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What people say makes us excited::
The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs By Leslie Taylor, ND ; New Book! ; Available January 30, 2005
page 437:
Hemorrhoids : Sangre de Grado, Brazilian peppertree, copaiba, vassourinha, epazote, erva tostao, passionflower, picao preto, chuchuhuasi, artichoke, quinine, yerba mate, nettle
VASSOURINHA
Family: Scrophulariceae Genus: Scoporio Species: du/ds Common Names: vassourinha, nunco pichana, anisillo, bitterbroom, boroemia, broomweed, brum sirpi, escobilla, licorice weed, mastuerzo, piqui pichana. pottipooli. sweet broom, tapixava, tuoixaba Parts Used: leaves. c-z rk. |
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Standard Dosage Whole herb Infusion: I cup twice daily Tablets/Capsules: 2-3 g twice daily |
HERBAL PROPERTIES AND ACTIONS
Main Actions
• kills viruses
• kills leukemia cells
• inhibits tumors
• kills germs
• reduces inflammation
• relieves pain
• reduces spasms
• expels phlegm
• promotes menstruation
• reduces blood pressure
• strengthens heartbeat
• supports heart
In Brazil, a vassourinha tea is prepared from the leaves or aerial parts of the plant for fevers and urinary tract diseases, upper respiratory disorders, bronchitis, coughs, menstrual disorders, and hypertension |
Other Actions
• kills bacteria
• kills fungi
• reduces fever
• heals wounds
• lowers blood sugar
• lowers body temperature
Vassourinha is an erect annual herb in the foxglove family that grows up to l /2 m high. It produces serrated leaves and many small, white flowers. It is widely distributed in many tropical countries in the world and is found in abun dance in South America and the Amazon rainforest. It can be found as far north as the Southern United States, including Texas, Florida, and Louisiana. The plant is called escobilla in Peru, vassourinha in Brazil/ and in the U.S. the plant is known as sweet broomweed or licorice weed. In many areas, the plant is con sidered an invasive weed.
Vassourinha has long held a place in herbal medicine in every tropical country where it grows, and its use by indigenous peoples is well documented. Indige nous tribes in Ecuador brew a tea of the entire plant to reduce swellings, aches, and pains. The Tikuna Indians make a decoction for washing wounds, and women drink the same decoction for three days each month during menstrua tion as a contraceptive and/or to induce abortions. In the rainforests of Guyana, indigenous tribes use a leaf decoction as an antiseptic wash for wounds, as an anti-nausea aid for infants, as a soothing bath to treat fever, and in poultices for migraine headaches. Indigenous peoples in Brazil use the leaf juice to wash infected wounds, and place it in the eyes for eye problems; they make an infu sion of the entire plant to use as an expectorant and to soothe and soften the skin. Indigenous tribes in Nicaragua use a hot water infusion and/or decoction of vassourinha leaves (or the whole plant) for stomach pain, for menstrual dis orders, as an aid in childbirth, as a blood purifier, for insect bites, fevers, heart problems, liver and stomach disorders, malaria, sexually transmitted diseases, and as a general tonic.
Vassourinha is still employed in herbal medicine throughout the tropics. In Peru, a decoction of the entire plant is recommended for upper respiratory problems, biliary colic or congestion, menstrual disorders, and fever; the leaf juice is still employed externally for wounds and hemorrhoids. In Brazilian herbal medicine, the plant is used to reduce fever, lower blood sugar and blood pressure, and as an expectorant for coughs and lung congestion. A tea is pre pared from the leaves or aerial parts of the plant for fevers and urinary tract diseases, upper respiratory disorders, bronchitis, coughs, menstrual disorders, and hypertension. The leaf juice or a decoction of the leaves is also employed topically for skin ulcers and erysipelas. In Ayurvedic herbal medicine systems in India, a leaf tea is widely used for diabetes.
Chemical screening of vassourinha has shown that it is a source of novel phy-tochemicals in the flavone and terpene classification, some of which have not been seen in science before. 1' 2 Many of vassourinha's active biological proper ties, including its anticancerous properties, are attributed to these phytochemi- cals. The main chemicals being studied are scopadulcic acids A and B, scopadiol, scopadulciol, scopadulin, scoparic acids A, B, and C, and betulinic acid. 3" 7
The antitumorous activity of scopadulcic acid B was demonstrated in a 1993 study 8 and anti-tumor activity against various human cancer cell lines was reported again in 2001. 9 This chemical and another compound named sco- padulin demonstrated antiviral properties in several studies, including against herpes simplex I, in hamsters. 10" 12 Betulinic acid is another phytochemical that has been the subject of much independent cancer research (beginning in the late 1990s). Many studies report that this phytochemical has powerful anticancer ous, antitumorous, antileukemic, and antiviral (including HIV) properties. 13" 16 This potent phytochemical has displayed selective cytotoxic activity against malignant brain tumors, bone cancer, and melanomas (without harming healthy cells). 17" 19
Vassourinha's main plant chemicals include acacetin, amyrin, apigenin, benzoxazin, benzoxazolin, benzoxazolinone, betulinic acid, cirsimarin, cirsita- kaoside, coixol, coumaric acid, cynaroside, daucosterol, dulcinol, dulcioic acid, friedelin, gentisic acid, glutinol, hymenoxin, ifflaionic acid, linarin, luteolin, mannitol, scopadiol, scopadulcic acid A and B, scopadulciol, scopadulin, sco- paric acid A through C, scoparinol, scutellarein, scutellarin, sitosterol, stigmas-terol, taraxerol, vicenin, and vitexin.
In addition to its tested anticancerous chemicals, a methanol extract of vas sourinha leaves also showed toxic actions against cancer cells (with a 66 per cent inhibition rate) by Japanese researchers. 20' 21 These findings fueled more research on the chemicals in this plant and their activities, which is still ongo ing today.
Some of vassourinha's other uses in herbal medicine have also been vali dated by western research. In early research, vassourinha demonstrated a car- diotonic effect in animals. 22 More than forty years later, researchers reconfirmed its blood-pressure-lowering properties in rats and dogs (while increasing the strength of the heartbeat). 23 Vassourinha also demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and pain-relieving activity in animal studies with rats, mice, and guinea pigs. 23" 25 A single chemical called scoparinol was identified by sci entists as being responsible for the pain-relieving effects. 25 Another researcher, in a 2001 study, again documented significant pain-relieving and anti-inflam matory effects in laboratory animals—and also indicated that scoparinol demonstrated diuretic and barbiturate potentiation activity. 26 These docu mented actions could certainly explain its traditional use as a natural remedy for pain of all types (including menstrual pain and cramps, as well as during childbirth). In 2002, researchers in India verified vassourinha's antidiabetic and blood-sugar-lowering effects in rats. 27 In other in vitro laboratory tests, vassourinha demonstrated antioxidant actions, 28 as well as active properties against bacteria and fungi (which could explain its sustained use for respira tory and urinary tract infections). 29' 30
Contraindications |
Scientists have been trying since the mid-1990s to synthesize several plant chemicals found in vassourinha, including scopadulcic acid B and betulinic acid, for their use in the pharmaceutical industry. Herbalists and natural health practitioners have used, and will continue to use, the plant as an effective nat ural remedy for upper respiratory problems and viruses, for menstrual problems, and as a natural pain-reliever and antispasmodic remedy when needed. Water and ethanol extracts given to mice at up to 2 g per kg of body weight showed no toxicity. 24
The reported therapeutic dosage generally used in South America is 2-3 g twice daily or 1 cup of a standard infusion twice daily.
None documented by clinical studies; however, the traditional use as an abortive and/or childbirth aid warrants that vassourinha should not be taken during pregnancy.
Avoid combining with antidepressants or barbiturates unless under the supervision of a qualified health care practitioner (see drug interactions below).
A vassourinha extract recently demonstrated hypoglycemic activity, signifi cantly lowering blood sugar levels in rats. This plant is probably contraindi- cated in people with hypoglycemia. Diabetics should check their blood glucose levels closely if they use vassourinha to monitor these possible effects.
Drug Interactions |
One human study documented that an ethanol extract of vassourinha inhibit ed radioligand binding to dopamine and seratonin. 31 Another study reported that a water extract given intragastrically to rats potentiated the effects of bar biturates. 24 As such, it is possible that vassourinha may enhance the effect of barbiturates and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants.
Uses
for abortions, aches, bronchitis, contraception, coughs, diarrhea, erysipelas, eye infections, fever, hemorrhoids, kidney disease, liver problems, nausea, pain, sores (gonorrhea), stomach disorders, swelling, wounds
for abortions, bronchitis, cardiopulmonary disorders, coughs, diabetes, earache, excessive phlegm, eye problems, fever, gastric disorders, hemorrhoids, hyperglycemia, hypertension, insect bites, jaundice, liver disorders, malaria, menstrual disorders, menstrual promotion, pain, skin problems, upper respiratory disorders, worms, wounds
for bruises, constipation, diarrhea, fever, flu, gonorrhea, kidney stones, liver disorders, menstrual disorders, menstrual promotion, skin infections, sore throat, stomach disease, stomach pain, wounds, and as an insecticide for diabetes, sore throat
for coughs, diabetes, earache, gonorrhea, headaches, inflammation, menstrual disorders, nerves, pain, piles,
skin sores, sore throat, spasms, toothache, tumors; and as an antiseptic, astringent, and diuretic
for diabetes, dysentery, earache, fever, gonorrhea, headaches, jaundice, snakebite, stomach problems,
toothache, warts
for anemia, childbirth, blood cleansing, burns, cough, diarrhea, fever, headache, heart conditions, infections, insect bites and stings, itch, liver disorders, malaria, menstrual disorders, sexually transmitted diseases, snakebite, stomach disorders
for abortions, colic, contraception, diarrhea, excessive mucus, fever, hemorrhoids, kidney diseases,
menstrual disorders, upper respiratory disorders, wounds (infected)
for bronchitis, coughs, diabetes, fever, jaundice, rash
for blood cleansing, diabetes, eczema, eye problems, jaundice, malabsorption, mange, menstrual disorders,
rashes, sores, wounds
for diarrhea, gonorrhea, menstrual disorders
for diabetes, diarrhea, menstrual disorders
for abortions, aches, albuminuria, anemia, bronchitis, cancer, childbirth, conjunctivitis, contraception, cough, detoxification, diabetes, diarrhea, dysentery, earache, fever, headache, hyperglycemia, hypertension, kidney disorders, kidney stones, leprosy, liver disease, menstrual disorders, migraine, nausea, pains, retinitis, sexually transmitted diseases, snakebite, stomachache, swellings, syphilis, toothache, worms, wounds; and as an antiseptic, aphrodisiac, diuretic, expectorant, and laxative.
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