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Vincetoxicum, Swallow-wortHirundinaria, Asclepias (Dioscorides), Silk-wort, German Ipecac, German Contrayerva, White Swallow-wort
Qunna bara (Unani) |
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Left: White Swallow-wort; Right: Black Swallow-wort
Salmon, Botanologia, 1710
Salmon, Botanologia, 1710
Vincetoxicum officinale
Die Giftpflanzen Deutschlands, Esser, 1910
Die Giftpflanzen Deutschlands, Esser, 1910
Botanical name:
Vincetoxicum officinale (syn: V. hirundinaria, Asclepias vincetoxicum, Cynanchum vincetoxicum).
White-flowered, Black-flowered, Cretian, and Virginian types were known.
The related Cynanchum paniculatum Xu Chang Qing of TCM is used similarly for Edema, Dysmenorrhea, Toxin, Snake Bite and Trauma and Injury.
Parts used:
Root and rhizome; less commonly the Seed
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry.
"Hot in the first degree" (Avicenna)
Vincetoxicum officinale (syn: V. hirundinaria, Asclepias vincetoxicum, Cynanchum vincetoxicum).
White-flowered, Black-flowered, Cretian, and Virginian types were known.
The related Cynanchum paniculatum Xu Chang Qing of TCM is used similarly for Edema, Dysmenorrhea, Toxin, Snake Bite and Trauma and Injury.
Parts used:
Root and rhizome; less commonly the Seed
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry.
"Hot in the first degree" (Avicenna)
Uses:
1. Clears Wind-Cold, Resists Poison:
-preserves from and treats Epidemic and Infectious diseases including Plague and Spotted Fevers
-Colds, Flu
-Snake Bite, Rabid Dog Bite
-especially poison of Dogs-bane (Apocynum) and Aconite
-Antidotes to various Poison and Venom
-also for Worms
2. Moves the Blood, Eases Pain:
-Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea, menstrual obstruction
-Bruising and pain caused by Blood stagnation (int. & ext.).
-Palpitations of the Heart.
3. Moves the Blood, Resolves Masses:
-Swellings, Scrofula, Tumors and Cancers, including those of the Breast and Uterus (Dioscorides, Duke).
-chronic Breast Ulcers, both topically and internally.
-"dissolves the hardness of the Uterus" (Avicenna)
4. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine:
-obstructed Urine, Edema, Fluid retention
-Jaundice
-useful for Stones.
5. Clears Damp, Warms the Stomach:
-Indigestion, Cold abdominal or colic pain (TCM, West)
-Colic pain (drunk with wine, Dioscorides)
-Hernia
6. Clears Wind-Damp:
-Epilepsy and Melancholy diseases
-the closely related Chinese species, used very similarly in other respects, is also used for Wind-Cold-Damp Arthritic pain.
7. Clears Cold Phlegm:
-Cold Phlegm Cough and Asthma
-Formerly used as an Emetic
8. Externally:
-poultice for Bruises, Trauma, Fractures
-Swellings and Tumors
-Ulcers of the Breast; Running Sores; Chronic and Malignant Ulcers ('beyond any other vegetable' Salmon)
-Hard Tumors in Women's Breast (Cataplasm)
-Venomous bites
-"Its oral intake or plaster is the most useful way of treatment for Pityriasis alba" (Avicenna)
Dose:
Salmon said the Tincture was the most potent dosage form.
Root in Powder: traditionally 1–3 grams (half–1 dram)
Tincture of the Root: 1 spoonful
Comment:
Several other plants are known as Swallow-wort including Celandine, Calotropis, Ascelipas (Orange Swallow-wort)
Salmon said the Tincture was the most potent dosage form.
Root in Powder: traditionally 1–3 grams (half–1 dram)
Tincture of the Root: 1 spoonful
Comment:
Several other plants are known as Swallow-wort including Celandine, Calotropis, Ascelipas (Orange Swallow-wort)
Main Combinations:
1. Against Poison and Infection, Contrayerva with Carline Thistle root, Angelica, Elecampane, Burnet Saxifrage, Swallow-wort, Fraxinella, Masterowrt, Valerian (equal parts), Alcohol (20 oz.). (Pharmacopoeia Generalis, 1783)
2. Edema:
i. steep beaten Swallow-wort overnight in white wine, then boil gently until one-third has wasted. Give 4 ounces every morning and go to bed to sweat. (Secrets of Alexis)
ii. or Dysuria, Swallow-wort, Madder, Valerian, Betony, Burdock seed, Dodder, seed, Juniper (as in Diuretic Decoction)
iii. Cardiac Edema, Swallow-wort with Lovage root, Juniper berry, Restharrow, Birch leaf (Flämig)
iv. calcined Niter (8 parts), Swallow-wort root (6 parts), Squill (1 part). (Pharmacopoeia medici practici universalis, Bruxelles, 1817)
3. Hernia, Swallow-wort with Comfrey (Salmon)
4. Epilepsy, Swallow-wort with Peony seed (Salmon)
5. Scrofula, Burnt Sponge (9 oz.), Potassium Sulphate (2 oz.), Swallow-wort root (1 oz.), Cinnamon (2 drams). Mix. Dose: 1–2 scruples. (Pharmacopoeia Wirtembergica, 1798)
6. Chronic Breast Ulcers, Swallow-wort with Mandrake root; taken internally and used as a wash.
7. Hectic Fever, Consumption: Dittany of Crete, with Tormentil, Bistort, Swallow-wort, Scorzonera, Viper
8. Melancholy and Worms, Swallow-wort with White Dittany
Major Formulas:
Saxonian Powder
Diuretic Decoction
Electuary of Horehound (Diaprassium) (Nicholas)
Treacle Vinegar of France
Bezoardic Vinegar of Frankfurt
1. Bitter Wine:
i. Madder root, Swallow-wort, Lesser Centaury (1 oz. each), Rhenish Wine, Water (1 ½ pounds each). Boil down to two-thirds, and to the strained liquor add Syrup of Orange peel (2 oz.). Mix. Dose: a glassful morning and evening in Jaundice. (Pharmacopoeia extemporanea, Augustin, 1822)
Cautions:
1. Not used in Pregnancy
2. Toxic in overdose
Main Preparations used:
Distilled Water of the Plant, Extract
1. Extract:
i. Swallow-wort root (1 pound), Spring Water (6 pounds). Digest 4 days in a warm place; then boil for a short while, press, then evaporate in a water bath. (Dispensatorium Pharmaceuticum, 1777)
ii. Swallow-wort root (1 pound), Alcohol (6 pounds). Digest and express. Digest and boil the residue in 3 pounds of water, express. Clarify with egg white. Then mix the 2 liquids together, distil off the alcohol, then evaporate to a thickness. (Pharmacopoeia Wirtembergica, 1798)
iii. Swallow-wort root (1 pound), White Wine (6 pounds). Digest for 3 days, then express. Boil the residue with more wine, strain, filter. Mix the liquids together, evaporate to the thickness of Honey. (Pharmacopoeia Sardoa, 1773)
1. Not used in Pregnancy
2. Toxic in overdose
Main Preparations used:
Distilled Water of the Plant, Extract
1. Extract:
i. Swallow-wort root (1 pound), Spring Water (6 pounds). Digest 4 days in a warm place; then boil for a short while, press, then evaporate in a water bath. (Dispensatorium Pharmaceuticum, 1777)
ii. Swallow-wort root (1 pound), Alcohol (6 pounds). Digest and express. Digest and boil the residue in 3 pounds of water, express. Clarify with egg white. Then mix the 2 liquids together, distil off the alcohol, then evaporate to a thickness. (Pharmacopoeia Wirtembergica, 1798)
iii. Swallow-wort root (1 pound), White Wine (6 pounds). Digest for 3 days, then express. Boil the residue with more wine, strain, filter. Mix the liquids together, evaporate to the thickness of Honey. (Pharmacopoeia Sardoa, 1773)