHR; PH2); Arthrosis (f; PH2); Bacteria (1; APA); Bronchosis (2; APA; PHR; PH2); Catarrh (2; KOM; PHR; PH2); Cholecystosis (f; CRC); Colic (1; APA; CRC); Congestion (1; APA); Constipation (f; CRC); Cough (2; APA; CRC; PHR; PH2); Cramp (2; APA; DEP; KOM; LAF; PH2); Dysentery (f; CRC; DEP; PH2); Dyspepsia (2; APA; CRC; KOM; PH2); Enterosis (1; PH2); Extrophy (f; CRC); Favus (f; CRC); Frigidity (f; APA); Fungus (1; LAF); Gas (1; APA; CRC; DEP; PH2; PNC); Gastrosis (1; APA; PHR; PH2); Halitosis (f; APA; CRC); Hemopareisis (f; PH2); Hernia (f; CRC); Infection (1; CRC; LAF); Insomnia (f; CRC); Lumbago (f; CRC); Morning Sickness (f; APA); Mycosis (1; LAF); Nausea (f; APA); Otosis (f; CRC); Pain (f; CRC; EFS; PH2); Paralysis (f; PH2); Parturition (f; APA); Respirosis (2; KOM; LAF; PHR; PH2); Rheumatism (f; CRC; PH2); Scabies (1; APA; CRC); Spasm (2; CRC; LAF); Stomach Distress (1; APA); Toothache (f; CRC); Water Retention (f; CRC; EFS) Dosages (Star Anise) — 0.5–1 g powdered fruit (1 teaspoon = ~3.2 g) (BIS); 0.5–1 g seed/cup tea (HHB); g herb or equivalent of 0.3 g EO (KOM; PHR; PH2) Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Star Anise) — Class (AHP) None known at proper dosage (KOM; PH2) While I consider star anise, properly identified, as safe as coffee, there are papers dealing with anethole intoxication in infants, relating the following symptoms to excess anethole ingestion: continuous crying, irritability, hypertonia, atypical ocular movements, twitching, cyanosis, and occasionally vomiting and refusal to take nourishment They “conclude that the infusion of Illicium verum incorrectly administered, or in high doses, produces a neurological toxic picture,” which must be considered in diagnosis They advise against its use in infants (USDA abstract) One group has really analyzed star anise, in reporting three new toxins, that’s three strikes against star anise Possibly they were analyzing Illicium anisatum, namesake of the toxin anisatin Dentifrices containing anise and/or star anise oil may cause cheilitis (dry bleeding, cracking, and peeling lips) (RIN) STAR GRASS (Hypoxis sp.) ++ Synonyms: H hemerocallidea Fisch ex C A Mey & Ave-Lall and H rooperi T Moore “African Potato” and “Bantu Tulip” in PH2 Activities (Star Grass) — Antiadenomic (1; SHT); Anticancer (1; VAG; VVG; ZUL); Antiedemic (1; SHT); Antiexudative (f; PH2); Anti-HIV (1; VVG); Antiinflammatory (1; SHT; VVG; ZUL); Antimutagenic (1; VVG); 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitor (1; VVG); Cytotoxic (1; VVG); Emetic (1; ZUL); Hypocholesterolemic (1; SHT); Immunomodulator (f; VAG); Laxative (1; VAG; WBB; ZUL); Prostaglandin-Synthase Inhibitor (1; PH2); Tonic (f; VAG; ZUL); Vermifuge (f; VAG); Vulnerary (f; PH2) Indications (Star Grass) — Adenoma (1; SHT); Anxiety (f; VAG); Arthrosis (f; VAG); BPH (1; PH2; SHT; ZUL); Burn (f; VVG; WBB; ZUL); Cachexia (f; VAG); Cancer (1; VAG; VVG; ZUL); Constipation (1; VAG; WBB; ZUL); Cystosis (f; PH2; VVG); Depression (f; VAG); Dysuria (1; PH2; SHT; VVG); Headache (f; WBB; ZUL); High Cholesterol (1; SHT); HIV (1; VVG); Infection (f; VVG); Inflammation (1; SHT; VVG; ZUL); Mental Problem (f; ZUL); Orchosis (f; VAG); Palpitation (f; VAG); Pulmonosis (f; PH2); UTI (f; VAG; VVG); Rheumatism (f; VAG); Swelling (1; SHT); Vertigo (f; VVG; ZUL); Worm (f; CEB; CRC; DEP; EFS) Dosages (Star Grass) — 60 mg beta-sitosterol/day (SHT) S 696 Handbook of Medicinal Herbs Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Star Grass) — Not covered (AHP) “Health hazards not known with proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2) (but PH2 designates no specific quantified dosage! JAD) No significant side effects were noted after months (SHT) Varro Tyler cautioned against self-medication with BPH Whenever treating BPH, a practitioner should be involved Base-line levels of PSA should be established before considering an herbal treatment (JAD) STAR OF BETHLEHEM (Ornithogalum umbellatum L.) + Activities (Star of Bethlehem) — Poison (f; CRC) Indications (Star of Bethlehem) — Adenopathy (f; CRC); Debility (f; CRC); Lymphosis (f; CRC) S STAVESACRE (Delphinium staphisagria L.) X As so often in plants that I describe as too dangerous to take, many of the folk indications come from homeopathy (especially those labeled (f; HHB; PH2) below), which stresses poisonous plants in extremely high doses Unfortunately, the naive don’t always understand the homeopathic dosages I hope the nonbotanists who wrote Commission E and the Herbal PDR have figured out the larkspurs better than I have Otherwise, they know not of which larkspur they speak There are more than a dozen Consolidas and Delphiniums, many called larkspurs And don’t forget the pediculicide stavesacre, D staphisagria L After wasting a day with the nomenclatorial nuances, I feel I should treat three species or lump them all into one, larkspur (Consolida regalis Gray (formerly Delphinium consolida); the slightly different rocket larkspur, Consolida ajacis L Schur; and finally the stavesacre, Delphinium staphasiagria L., which is not covered by the USDA All are poisonous and dangerous, and probably not reliably distinguished by nonbotanists So it is, methinks, a bit optimistic to assume the data in the literature have been based on positive identification (i.e., better speculations than mine) Handbook of Medicinal Herbs 697 Activities (Stavesacre) — Antispasmodic (f; EFS); Arrhythmogenic (1; PH2); Emetic (f; EFS); Laxative (f; EFS); Narcotic (f; EFS); Nervine (f; EFS); Pediculicide (f; EFS); Toxic (f; EFS); Vermifuge (f; EFS) Indications (Stavesacre) — Adenopathy (f; HHB; PH2); Alopecia (f; HHB; PH2); Anxiety (f; PH2); Body Odor (f; PH2); Blepharosis (f; HHB; PH2); Callus (f; JLH); Cancer (f; JLH); Cancer, pituitary (f; JLH); Cancer, uterus (f; JLH); Cervicosis (f; JLH); Chalazion (f; PH2); Constipation (f; EFS; PH2); Cramp (f; EFS); Cystosis (f; PH2); Debility (f; HHB; PH2); Dermatosis (f; PH2); Diabetes (f; PH2); Diarrhea (f; HHB); Dysuria (f; PH2); Edema (f; PH2); Gastrosis (f; PH2); Gonorrhea (f; HHB; PH2); Headache (f; HHB; PH2); Hypochondria (f; HHB; PH2); Hysteria (f; HHB; PH2); Impotence (f; HHB); Induration (f; JLH); Leukorrhea (f; HHB); Melancholy (f; PH2); Neuralgia (f; HHB; PH2); Neurasthenia (f; HHB; PH2); Neurosis (f; PH2); Pediculosis (1; EFS; PH2); Phymata (f; JLH); Polyp (f; JLH); Rheumatism (f; HHB; PH2); Rhinosis (f; JLH); Scrofula (f; PH2); Seborrhea (f; PH2); Senility (f; PH2); Stye (f; PH2); Swelling (f; PH2); Ulcer (f; HHB; PH2); Uterosis (f; JLH); VD (f; HHB); Worm (f; EFS) Dosages (Stavesacre) — Use only homeopathic dilutions Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Stavesacre) — Not covered (AHP) tsp seed leads to collapse with labored breathing, stomach pain, and weakened pulse STEVIA (Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni) ++ S Synonym: Eupatorium rebaudianum Bertoni Activities (Stevia) — Antibacterial (f; APA); Anticariogenic (f; APA); Antidiabetic (1; APA); Antiedemic (1; HH2); Antifertility (1; APA); Antigluconeogenic (1; AMA); Antiinflammatory (1; HH2); Antiseptic (f; APA); Calcium Antagonist (1; AMA); Contraceptive (f; APA; HHB; PH2); Diuretic (1; AMA; APA; PH2); Hypoglycemic (1; APA; PH2; SYN); Hypotensive (1; AMA; APA; ...694 Handbook of Medicinal Herbs Gruenwald cites this under Drimia maritima in edition 1, under this name in edition... Antiseptic (f; CRC); Antispasmodic (2; DEP; KOM; LAF; PH2); Bronchosecretolytic (2; KOM); Handbook of Medicinal Herbs 695 Carminative (1; APA; CRC; DEP; PNC); Digestive (f; CRC); Diuretic (f; CRC;... (f; CEB; CRC; DEP; EFS) Dosages (Star Grass) — 60 mg beta-sitosterol/day (SHT) S 696 Handbook of Medicinal Herbs Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Star Grass) — Not covered (AHP)