|
Common Name/s: |
Other Name/s: |
Botanical name/s: |
| Meadow Saffron, Naked Ladies |
Colchicum |
Colchicum Autumnale |
General description and domicile:
An attractive meadow perennial with long green leaves up to a foot long and
crocus-like flowers that appear in autumn the Meadow Saffron is extremely toxic.
Native to North Africa, Europe and parts of Britain this plant has been the bane
of herd keepers over centuries. As these plants thrive in open meadows and will
happily grow amongst tall grass, it is easily consumed by browsing cattle and
very little need to be ingested before it is fatal.
Scent: similar to radish, taste: bitter and acrid.
The medicinal benefit of this herb is in the treatment or
rheumatism and gout. Seeing that there are many other herbs that are effective
against these two ailments there is no conceivable reason why anyone would want
to take the extreme risk of using Meadow Saffron.
Meadow saffron (Colchicum Autumnale) is so toxic that as
little as 5mg of colchinine can be fatal. Traditional herbal preparations like
infusions, decoctions and liquid extracts will often give varying results in
prescence of a particular constituent, add to this the normal variation of
concentrations of these substances in two plants of the same specie the risk of
overdosing becomes too great.
This herbal remedy is not recommended see our Symptoms Directory
for other alternatives. This page is only included for completeness of
information and should never be construed as an endorsement or recommendation.
Part used and extraction:
The bulb (corm) and the seeds are used in herbal medicine.
Remedy preparation:
Colchinine is available as a prescription only medication from pharmacies. The
fresh or dried corm is sometimes sold. Powdered corm is more available.
History:
Was used in Ancient Arabia as a treatment for gout and rheumatic pains.
Used for treatment of:
Gout - pharmaceutically available colchicine is used to relieve painful gout in
extreme cases where nothing else works.
Constituents:
Colchicine: An Amine, Colchicine is derived
from the autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale). Colchicine inhibits cell
division and is used for this effect in genetic research and plant breeding.
Colchicine is used in the treatment of gout.
Amines: Amines are derived from ammonia by
replacing one or more hydrogen atoms with carbon atoms. Amines are basic
synthesised derivatives of ammonium chloride, a natural salt.
Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine (derived from Ephedra Sinica -Ma Huang) are possibly the best
known amines and are widely used for allergies that affect the respiratory
tract. Mescaline is another amine that is known
for its hallucinogenic effect and the less known Muscarine is a toxic amine
found in many toxic mushrooms. |
Flavonoids: Flavonoids occur (as white and yellow plant pigments
found almost as commonly as chlorophyll) as Glycosides or in a free state. In
plants it is essential for protecting plant tissue from UV radiation and acts as
antioxidants. As pigments it is also responsible for Autumn colors in leaves and
yellow/red pigmentation in flowers. Laboratory experiments have been
conducted on the beneficiary effect of Flavonoids on the heart and circulatory
system. Flavonoids are also used to mitigate stress, especially environmental
stress. Flavonoids are often used for their antioxidant effect against free
radicals. There are also strong indications that they have antiviral,
anti-inflammatory and anti-hypertensive properties but dosage has not been
determined which will obviously have a profound effect on their efficacy as a
component of this herb.
* Statements made
have not been evaluated by American Food and Drug Authority or similar board
or authority of any other country.
The content of
this website, products offered on the website and any correspondence that we
may enter into with you have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug
Authority. The information and products offered on this website and any
website or publication that we may refer to or link to are not intended to
diagnose, treat, cure, prevent or in any way improve or ease any conditions,
disease or symptoms. The content of the website, products and documentation
provided is for your entertainment and enlightenment only. None of the
content of this website, packaging and documentation provided with products
offered on this website or any correspondence entered into is intended or
should be construed as a substitute or augmentation of advice from your
physician or medical practitioner. You should not use any information
provided by us in any form to diagnose or treat any condition or disease.
You must consult your healthcare practitioner or doctor before commencing
any dietary change, taking or ceasing to take any medication, starting or
stopping a treatment of any suspected or diagnosed medical condition or self
improvement plan. |
Warning! |
Read our detailed warning and disclaimer |
|
