Podophyllum peltatum

Podophyllum peltatum
Family:Podophyllum peltatum; Antibilious; Cancer; Cathartic; Cytostatic; Homeopathy; Hydrogogue; Purgative; Warts; Women's complaints.
Common name:American mandrake
American mandrake is a most powerful and useful herbal medicine exercising an influence on every part of the system and stimulating the glands to healthy action. Its greatest power lies in its action on the liver and bowels. It is a gastro-intestinal irritant a powerful hepatic and intestinal stimulant. Although often used internally in the past the plant's cytotoxic action makes it an unsafe remedy for internal use. The root is antibilious cathartic cytostatic hydrogogue and purgative. The plant contains podophyllin which has an antimiotic effect (it interferes with cell division and can thus prevent the growth of cells). It is therefore a possible treatment for cancer and has been used especially in the treatment of ovarian cancer. However alopecia is said to be a common side-effect of this treatment. The root is most active medicinally in early spring when it is beginning to shoot. The resin which is obtained from the root is used in the treatment of warts and has been found to be effective against uterine warts that are sometimes experienced in pregnancy. It is also used in the treatment of small-cell carcinoma. The root is harvested in the autumn and either dried for later use or the resin is extracted. The whole plant apart from the ripe fruit is highly poisonous and should only be used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. It should not be prescribed for pregnant women. Large doses have been used to commit suicide. A homeopathic remedy is obtained from the fresh root harvested before the fruit is ripe. This is used particularly in the treatment of diarrhoea.

Herbal Database

01.01.2005 05:11 []