Podophyllum hexandrum, Indian Podophyllum
Ol mo se འོལ་མོ་སེ (Fruit, Tibetan Medicine)
Xiao Ye Lian 小叶莲 (Fruit, TCM)
Tao Er Qi 桃儿七 (Root, TCM)
Vanatrapusi (Root, Ayurveda)
Botanical name:
Podophyllum hexandrum (syn. P. emodi var. chinensis, Sinopodophyllum hexandrum)
The root or resin is used (occasionally) in Ayurveda. It is very heating, pungent and toxic.
Tibetan Medicine uses the Fruit, which is Neutral, Sweet and non-toxic. When Tibetan Formulas write Ol mo se, it is the fruits that are being used. However, sometimes the root is used and it will be called Ol mo se rtsa ba.
Parts used:
Resin, Root (Rhizome) (primarily Ayurveda, rarely TCM and Tibetan Medicine)
Mature Fruit (primarily Tibetan Medicine)
Temperature & Taste:
Fruit: Neutral, Sweet (non-toxic)
Root, Resin: Hot, dry. Pungent. Toxic
The root is variously described as Hot and Cold by various sources. Some Tibetan sources view it as Cold, others, Hot. Ayurveda universally considers it Hot. TCM generally views it as Cold and uses it to clear Heat and Toxin.
Uses:
ROOT
1. Clears Wind-Damp:
-Arthritic and Rheumatic disorders
-skin diseases from Wind and Damp with itching
2. Purges Phlegm and Damp, Resolves Masses:
-chronic constipation
-Tumors, Cancers
-Hardness, Tumors and Cancer of the Liver (Ayurveda)
-Toxic swellings and hard masses (TCM)
3. Clears Damp-Heat from the Liver:
-small doses used to stimulate the Liver
-used for Biliary Fever (Tibet)
-Liver and Spleen hardness and congestion (Ayurveda)
4. Externally:
-Warts, Genital Warts (ointment or paste)
FRUIT:
1. Moves the Blood, Regulates Menstruation:
-Amenorrhea, Irregular Menstruation
-Difficult Labor, Retention of a Dead Fetus; Retention of Placenta (Tibetan Medicine, Chinese Pharmacopoeia)
-Uterine diseases associated with Blood stasis
-benefits Circulation
2. Regulates Qi:
-Nervous disorders, Paralysis
-improves circulation of Qi and Blood
3. Benefits Kidneys:
-Kidney disorders
4. Externally:
-topically to itchy and contagious skin diseases
-promotes suppuration of swellings
Dose:
RESIN: 125–250mg;
ROOT POWDER: 250–500mg
FRUIT:
In Pills or Powder: 1–3 grams (dosage form most commonly used)
Decoction: 3–9 grams
Comment:
1. The plant is endangered due to over-harvesting.
2. This is similar to the related P. peltatum of America. However, that species typically contains around 0.25% podophyllotoxin while the reported levels in Indian Podophyllum can be over 4%.
Preparation:
ROOT:
1. Milk Prepared Podophyllum root
The fresh rhizomes are well washed and small rootlets are removed. The roots are boiled gently in milk for 3–6 hours.. This binds and buffers the irritant, toxic resin. This makes it far safer for internal use.
2. Ginger-prepared Podophyllum root
A concentrated decoction of fresh Ginger is prepared. The washed and cleaned roots are boiled in the decoction for a given amount of time.. This helps neutralise the toxic effect on the stomach.
After either of the above boiling methods, they are washed well with clean water, sliced, and dried in the sun until brittle. They are then powdered, and ready to be safely used internally in compounds.
Substitutes:
Fruit:
1. In the Buryat and Mongolian Tradition, Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca or L. siberica) are accepted substitutes in gynaecological formulas. This is the most obvious substitute for Western practitioners.
2. Some Russian sources list fruit of Achyrantes bidenata for Ol mo se in Tibetan formulas
3. Asarum himalaicum has reportedly been used in the Indian Himalayas.
4. Podophyllum ‘Ol mo se has been used as a substitute for Abrus precatorius. This suggests the latter to be a viable substitute for Ol mo se.
Root:
1. Eastern and Central Himalayan Traditions substitute the roots of Morina longifolia
2. Black Hellebore root (prepared) or Picriorhiza root have apparently been used.
Main Combinations:
FRUIT:
1. Women’s diseases, Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea, Difficult labor, Postpartum bleeding, Postpartum disorders, the Podophyllum hexandrum fruit is used with Inula root, Chebula, Rhubarb, Sea Buckthorn and Crab shell (as in Pacific 11 of Tibetan Medicine)
2. To promote Menstruation, Podophyllum hexandrum fruit, Madder, Cinnamon, Inula racemosa
Major Formulas:
FRUIT:
Auscpicious Conqueror (Bkra shis rnam rgyal)
Blood Breaking Precious Diamond (Khrag bshig rin chen pha lam)
Greater Universal Women’s Disease Conqueror (Mo nad spyi ‘joms chen mo)
Podophyllum 25 (‘Ol se nyer lnga)
Sea Buckthorn 17 (Star bu bchu bdun)
Women’s Universal Decoction (Mo nad spyi thang)
Cautions:
FRUIT:
1. Avoid in Pregnancy (except sometimes used to promote Labor).
ROOT:
1. Strongly irritant, avoid overdose
2. Not suitable for weak, Yin-deficient, or Heat-type individuals.
Main Preparations used:
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