Conium maculatum Health Dictionary

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Conium Maculatum: From 1 Different Sources

Linn.

Family: Umbelliferae; Apiaceae.

Habitat: North temperate regions.

English: Spotted Hemlock, Poison Hemlock.

Unani: Khardmaanaa, Shuk.

Action: Sedative, anodyne, antispasmodic. Used for relief in whooping cough, asthma; paralysis; epilepsy. Antidote to strichnine poisoning and other poisons of the same class. Highly toxic. Mother tincture of Hemlock is used in homoeopathy for prevention of immature cataract.

All parts of the plant contain alkaloids—highest in aerial parts (1.77%) and lowest in stems. Gamma-conice- ine is the principal alkaloid in the leaves, whereas N-methylconiine is the major alkaloid in mature fruits. Beside the alkaloids, a flavone glycoside, dios- min and chlorogenic acid have been reported in the leaves and inflorescence. Ripe seeds yield coumarins, bergapten and xanthotoxin. Experimentally, the plant exhibited teratogenic properties. (Rarely used today.)

Berries are toxic at 10 g, leaves at 30 g and coniine at 150 mg. (Francis Brinker.)
Health Source: Indian Medicinal Plants
Author: Health Dictionary

Hemlock

Conium maculatum L. French: Cigue?. German: Schierling. Spanish: Cicuta. Italian: Cleuta. Indian: Kirda?man. Iranian: Bikhi-i-Tafti. Arabian: Banj-e-rumi. Parts used: leaves, fruit. Constituents: alkaloids, volatile oil.

Poisonous, taken internally but has been used with success as a poultice or ointment topically for malignant glands. Continued use has had a shrinking effect reducing the gland from stony hardness. Schedule 1. Poultice for use by a medical practitioner only. Other external uses: itching anus, piles.

Pharmacy only medicine ... hemlock

Cranesbill

Geranium pratense. N.O. Geraniaceae.

Synonym: Meadow Cranesbill.

Habitat: Moist pasture land.

Features ? Stem up to three feet high, swollen at the joints, freely branched. Dark green leaves, almost circular in form, with five to seven much-divided leaflets, coarsely notched at edges. Seed-pod is distinctive— long, sharp-pointed, pendulous—and might be said by the imaginative to resemble a "crane's bill."

Part used ? Herb.

Action: Astringent, tonic, diuretic.

Arrests internal and external bleeding, and exerts tonic and astringent effect on the kidneys. Decoction of equal quantities of Cranesbill and Bistort makes a good twice-daily injection against leucorrhea. An infusion of 1 ounce Cranesbill herb to 1 pint of water may be given frequently in wineglass doses. Proportionate doses give good results in infantile diarrhoea.

Geranium maculatum, or American Cranesbill, possesses similar properties to the above. The root of the former is used to some extent medicinally.... cranesbill

Cranesbill Tea

Cranesbill has been used for centuries to treat gastrointestinal problems by people who seek natural remedies, as tea or other easy-to-use supplements. What is Cranesbill Tea Cranesbill is the common name of the Geranium Maculatum or Wild Geranium plant, a perennial herb commonly found in the temperate regions of the world, in mountains and in tropical countries. The cranesbill got its name from its fruit which has a resemblance to the bills of the crane. It possesses hairy stems and has pink to purple flowers that bloom between the months of April and June. Cranesbill tea is known to be a good remedy for diarrhea, bladder inflammation and Crohn’s disease. Like many herbs, the healing power of cranesbill tea is derived from the roots. The most important amoung its active constituents are: tannins, resins, starch, calcium oxalate, gallic acid and potassium. Drink Cranesbill Tea For a tasty cranesbill tea, use the plant’s roots or rhizomes and place about 2 teaspoons of the cranesbill in a cup of water, then bring it to a boil. Let the mix simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes. Consume the tea up to three times a day until the ailment goes away. Cranesbill Tea Benefits Cranesbill tea has many health benefits, like the following : Cranesbill tea may help alleviate irritable bowel syndrome and hemorrhoids or bladder related issues. It may also treat heavy menstrual bleeding and relive discomfort from cyclic breast pains. Less common uses of the herb are for the treatment of eye conditions, such as conjunctivitis and moderate retina irritations. Cranesbill tea may help in the treatment of diarrhea or Crohn’s disease. Cranesbill tea may fight sore throat and gingivitis. Cranesbill tea may be useful in treating ulcers and healing wounds. Cranesbill Tea Side Effects Cranesbill tea should not be taken for more than two to three consecutive weeks. Due to the high content of tannin, some people may develop an upset stomach after using cranesbill tea. Basically cranesbill tea is safe to use in your everyday life and in order to enjoy its benefits, it is a good idea to keep moderation.... cranesbill tea

Cranesbill, American

 Storksbill. Wild Geranium. Geranium maculatum L. Herb. Dried Root. Constituents: Tannic and gallic acid.

Action: Haemostatic, astringent, anti-inflammatory, vulnerary, styptic tonic, antiseptic. A vaso- compressor to increase the vital potency of living matter of the ganglionic neurones. Anti-diarrhoea. For over-relaxed conditions.

Uses: Urinary system: frequency, incontinence in the young and aged, bed-wetting, blood in the urine. An ingredient of Captain Frank Roberts’ prescription for ulceration of stomach, duodenum and intestines. Ulceration of mouth and throat (tea used as a mouth wash and gargle). Irritable bowel. Summer diarrhoea of children.

Combines with Beth root (equal parts) as a vaginal douche for leucorrhoea or flooding of the menopause; with tincture Myrrh for cholera and infective enteritis.

Dr Wm Winder reported in the 1840s how the Indians of Great Manitoulin Island held it in high favour as a healing styptic antiseptic, “the powdered root being placed on the mouth of the bleeding vessel . . . Internally, they considered it efficacious for bleeding from the lungs”. (Virgil J. Vogel, University of Oklahoma Press, USA)

Preparations: Thrice daily.

Tea. Half-2 teaspoons dried herb to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes. Half-1 cup.

Decoction. Half-1 teaspoon dried root to each cup water simmered gently 20 minutes. Half a cup.

Tablets BHP 270mg. (Gerard House)

Liquid extract: 15-30 drops.

Tincture BHP (1983). 1 part root to 5 parts 45 per cent alcohol. Dose: 2-4ml (30-60 drops).

Powdered root, as a snuff for excessive catarrh and to arrest bleeding from the nose.

Vaginal douche. 1oz root to 2 pints water simmered 20 minutes. Strain and inject. ... cranesbill, american

Coniine

n. an extremely poisonous alkaloid, found in hemlock (Conium maculatum), that paralyses the nerves, mainly the motor nerves. Coniine has been included in drug preparations for the treatment of asthma and whooping cough.... coniine

Desmodium

Desmodium gangeticum

Fabaceae

San: Anshumati, Salaparni;

Hin,

Ben: Salpani;

Mal: Orila;

Tam:Pulladi;

Tel: Gitanaram

Kan: Murelehonne; Mar: Darh;

Guj: Salwan; Ori: Salaparni Pun: Shalpurhi

Importance: Desmodium is a small shrub which is the chief of the ten ingredients in the Dasamula kwatha of Hindu medicine. Roots are useful in vitiated conditions of vata, anorexia, dyspepsia, haemorrhoids, dysentery, strangury, fever, gout, inflammations, cough, asthma, bronchitis, cardiopathy and debility. The unani preparation “Arq dashmul” contains these roots. It is considered a curative for leucorrhoea and for pains due to cold (Warrier et al, 1995).

Distribution: The plant is widely distributed in the tropics and subtropics. It grows wild in the forests of India up to 1500m. It is also cultivated in the plains and in the lower Himalayas.

Botany: Desmodium gangeticum (Linn.) DC. syn. Hedysarum gangeticum Linn., Desmodium gangeticum var. maculatum (Linn.) Baker., belongs to the family Fabaceae (Papilionaceae). It is an erect diffusely branched undershrub, 90-120cm in height with a short woody stem and numerous prostrate branches provided with soft grey hairs. Leaves are unifoliate, ovate- lanceolate, membranceous and mottled with grey patches. Flowers are white, purple or lilac in elongate lax, terminal or axillary racemes. Fruits are moniliform, 6-8 jointed, glabrescent pods, joints of pods separately pubescent with hooked hairs, joint separating when ripe into indehiscent one seeded segments. Seeds are compressed and reniform.

Agrotechnology: Desmodium can grow in a variety of climate and soils. However, it prefers tropical and subtropical climatic conditions. Although it can grow on all types of soils, waterlogged and highly alkaline soils are not suitable. Light sandy loam is preferred for commercial cultivation.

It is propagated through seeds. Seeds can be planted directly in the field or seedlings raised on the nursery beds and transplanted. Transplanting always gives better results in commercial cultivation, as it gives assured crop stand. Planting is done at a spacing of 40x20cm on flat beds or ridges. Organic manures are applied at the time of land preparation and thoroughly mixed with the soil. A little quantity of phosphatic and nitrogenous fertilizers are also applied for better crop growth. The inter-row spaces between plants, both in the field and nursery should be kept free from weeds by frequent weeding and hoeing as the plant suffers from weed competition, especially during early stages of growth. Manual hand weeding is usually done. Irrigation of seedlings just after planting is good for crop establishment. Although it can be cultivated as a rainfed crop under humid tropical conditions, irrigation every month is beneficial during summer. The root is the economic part and harvesting can be commenced after 8-9 months. About 500- 700kg roots can be harvested from a hectare of land per year.

Properties and activity: The root contains gangetin, gangetinin, desmodin, N,N-dimethyl tryptamine, hypaphorine, hordenine, candicine, N-methyl tyramine and -phenyl ethyl amine. The total alkaloid fraction showed hypotensive activity. The root is bitter, antiinflammatory, analgesic, aphrodisiac, constipating, diuretic, cardiotonic, expectorant, astringent, antidiarrhoeal, carminative, antiemetic, febrifuge and anti-catarrhal (Thakur et al, 1989).... desmodium

Geranium

Pelargonium graveolens

FAMILY: Geraniaceae

SYNONYMS: Rose geranium, pelargonium.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A perennial hairy shrub up to 1 metre high with pointed leaves, serrated at the edges and small pink flowers. The whole plant is aromatic.

DISTRIBUTION: Native to South Africa; widely cultivated in Russia, Egypt, Congo, Japan, Central America and Europe (Spain, Italy and France). With regard to essential oil production, there are three main regions: Reunion (Bourbon), Egypt and Russia (also China).

OTHER SPECIES: There are over 700 varieties of cultivated geranium and pelargonium, many of which are grown for ornamental purposes. There are several oil-producing species such as P. odorantissimum and P. radens, but P. graveolens is the main one commercially cultivated for its oil. Geranium Bourbon (P. Roseum) has a superior fragrance to other species, having a rich rosy-fruity scent due to the higher levels of linalook and iso-methone content. See also Botanical Classification section.

HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: The British plant herb robert (Geranium robertianum) and the American cranesbill (G. maculatum) are the most widely used types in herbal medicine today, having been used since antiquity. They have many properties in common with the rose geranium, being used for conditions such as dysentery, haemorrhoids, inflammations, metrorrhagia and menorrhagia (excessive blood loss during menstruation). The root and herb of cranesbill is specifically indicated in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia for diarrhoea and peptic ulcer.

ACTIONS: Antidepressant, antihaemorrhagic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, cicatrisant, deodorant, diuretic, fungicidal, haemostatic, stimulant (adrenal cortex), styptic, tonic, vermifuge, vulnerary.

EXTRACTION: Essential oil by steam distillation from the leaves, stalks and flowers. An absolute and concrete are also produced in Morocco.

CHARACTERISTICS: The Bourbon oil is a greenish-olive liquid with a green, rosy-sweet, minty scent. The Bourbon oil is generally preferred in perfumery work; it blends well with lavender, patchouli, clove, rose, sandalwood, jasmine, juniper, neroli, bergamot and other citrus oils.

PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Citronellol, geraniol, linalol, isomenthone, menthane, phellandrene, sabinene, limonene, among others. Constituents vary according to type and source.

SAFETY DATA: Non-toxic, non-irritant, generally non-sensitizing; possible contact dermatitis in hypersensitive individuals, especially with the Bourbon type.

AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE

Skin Care: Acne, bruises, broken capillaries, burns, congested skin, cuts, dermatitis, eczema, haemorrhoids, lice, oily complexion, mature skin, mosquito repellent, ringworm, ulcers, wounds.

Circulation Muscles And Joints: Cellulitis, engorgement of breasts, oedema, poor circulation.

Respiratory System: Sore throat, tonsillitis.

Genito-Urinary And Endocrine Systems: Adrenocortical glands and menopausal problems, PMT.

Nervous System: Nervous tension, neuralgia and stress-related conditions.

OTHER USES: Used as a fragrance component in all kinds of cosmetic products: soaps, creams, perfumes, etc. Extensively employed as a flavouring agent in most major food categories, alcoholic and soft drinks.... geranium


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