Cac Health Dictionary

Cac: From 1 Different Sources


Cachexia

Depressed habit of mind... cachexia

Cactus

(American) Resembling the spiny plant Caktus... cactus

Cachet

An oval capsule that encloses a dose of unpleasant medicine.... cachet

Prickly Pear Cactus

Opuntia species

Description: This cactus has flat, padlike stems that are green. Many round, furry dots that contain sharp-pointed hairs cover these stems.

Habitat and Distribution: This cactus is found in arid and semiarid regions and in dry, sandy areas of wetter regions throughout most of the United States and Central and South America. Some species are planted in arid and semiarid regions of other parts of the world.

Edible Parts: All parts of the plant are edible. Peel the fruits and eat them fresh or crush them to prepare a refreshing drink. Avoid the tiny, pointed hairs. Roast the seeds and grind them to a flour.

CAUTION

Avoid any prickly pear cactus like plant with milky sap.

Other Uses: The pad is a good source of water. Peel it carefully to remove all sharp hairs before putting it in your mouth. You can also use the pads to promote healing. Split them and apply the pulp to wounds.... prickly pear cactus

Caca

(Latin) In mythology, the sister of a giant and the original goddess of the hearth... caca

Cacalia

(Latin) Resembling the flowering plant

Cacaliah, Cacalea, Cacaleah... cacalia

Cacao

Chocolate (Theobroma cacao).

Plant Part Used: Leaf, seeds.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: The seeds are traditionally prepared as a tea by decoction (i.e. hot chocolate) taken orally for fatigue and weakness. The leaf decoction is used for kidney and urinary tract disorders.

Safety: Chocolate is widely consumed and generally regarded as safe. No data on the safety of the leaf has been identified in the available literature.

Contraindications: Avoid use in individuals with a history of heart disorders (due to cardiac stimulant effects) or hypersensitivity (due to potential skin reactions or migraines).

Drug Interactions: Avoid concomitant use with phenelzine due to potential for high blood pressure. The following medications may inhibit caffeine metabolism or clearance: oral contraceptives, cimetidine, furafylline, verapamil, disulfiram, fluconoazole, mexiletine, phenylpropanolamine, numerous quinolone antibiotics (i.e. enoxacin, pipemidic acid, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin), idrocilamide and methoxsalen.

Clinical Data: The following effects of the seed extract have been investigated in human clinical trials: anti-ulcer, antioxidant and decreased platelet function.

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In animal studies the seed extract has shown anti-ulcer effects. In vitro the seed extracts and/or constituents have shown antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-tumor, cardio-protective, dopaminergic, immunomodulatory and red blood cell production stimulant effects.

* See entry for Cacao in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... cacao

Caccinia Crassifolia

O. Kuntze.

Synonym: C. glauca Savi.

Family: Boraginaceae.

Habitat: Native to Baluchistan. Available in Indian market as Gaozabaan.

Unani: Gaozabaan. (According to National Formulary of Unani Medicine, Borago officinalis Linn. and other species of Boraginaceae are used as Gaozabaan.)

Action: Leaf—diuretic, antiinflammatory, demulcent; used for strangury, asthma and cough.

The stems and leaves gave sapoge- nins—caccigenin, caccigenin lactone and 23-deoxycaccigenin; rutin and a saponin derived from caccigenin. The leaves also gave a glucoside, cac- cinin. Caccinin and its aglucone cac- cinetin (which is the dimethylallyl ester of caffeic acid) is diuretic; saponins exhibit anti-inflammatory activity.

Flowers contain pyrrolizidine alkaloid, the diester of retronecine. Ben- zoic acid has also been isolated from the flowers.... caccinia crassifolia

Cacia

(Greek) Form of Acacia, meaning “thorny tree; one who is naive”; form of Casey, meaning “a vigilant woman” Caciah, Cacea, Caceah... cacia

Cereus Cactus

Cereus species

Description: These cacti are tall and narrow with angled stems and numerous spines.

Habitat and Distribution: They may be found in true deserts and other dry, open, sunny areas throughout the Caribbean region, Central America, and the western United States.

Edible Parts: The fruits are edible, but some may have a laxative effect.

Other Uses: The pulp of the cactus is a good source of water. Break open the stem and scoop out the pulp.... cereus cactus

Pincushion Cactus

Mammilaria species

Description: Members of this cactus group are round, short, barrel-shaped, and without leaves. Sharp spines cover the entire plant.

Habitat and Distribution: These cacti are found throughout much of the desert regions of the western United States and parts of Central America.

Edible Parts: They are a good source of water in the desert.... pincushion cactus

Cacosmia

n. a disorder of the sense of smell in which scents that are inoffensive to most people are objectionable to the sufferer or in which a bad smell seems to be perpetually present. The disorder is usually due to damage to pathways within the brain rather than in the nose or olfactory nerve.... cacosmia

Theobroma Cacao

Linn.

Family: Sterculiaceae.

Habitat: Native to tropical America; cultivated in South India and Orissa.

English: Cocoa, Theobroma, Chocolate tree.

Action: Leaves—Central nervous system stimulant, local anaesthetic (due to cocaine).

Seeds—stimulating and diuretic (due to caffeine).

Cocoa contains methylxanthine, which acts as a diuretic. Preparations of Cocoa are used for liver, bladder and kidney ailments, diabetes, as a general tonic and as an astringent for diarrhoea. Cocoa and cocoa products can cause migraine headache, can also result in constipation.

Included among unapproved herbs by German Commission E.... theobroma cacao



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