Handbook of Medicinal Herbs 523 Syndrome Characteristic reactions reported among 13 infants include coma, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, metabolic acidosis, and in two, death due to encephalopathy (APA) Nimbidin LD50 250 mg/kg in frogs NEPALESE CARDAMOM (Amomum aromaticum Roxb.) ++ According to WOI, A aromaticum and A subulatum are pretty much used interchangeably, as medicine and as spice WOI entries below actually derived from A subulatum Roxb., but probably applicable to both, which have been called Nepal cardamom Activities (Nepalese Cardamom) — Alexeteric (f; WOI); Aphrodisiac (f; KAB); Astringent (f; WOI); Cardiotonic (f; KAB); Carminative (f; DEP); Diuretic (f; WOI); Hepatotonic (f; KAB); Hypnotic (f; KAB); Orexigenic (f; HH2); Stimulant (f; WOI); Stomachic (f; WOI) Indications (Nepalese Cardamom) — Anorexia (f; HH2); Biliousness (f; WOI); Chill (f; HH2); Cholera (f; KAB); Cold (f; HH2); Conjunctivosis (f; WOI); Diarrhea (f; PH2); Dyspepsia (f; PH2; WOI); Enterosis (f; WOI); Fever (f; PH2); Gastrosis (f; KAB); Gingivosis (f; WOI); Gonorrhea (f; KAB); Gravel (f; WOI); Headache (f; WOI); Hepatosis (f; WOI); Impotence (f; KAB); Malaria (f; PH2); Nephrosis (f; WOI); Neuralgia (f; KAB; WOI); Odontosis (f; WOI); Pain (f; WOI); Proctosis (f; WOI); Snakebite (f; HH2); Sting (f; HH2); Stomatosis (f; WOI); VD (f; WOI); Vomiting (f; PH2) Dosages (Nepalese Cardamom) — 30 grains with quinine for neuralgia (DEP); 10–30 seeds (HH2); 1–2 ml tincture (HH2); 3–6 g drug in decoction (HH2; PH2) Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Nepalese Cardamom) — Not covered (AHP) “Health hazards not known with proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2) Overdoses may lead to poisoning Over-rationalizing, the Herbal PDR hints that the efficacy, if any, of the drug, may hark back to its cineole content, yet speaks of the potential for life-threatening poisonings due to overdoses of cineole (Methinks empirical wisdom will have evolved away from any such intoxications, and that PH2 is dabbling in nitpickology.) Skillfully, PH2 says, “although scientific data regarding this are not available.” These are what I call hypothetical activities, positive and negative, often contemplated, the yea-sayers touting the goods of cineole, the nay-sayers touting the hazards of cineole Certainly many species may be richer in cineole, including the well-known true cardamom, one of the more expensive of spices Even if the EO were pure cineole, this species would contain only 10,000 ppm cineole N 524 Handbook of Medicinal Herbs NETTLE (Urtica dioica L.) +++ N MAD entries may apply as well to Urtica urens, the smaller dog nettle Activities (Nettle) — Analgesic (1; CAN; DEM; PH2); Anesthetic (1; PH2); Antiadrenaline (1; FAD); Antiallergic (1; MAB); Antiaromatase (1; SHT); Antiarthritic (1; PH2); Antiasthmatic (f; DAW); Antibacterial (1; FAD; MAB; WOI); Anticancer (1; MAB); Anticomplementary (1; HH3); Anticonvulsant (1; CAN); Antiedemic (1; FIT68:387; MAB); Antiexudative (1; HH3); Antihemorrhagic (f; CAN); Antihistaminic (1; WAM); Anti-HIV (1; PH2); Antihidrotic (f; MAD); Antiinflammatory (1; FIT68:387; MAB; PH2); Antileukotriene (1; PH2); Antiprostatitic (2; KOM; MAB); Antipyretic (1; CAN); Antirheumatic (1; MAB; PH2); Antiseptic (1; CRC; PED); Antispasmodic (f; PED); Antitumor (f; PED); Antiviral (1; MAB; FIT68:387); Aphrodisiac (f; MAD); Aquaretic (1; SHT); Aromatase Inhibitor (1; HH3); Astringent (1; CRC; MAB; PNC; SUW); Bitter (f; PED); Bleeding (f; CAN); Bradycardic (1; CAN); CNS Depressant (1; FAD); CVI (f; APA); Cyclooxygenase Inhibitor (1; MAB; PH2); Cytotoxic (1; MAB); Depurative (f; BIB; FAD; MAB; PED); Diuretic (2; CRC; PHR; PH2; PNC; SUW); Elastase Inhibitor (1; MAB); Emmenagogue (f; APA; CRC; KAB; PED; SUW); Expectorant (f; MAD; PED); Fungicide (1; HH3; MAB); Hematogenic (1; FAD; PH2; WAM); Hemostat (1; CAN; MAB; MAD; PED); Histaminic (1; FNF); Hyperglycemic (1; APA; CAN); Hypoglycemic (1; CAN; PNC); Hypotensive (1; CAN); Inteferonigenic (1; CAN); Lactagogue (f; APA; CRC; MAD); Laxative (f; BGB); 5-Lipoxygenase Inhibitor (1; MAB; PH2); Litholytic (f; MAD); Mitogenic (f; FAD); Myorelaxant (f; BGB); Pancreatonic (1; ABS); Rubefacient (f; CRC); Tonic (f; MAB; PNC); Uterotonic (1; APA; CAN); Vasoconstrictor (f; BIB; CRC); Vermifuge (f; BGB; CRC; KAB; PED; SUW); Vulnerary (f; MAD) Handbook of Medicinal Herbs 525 Indications (Nettle) — Acne (f; BGB; FEL); Adenoma (1; BGB; SHT); Adenopathy (f; BIB; JLH); Ague (f; DEM; MAB); Alactea (f; CRC; MAD); Allergy (1; BGB; HH3; MAB; WAM); Alopecia (f; APA; WOI); Amenorrhea (f; KAB); Anemia (1; CRC; FAD; WAM); Arthrosis (1; DEM; FAD; MAB; PH2); Asthma (1; DAW; MAB; CRC); Ataxia (f; DEM); BPH (2; BGB; MAB); Bacteria (1; FAD; MAB; WOI); Bladder Stone (2; PHR; PH2); Bleeding (1; CAN; CRC; DEM; FEL; MAB; MAD; PED; PNC); BPH (root) (2; KOM; PH2); Bronchosis (1; CRC; MAB; PED); Bug Bite (1; MAB); Burn (1; BGB; CRC; MAB); Cachexia (f; KAB); Calculus (f; CRC); Cancer (1; CRC; FAD; MAB; PED); Cancer, breast (1; CRC; JLH); Cancer, ear (1; CRC; JLH); Cancer, lung (1; CRC; JLH); Cancer, mouth (1; CRC; JLH); Cancer, spleen (1; CRC; JLH); Cancer, stomach (1; CRC; JLH); Cancer, womb (1; CRC; JLH); Carcinoma (f; BIB); Catarrh (f; WOI); Childbirth (f; DEM); Cholangosis (f; CRC); Cholecystosis (f; CRC; FAD; MAB; WOI); Cholera (f; FEL); Colic (f; CRC); Colitis (f; FEL; MAB); Congestion (f; APA); Constipation (f; BGB; CRC; WOI); Convulsion (1; CAN); Cramp (f; MAD; PED); CVI (1; BGB); Cystosis (f; FEL); Dandruff (f; PH2; WOI); Dermatosis (1; BGB; CAN; MAB); Diabetes (f; CRC; MAD; PH2); Diarrhea (1; BGB; FAD; FEL; MAB); Dropsy (f; BGB; CRC); Dysentery (1; CRC; FAD; MAB); Dysmenorrhea (f; BGB; APA; MAD; PED); Dyspepsia (f; DEM; MAD); Dyspnea (f; CRC; KAB); Dysuria (2; KOM; PHR; PH2; SHT); Eczema (f; BGB; CAN; MAB; MAD); Edema (f; CRC; PH2); Endothelioma (f; BIB; JLH); Enterosis (f; FEL); Epistaxis (1; BGB; CAN; KAB; MAB); Epithelioma (f; BIB; JLH); Erysipelas (f; CRC); Erythema (f; CRC); Escherichia (1; WOI); Exanthema (f; MAD); Fever (1; CAN; CEB); Flu (f; PH2); Fungus (1; HH3; MAB); Gastrosis (f; CRC); Goiter (1; MAB); Gonorrhea (f; BIB; CRC); Gout (1; FAD; MAB; PH2); Gravel (2; BGB; KOM; MAD; PHR); Hay Fever (2; APA; MAB); Headache (f; CRC); Hematuria (f; SUW); Hemoptysis (f; CRC); Hemorrhoid (f; BGB; DEM; PED); Hepatosis (f; HH3); Herpes (f; BGB); High Blood Pressure (1; CAN); HIV (1; PH2); Hives (f; DEM); Hyperglycemia (1; CAN; PNC); Hypoglycemia (1; APA; CAN); Infection (1; HH3; MAB); Inflammation (1; BGB; CRC; FIT68:387; MAB; PH2); Itch (f; DEM); Jaundice (f; CRC; KAB; PED; SUW); Kidney Stone (2; APA; PHR; PH2); Lethargy (f; KAB); Leukorrhea (f; CRC; MAD); Malaria (f; BIB; CEB; CRC); Melaena (f; CAN); Menorrhagia (f; SUW); Mycosis (1; HH3; MAB); Myocardiopathy (1; BGB); Myosis (f; MAB); Nephrosis (f; CRC; FEL; HH3; PED; SUW); Neuralgia (f; APA; BIB; CRC); Nocturia (1; MAB); Osteoarthrosis (1; MAB); Osteoporosis (1; JAD); Otosis (f; MAD); Pain (1; CAN; DEM; PH2); Palsy (f; CEB; CRC; KAB); Paralysis (f; CRC); Parotosis (f; BIB; JLH); Parturition (f; APA; BGB); Pertussis (f; BIB; CRC); Pharyngosis (f; MAB); Pleurisy (f; BGB); Pollakisuria (1; BGB); Polyp (f; BIB; JLH); Pregnancy (f; SKY); Prostatosis (2; PH2; SHT); Rheumatism (2; FAD; KOM; MAB; PHR; PH2); Rhinosis (1; BGB; HH3; MAB); Sarcoma (f; BIB; JLH); Sciatica (1; CRC; KAB; MAB); Shigella (1; WOI); Side Ache (f; MAD); Sore Throat (f; CRC); Splenosis (f; CRC; FAD); Sprain (f; APA; SKJ); Sting (f; CRC); Stomachache (f; DEM); Stomatosis (f; MAB); Stone (2; KOM; MAD; PHR; PH2; SHT); Swelling (1; BIB; FIT68:387; DEM; MAB); Tendinitis (f; APA); Tuberculosis (1; CRC; KAB; MAB; SUW); Tumor (f; CRC; JLH; PED); Uremia (f; BIB); Urticaria (1; MAB); Uterosis (f; BGB; APA; CAN; KAB); UTI (2; PHR; KOM; PH2; SHT); Vaginosis (f; APA); VD (f; BIB; CRC); Vertigo (f; BIB; CRC); Virus (1; FIT68:387; MAB; PH2); Worm (f; BGB; CRC; KAB; PED; SUW); Wound (f; MAB) Dosages (Nettle) — 3–4 tsp (~4 g) shoot/cup water several ×/day (APA); 3–4 tsp (4–6 g) shoot or leaf in 150 ml boiling water cooled, 3–4 ×/day (APA; MAD); g leaf/day for arthrosis (MAB); 3–6 g dry leaf (PED); 4.5 g dry leaf:22 ml alcohol/23 ml water (PED); 4–6 g root/day (APA; KOM); 4–6 g powdered root/cup water (WIC); 4–6 g dry root/day (MAB); 3–6 g root/day or 600–1200 mg/day 5:1 extract for BPH (MAB); 4–9 ml fluid root extract (1:2)/day (MAB); 2–6 ml root tincture (1:5 in 45% ethanol) ×/day (CAN); 3–4 tsp (~4.8 g) herb in hot tea (MAD); 2–4 g dry herb, or in tea, ×/day (CAN); 8–12 g dry herb/day (MAB; SHT); 3–4 ml liquid herb extract (1:1 in 25% ethanol) ×/day (CAN); 2.5–5 ml liquid herb extract (PNC); 3–6 ml fluid herb extract (1:2)/day (MAB); 7–14 ml herb tincture (1:2)/day (MAB); 125 g juice (MAD); 1–2 (475 mg) capsules 2–3 ×/day; (450 mg) StX capsule ×/day (NH) N 526 Handbook of Medicinal Herbs Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Nettle) — Class (AHP) “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2) None known for herb, rare GI upsets for roots (KOM) Herbage contraindicated in fluid retention due to reduced cardiac or renal activity, rarely causing allergic reactions (PHR) Adverse effects of root: mild GI complaints (occasionally) (AEH) The urtication can be painful and long-lasting, in some inducing a black-and-blue reaction No fatalities are reported in the U.S CAN cautions that amines are irritant Because it is reputed to be abortifacient and to affect the menstrual cycle, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided May interfere with blood pressure, CNS, and diabetes medication (CAN) Being a nettle fan, I had never heard of it before and was reluctant to try it when my friend Vic said that the root tea almost did him in It’s almost as though he read the book, “Consumption of nettle tea has caused gastric irritation, a burning sensation of the skin, oedema, and oliguria” (CAN) Not for use in severely allergic patients, especially those with tendency toward anaphylaxis (WAM) Schulz et al (1998) report on >4000 patients taking 600–1200 mg extract/day for months Only 35 showed side effects, 0.65% GI complaints, (0.19%) dermatosis, and (>0.05%) reporting hyperhydrosis (SHT) No contraindications are stated (SHT) Varro Tyler cautions 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) Even JAMA admits that there is no hard proof for any intervention in BPH Since hospitals kill 200,000 Americans a year, and prostate cancer fewer than 50,000, I’ll opt for nettle tea and sitosterol-rich nuts as the drug of choice for prostate protection N Extracts (Nettle) — Infusion LD50 = 1929 mg/kg ivn rat HOH extract LD50 = 1721 mg/kg ivn rat The tea was well tolerated at levels of 1310 mg/kg orally (Bombardelli and Morazzoni, 1997) LD50 infusion 1310 orl rat (MAB) (9Z-11E)-13-Hydroxy,9,11-octadecadienoic-acid, 14 octacosanol, oleanolic acid, secoisolariciresinol, and ursolic acid are listed as weak to moderate aromatase-inhibitors found in the methanolic root extract Suggesting synergy, HH3 gives IC50’s for aromatase inhibition; extract: 338 µg/ml; aqueous extract = >200 µg/ml; butanolic fractions: 109 µg/ml; ethanolic-fraction 41 µg/ml; 9-hydroxy,10,12- octadecadienoic-acid = 11 µg/ml, and GLA, the compound is so well represented in another edible weed, evening primrose, at 10 µg/ml (HH3) Aromatase is a key enzyme in steroid hormone metabolism, and its inhibition may partially explain the activity of the roots in BPH The polysaccharide fraction of the aqueous root extract show prolonged antiedemic and antiinflammatory activity (40 mg/kg orl rat) Ethanolic extract also inhibits elastase, a destructive enzyme in the inflammatory process (IC50=68 µg/ml) The isolectin (UDA), abundant in the roots, may contribute to the antiinflammatory and antiprostatic activity of the extracts Aqueous extracts interfere with, dose-dependently (0.6–10 mg/ml), the binding of dihydrotestosterone to SHBG (with specific receptors on human prostatic membranes) The alcoholic extract, UDA, and stigmast-4-en-3-one were inactive At concentrations of 0.1 mg/ml, some root extracts inhibited Na+, K+-ATPases 27.6–81.5% Stigmast-4-en-3-one, stigmasterol, and campesterol inhibited Na+, K+-ATPases 23–67% at concentrations of 1-1000 µM Such inhibition may influence prostate cell metabolism and growth (Bombardelli and Morazzoni, 1997) Root polysaccharide extracts anticomplementary (IC50=