Handbook of Medicinal Herbs 703 Indications (Strawberry) — Anemia (f; KOM); Arthrosis (f; PH2); Blennorrhagia (f; DAD); Bronchosis (f; JFM); Calculus (f; DAD); Cancer (1; DAD; FNF; JLH; JNU); Cancer, larynx (1; FNF; JLH); Carcinoma (f; JLH); Catarrh (f; JFM; PH2); Cerebrosis (1; JNU); Chilblain (f; HHB); Constipation (f; EFS); Cystosis (f; DAD; JFM); Dementia (1; JNU); Dermatosis (f; PH2); Diabetes (f; DAD); Diarrhea (f; PH2); Dysentery (f; DAD; JFM); Dysuria (f; DAD); Enterosis (f; DAD; PH2); Fever (f; DAD; DAV; KOM); Gastrosis (f; DAD; JNU; PH2); Gingivosis (f; DAD); Gout (f; CEB; PH2); Gravel (f; PH2); Hepatosis (f; JNU; PH2); High Blood Pressure (f; DAD); Hyperuricemia (f; JFM); Impotence (f; JNU); Inflammation (f; JFM; PH2); Jaundice (f; DAV; HHB; PH2); Nephrosis (f; JFM; PH2); Neurosis (f; PH2); Night Sweats (f; KOM); Obesity (f; KOM); Odontosis (f; DAD); Rash (f; PH2); Respirosis (f; PH2); Rheumatism (f; PH2); Sore (f; DEM); Sore Throat (f; DAD; PH2); Stomatosis (f; DEM; PH2); Stone (f; PH2); Tartar (f; DAD); Tuberculosis (f; DAD); Tumor (f; JNU); Urogenitosis (f; DAD); Water Retention (f; CEB; EFS; HHB; PH2) Dosages (Strawberry) — Fruits food farmacy (JAD); g leaf/cup tea (HHB) Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Strawberry) — Class (AHP) The Herbal Desk Reference (PH2) is astute and kind enough to tell us not to take strawberry if one is allergic to strawberry Shall we make that a universal template and advise allergic people not to take their allergens? Shall we take the McDonald McCopout and remind people not to drink boiling or overhot beverages, telling our readers to let their hot teas and boiling decoctions cool to a safe temperature before drinking? Ah, this litigious society of ours! Commission E reports leaf not approved for therapeutic use “A therapeutic application cannot be recommended” (KOM) This is the same Commission E that approves dangerous bittersweet and not-so-dangerous cola and guarana (JAD) Hypersensitivity reactions are possible, but there is no objection to the use as an admixture to herbal teas (AEH) Has many of the same tannins in the leaf as does tea; is tea (Camellia sinensis) really healthier than blackberry, raspberry, and strawberry leaf tea, or just better promoted and hyped? STRAWBERRY TREE (Arbutus unedo L.) + Activities (Strawberry Tree) — Antirheumatic (f; EFS); Antiseptic (f; CRC; EFS); Astringent (f; CRC); Intoxicant (f; CRC); Narcotic (f; CRC); Tonic (f; CRC) Indications (Strawberry Tree) — Rheumatism (f; EFS); Uterosis (f; JLH); UTI (f; CRC) STRONGBACK (Desmodium adscendens (Sw.) DC.) ++ Synonyms: D ovalifolium Guill & Perr., Hedysarum adscendens Sw., Melibomia adscendens (Sw.) Kuntze Activities (Strongback) — Antiaggregant (f; IED); Antispasmodic (1; AAB); Contraceptive (f; DAV); Lactagogue (f; DAV); Laxative (f; JFM) Indications (Strongback) — Adenopathy (f; IED); Arthrosis (f; AAB); Asthma (1; AAB); Backache (f; AAB); Cachexia (f; JFM); Constipation (f; JFM); Convulsion (1; AAB; IED; JFM); Cramp (1; AAB); Dermatosis (f; IED); Dyspepsia (f; IED); Dysuria (f; JFM); Headache (f; AAB); Impotence (f; AAB); Infection (f; DAV); Inflammation (f; IED); Malnutrition (f; JFM); Myalgia (f; AAB); Nephrosis (f; AAB); Pain (f; AAB); Rash (f; IED); Sore (f; JFM); Tuberculosis (f; IED); Vaginosis (f; DAV); VD (f; JFM); Wound (f; JFM) Dosages (Strongback) — 1–2 tsp dry leaf in divided doses to prevent asthma (AAB); steep whole plant in rum for backache; take 0.25 glass ×/day (AAB) S 704 Handbook of Medicinal Herbs STROPHANTHUS, CLIMBING OLEANDER (Strophanthus gratus (Wall & Hook.) Baill.) X Synonym: Roupellia grata Wall & Hook See also kombe, Strophanthus hispidus DC Activities (Strophanthus) — Anxiolytic (f; PH2); Cardiotonic (1; PH2); Curare (1; HDN; FNF); Digitalic (1; PH2); Diuretic (f; EFS); Negative Chronotropic (1; HDN); Negative Dromotropic (1; HDN); Pediculicide (f; HDN); Positive Bathmotropic (1; HDN); Positive Inotropic (1; HDN) Indications (Strophanthus) — Anxiety (f; PH2); Asthma (f; MAD); Atherosclerosis (f; PH2); Bradycardia (f; HHB); Cancer (f; HDN); Cardiopathy (f; PH2); Debility (f; HDN); Gastrosis (f; PH2); Gonorrhea (f; HDN); High Blood Pressure (f; PH2); Neurodystonia (f; PH2); Stenocardia (f; HHB); Syphilis (f; HDN); VD (f; HDN); Water Retention (f; EFS) Dosages (Strophanthus) — Don’t take it except with physician guidance! (JAD); 0.5–1.5 g tincture/day (PH2); Cymarin 0.6–0.9 mg ivn man/day, 2.3–2.5 mg orl human (HDN); ouabain 0.25–0.65 mg ivn human/day, 12–48 mg/day orl human (HDN); toxic dose 143 mg/man; kstrophanthoside 0.2–1.2 mg ivn human/day, to 7.5 mg/day orl human; toxic dose 143 mg/man (HDN) Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Strophanthus) — Not covered (AHP) “Health hazards not known with proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2) Side effects may include cardiac arrhythmia, headache, ophthalmia (disturbance of color vision), queasiness, stupor, and vomiting May enhance effects and side effects with calcium salts, glucocorticoids, laxatives, quinidine, and saluretics (PH2) Powdered seeds LDlo 23–24 mg/kg ivn dog (HH2); g-strophanthidin LDlo 0.33–0.44 mg/kg ivn dog (HH2) SUMA (Hebanthe eriantha (Poir.) Pedersen) ++ Synonyms: Gomphrena paniculata (Mart.) Moq., Hebanthe paniculata Mart., Pfaffia paniculata (Mart.) Kuntze Activities (Suma) — Adaptogen (f; APA); Antiascites (1; APA); Anticancer (1; APA); Antimelanomic (f; APA); Antitumor (1; APA); Antiviral (f; APA); Chemopreventive (f; APA); Immunostimulant (f; APA) S Indications (Suma) — Anemia (1; BJH111:359); Cancer (1; APA); Diabetes (f; APA); EBV (f; APA); Fatigue (f; APA); Immunodepression (f; APA); Melanoma (f; APA); Menopause (f; APA); Sickle Cell Anemia (1; BJH111:359); Stress (f; APA); Tumor (1; APA); Virus (f; APA) Dosages (Suma) — 500–1000 mg dry herb 2–3 ×/day (APA); 1–2 (520 mg) capsules ×/day (APA) Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Suma) — Class (AHP) Not covered (KOM; PHR; PH2) Once a well-known published author offered me a generous consulting fee to go through the Spanish and Portuguese literature and summarize the folk literature and information on suma for him I had written on the plant long ago for the Flora of Panama, where Pfaffia also occurs He came from one of the four main entry disciplines to ethnobotany and herbal medicine and medical botany, (1) anthropology, (2) botany, (3) chemistry, and (4) pharmacy/pharmacology but I’ll not divulge I gave him days worth of work and found nothing He reneged because my report was negative Today, that scientist continues to publish, often copying without citing other ethnobotanical writers’ data And he is, what I call, one of the paid hypsters who will write a positive opinion page on a worthless herb, for a fee Then an Handbook of Medicinal Herbs 705 unscrupulous pusher will sell that product based on Doctor Hypster’s glittering report, often handed out as (pseudo) scientific literature based on Dr Hypster’s world renown Both hypster and huckster make money while damaging the images of honest herbs and herbalists And sometimes they threaten those who would expose the lack of credibility of some of those studies More recently, I see that an edible plant book describes suma as “Brazilian ginseng” a promotional misnomer “The roots have reportedly been used as a ginseng-like tonic by the Xingu tribe of Matto Grosso, Brazil for at least three hundred years” (FAC) SUMATRA BENZOIN (Styrax paralleloneurum Perkins) ++ Few taxonomists know the species of Styrax (as with Boswellia, Commiphora, Picea, and Pinus) even with leaves, fruits, and flowers in hand Fewer taxonomists, if any, could positively identify isolated resin Small wonder that many herbalists aggregate the species AHP and HHB treat S benzoin Dryand., S paralleloneurum Perkins, and S tonkinensis (Pierre) Craib ex Hartwich in the same account PH2 treats them separately Activities (Sumatra Benzoin) — Expectorant (1; PH2) Indications (Sumatra Benzoin) — Bleeding (f; PH2); Catarrh (f; PH2); Chest Ache (f; PH2); Childbirth (f; PH2); Gastrosis (f; PH2); Pulmonosis (f; PH2); Respirosis (f; PH2); Stomachache (f; PH2); Stroke (f; PH2); Syncope (f; PH2) Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Sumatra Benzoin) — Class (AHP) None noted at normal dosage (not given) (PH2) SUMBUL (Ferula sumbul (Kauffm.) Hook f.) ++ Activities (Sumbul) — Antispasmodic (f; CRC; PHR; PNC); Aperitif (f; CRC); Emmenagogue (f; PNC); Mucostimulant (f; CRC); Narcotic (f; CRC); Nervine (f; CRC); Panacea (f; CRC); Sedative (f; CRC; PHR; PH2); Stimulant (f; CRC); Tonic (f; CRC; HHB; PNC); Tranquilizer (f; CRC); Uterotonic (f; CRC); Vermifuge (f; CRC) Indications (Sumbul) — Amenorrhea (f; PNC); Anorexia (f; CRC); Asthma (f; CRC; PHR; PH2); Bronchosis (f; CRC; PHR; PH2); Cramp (f; CRC; PHR; PNC); Debility (f; PH2); Diarrhea (f; CRC; HHB; PH2); Dysentery (f; CRC); Dysmenorrhea (f; CRC; HHB; PH2); Heart (f; PH2); High Blood Pressure (f; PH2); Hypertony (f; CRC; HHB); Hysteria (f; CRC); Insomnia (f; CRC; PHR; PH2); Nausea (f; CRC); Nervousness (f; CRC; PHR; PH2); Neurosis (f; CRC); Pneumonia (f; CRC; PH2); Uterosis (f; CRC); Worm (f; CRC) Dosages (Sumbul) — 0.5–4 ml liquid root extract (PNC); 2–4 ml root tincture (PNC) Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Sumbul) — Not covered (AHP) None reported at proper dosage (not indicated) (PH2) SUMMER CYPRESS (Bassia scoparia (L.) A J Scott) ++ Synonyms: Chenopodium scoparia L., Kochia childsii hort., K scoparia (L.) Schrad., K scoparia f trichophylla (hort ex Voss) Schinz & Thell., K trichophylla hort ex Voss Activities (Summer Cypress) — Anesthetic (1; X9353570); Antialcoholic (1; X9301029); Antiallergic (1; X9401725); Antiinflammatory (1; DAA; X9353570); Anti-itch (1; X9853421); Antiulcer (1; X10416830); Astringent (f; DAA); Bitter (f; FAY); Cardiotonic (f; DAA; FAY); Detoxicant (f; FAY); Diaphoretic (f; FAY); Diuretic (1; DAA; FAY); Fungicide (1; FAY); Gastroprotective (1; X10416830) S 706 Handbook of Medicinal Herbs Indications (Summer Cypress) — Abscess (f; FAY); Alcoholism (1; X9301029); Allergy (1; X9401725); Carbuncle (f; FAY); Cardiopathy (f; DAA); Cold (f; DAA); Conjunctivosis (f; FAY); Dermatosis (1; DAA; FAY; X9853421); Diarrhea (f; DAA); Dysentery (f; DAA); Dyspepsia (f; DAA); Dysuria (f; DAA; FAY); Eczema (f; FAY); Fever (f; DAA; FAY); Fungus (1; FAY); Gonorrhea (f; DAA); Hernia (f; DAA; FAY); Impotence (f; DAA; FAY); Incontinence (f; DAA); Infection (1; FAY); Inflammation (1; DAA; X9353570); Itch (1; FAY; X9853421); Mycosis (1; FAY); Nephrosis (f; DAA); Neuralgia (f; DAA); Ophthalmia (f; FAY); Pain (1; FAY; X9353570); Scabies (f; FAY); Sore (f; FAY); Swelling (f; FAY); Ulcer (1; X10416830); Urethrosis (f; DAA); UTI (f; DAA); Vaginosis (f; FAY); Wart (f; FAY); Water Retention (1; DAA; FAY) Dosages (Summer Cypress) — 3–15 g dry fruit (FAY); 30–60 g leaf for dyspepsia (FAY) Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Summer Cypress) — Not covered (AHP; KOM; PH2) While promoted as a health food, the oxalate content could pose a threat Various abstracts refer to toxicosis in grazing animals SUMMER SNOWFLAKE (Leucojum aestivum L.) X Activities (Summer Snowflake) — Analeptic (1; FNF); Analgesic (1; FNF); Antiacetylcholinesterase (1; FNF); Antialzheimeran (1; FNF); Antibutylcholinesterase (1; FNF); Anticholinesterase (1; FNF); Anticurare (1; FNF); Antimyasthenic (1; FNF); Antineurotic (1; FNF); Bradycardic (1; FNF); Cholinergic (1; FNF); CNS Inhibitor (1; FNF); Emetic (1; FNF); Emollient (f; HHB); Hypnotic (1; FNF); Insecticide (1; FNF); Memorigenic (1; FNF); Myocontractant (1; FNF); Myoneurostimulant (1; FNF); Peristaltic (1; FNF); Poison (1; HHB); Secretagogue (1; FNF); Sedative (1; FNF); Sialagogue (1; FNF) Indications (Summer 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 (Summer Snowflake) — Not covered (AHP; KOM; PH2) Emetic and poisonous, possibly edible after processing SUNDEW (Drosera ramentacea) ++ S One cannot tell whether the PDR entry refers only to D ramentacea, or also to D peltata, D madagascarensis, and/or the Euro-American D rotundifolia L (which see, as American sundew) Activities (Sundew) — Antiinflammatory (1; PH2); Antiprostaglandin (1; PH2); Antiseptic (1; PH2); Antispasmodic (1; PH2); Antitussive (2; KOM; PH2); Bronchospasmolytic (1; PH2); Cytostat (1; PH2); Immunostimulant (f; PH2); Secretolytic (f; PH2) Indications (Sundew) — Asthma (f; PH2); Bronchosis (2; PH2); Corn (f; JLH); Cough (2; PH2); Cramp (1; PH2); Immunodepression (f; PH2); Inflammation (1; PH2); Respirosis (2; PH2); Wart (f; JLH; PH2) Dosages (Sundew) — Steep 1–2 drug 10 minutes in cup boiled water 3–4 ×/day (PH2) Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Sundew) — Not covered (AHP) None (KOM; PH2) Some species are endangered Handbook of Medicinal Herbs 707 SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annuus L.) +++ Synonyms: H annuus subsp lenticularis (Cockerell) Cockerell, H annuus var lenticularis Cockerell, H annuus var macrocarpus (DC.) Cockerell, H lenticularis Douglas Activities (Sunflower) — Antiinflammatory (f; X8987908); Antipyretic (f; FAD; HHB); Aperitif (f; DEM); Astringent (f; FAD); Deobstruent (f; EFS); Diuretic (f; FAD; HHB; MAD); Emollient (f; EFS); Expectorant (f; EFS; FAD; MAD); Stimulant (f; HHB); Vermifuge (f; DEM); Vulnerary (f; MAD) Indications (Sunflower) — Anorexia (f; DEM); Bite (f; FAD); Bladder Stone (f; JFM); Bronchiectasis (f; MAD); Bronchosis (f; HHB); Cancer (f; JFM; JLH); Catarrh (f; DEM); Chest Ache (f; DEM); Chill (f; MAD); Cold (f; JFM); Constipation (f; PH2; MAD); Cystosis (f; JFM); Dermatosis (f; JFM; PH2); Edema (f; JFM); Fatigue (f; DEM); Fever (f; DEM; FAD; HHB; JFM); Gangrene (f; MAD); Gastrosis (f; JFM); Heart (f; JFM); Infection (f; PH2); Inflammation (f; X8987908); Kidney Stone (f; JFM); Malaria (f; FAD; HHB; JLH); Nephrosis (f; JFM); Pain (f; DEM; JFM); Palsy (f; JFM); Psoriasis (f; PH2); Pulmonosis (f; HHB PH2); Rash (f; MAD); Respirosis (f; MAD); Rheumatism (f; PH2); Screw Worm (f; DEM); Snakebite (f; FAD); Sore (f; DEM); Sore Throat (f; MAD); Splenosis (f; MAD); Swelling (f; DEM; MAD); Thirst (f; DEM); Wart (f; DEM); Water Retention (f; FAD; HHB; MAD); Worm (f; DEM); Wound (f; PH2) Dosages (Sunflower) — tsp seed oil caused day diuresis (JFM); tbsp/2 hours of infusion (20 g young shoots in 200 cc sweetened water) (JFM); 20–25 drops herb tincture 2–3 ×/day (MAD) Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Sunflower) — Class (AHP) “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2) (but PH2 designates no specific quantified dosage! JAD) Pollen or plant extracts may cause allergic reactions (FAD) SURINAM-CHERRY (Eugenia uniflora L.) +++ Synonyms: E brasiliana (L.) Aubl., E michelii Lam Activities (Surinam-Cherry) — Antimycotic (1; PH2); Antiseptic (1; PH2); Astringent (1; PH2); Hypolipidemic (f; PH2); Insectifuge (1; IED); Xanthine-Oxidase Inhibitor (1; PH2) S ... writers’ data And he is, what I call, one of the paid hypsters who will write a positive opinion page on a worthless herb, for a fee Then an Handbook of Medicinal Herbs 705 unscrupulous pusher will...704 Handbook of Medicinal Herbs STROPHANTHUS, CLIMBING OLEANDER (Strophanthus gratus (Wall & Hook.) Baill.) X Synonym:... FAY); Diuretic (1; DAA; FAY); Fungicide (1; FAY); Gastroprotective (1; X10416830) S 706 Handbook of Medicinal Herbs Indications (Summer Cypress) — Abscess (f; FAY); Alcoholism (1; X9301029); Allergy