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Common Name/s: |
Other Name/s: |
Botanical name/s: |
| Wild Indigo, Baptisia |
Horse fly weed, Indigo weed, Rattlebush |
Baptisia Tinctoria |
General description and domicile:
Wild Indigo is native to North America being found in the upper forests of
Canada down to Carolina in dry clearings. It is a herbaceous perennial that
grows to approximately three feet tall with bright yellow flowers in early
spring. The root is dark brown, misshaped and knotty with many rootlets.
Internally the root is woody and pale yellow with little smell but an acrid,
unpleasant taste.
Part used and extraction:
Root, leaves and bark.
Remedy preparation:
Decoction, Fluid extract and Dried root. In significant doses this herb can be
toxic causing nausea and vomiting.
History:
Wild Indigo was used by Native Americans as a dye, febrifuge and antiseptic.
Used for treatment of:
Infections of the respiratory tract. Particularly when there is evidence of
septic infection.
Tonsillitis
Catarrh
Mouth ulcers
Immune-system stimulant
Vaginitis (as a douche)
Properties:
Emetic
Purgative
Astringent
Stimulant
Antiseptic
Antimicrobial
Antipyretic
Constituents:
Genistein:
An isoflavone found in soy that has been subjected to several trials to
determine its effectiveness in the control of hot flushes and other symptoms of
menopause as well as prevention of breast tumors.
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Isoflavones: Flavonoid isomers found largely in the legume
bearing plants. Isoflavones are similar in structure to oestrogen but their
oestrogen activity is very low. Some isoflavones are reputed to have anti-tumour
properties but little clinical evidence of this property exists at the time of
writing. Isoflavones are also used to treat the symptoms of menopause. |
Other Isoflavones
Cytisine:
A Quinolizidine alkaloid.
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Quinolizidine Alkaloids: Also referred to as
Lupin Alkaloids, Quinolizidine alkaloids are said to have similar effects to
ergotamine on the uterus therefore contra-indicated during pregnancy.
Quinolizidine alkaloids are diuretic. |
Sparteine:
A Quinolizidine Alkaloid found in Scotch Broom. Sparteine has diuretic,
vasoconstriction and cardiac stimulant properties and is similar to the hormone
oxitocin in that it stimulates contraction of the uterus acting much the same as
ergotamine in the induction of labor. Sparteine is tetracyclic and alcohol free.
Do not use if pregnant.
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Quinolizidine Alkaloids: Also referred to as
Lupin Alkaloids, Quinolizidine alkaloids are said to have similar effects to
ergotamine on the uterus therefore contra-indicated during pregnancy.
Quinolizidine alkaloids are diuretic. |
Coumarins: Coumarins are lactones of hydroxycinnamic
acids. Coumarins are lactones. There are many variations of coumarins: Furanocoumarins found in Angelica have a
spasmolitic effect but must be used with caution as they have a strong
phototoxic effect as has many of the Furanocoumarins (Warfarin a blood thinning
drug but also virulent rat poison, is a coumarin derivative). In general
coumarins have antifungal, hypotensive, anticoagulant and antimicrobial properties.
Many of the Coumarins are phototoxic and skin sensitising.
Lactones: A lactone is an Ester that's
functional group has become part of a ring structure with carbon atoms.
Lactones are widely present in the plant kingdom and many are expectorants and
febrifuges. |
Polysaccharides: Polysaccharides (Glycans) are polymers that are
made up as sugar chains. Polysaccharides making up the gums and mucilages, occur
in every plant. Polysaccharides are virtually indigestible and therefore
have little or no effect if ingested. Polysaccharides are mostly inert and the
majority are not soluble in water or organic solvents. Most gums will absorb
water to the point where they become a sticky gel.
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Mucilages and Gums (Polysaccharides): Widely
present in the plant kingdom these substances are hydrophilic, being able to
attract and bind with a volume of water that far exceeds the mass of the gum or
mucilage. Apart from their propensity to attract
water, Mucilages and Gums are virtually inert and also almost fully indigestible.
Generally the small amount of digestion that happens extracts very little sugar and no
noteworthy pharmacological effect. Because of
this neutrality and indigestibility their value if ingested is that they are
demulcent - which means that they coat and protect the lining of the gastric
tract, if applied externally they are emollient - which means that they coat and
protect the skin. |
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