Schwabe News Octuber to December 2016 Asclepias tuberosa
Schwabe India
The Schwabe India Editorial Team is comprised of senior medical consultants, pharmaceutical scientists, and homoeopathic doctors at Dr. Willmar Schwabe India, upholding strict standards of medical accuracy, safety, and German pharmaceutical heritage across all published healthcare guides.
Asclepias tuberosa
It is commonly known as butterfly weed. It is a perennial herb with erect, hirsute stem frequently branched at the top. It is fleshy rooted, perennial plant, growing up to 1m high. Its leaves are
alternate, sessile or short petiole, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate with acute or obtuse apex. It bears 5 petalled orange or yellow flowers.
It is native of North America, also indigenous to South America and Africa.
The root contains a glucosidal principle, cardenolides, flavonoids and Asclepiadin.
It is covered by Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India, German Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia as well as Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of United States. Root is used to prepare homoeopathic mother tincture.
It has been reported to be used to relieve the pain and inflammation of pleurisy. It has property to promote coughing up of phlegm and reduces the inflammation. It stimulates sweat glands and helps to reduce fever. It is also used for treatment of chronic diarrhoea and dysentery. It is indicated in sick headache, with flatulence in stomach and bowels. Catarrhal states from cold and damp weather. It is useful in sick headache, with flatulence in stomach and bowels. Brochitis and pleurisy are also managed by this drug. It is also indicated in rheumatic pericarditis with pain beneath the left nipple, palpitation of heart and dyspnoea.
Contradiction: Use of the plant is contraindicated in pregnancy, during lactation or with infants due to the small amount of cardiac glycosides.
References:
- Andrew Chevallier, The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants, 1st Edition, 1996, Dorling Kindersley, London.
- University of Texas, Austin Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepias_tuberosa
- P. N. Varma, Indu Vaid, Encyclopaedia of Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia, Updated edition 2007, B. Jain Publishers, New Delhi
- A. L. Blackwood, A Manual of Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacology, Reprint Edition 1995, B. Jain Publishers, New Delhi
- W. Boericke, New Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica & Repertory [with Relationship of Remedies], Second Re-Augmented & Revised Edition Based on Ninth Edition, Reprint Edition 2002, B. Jain Publishers, New Delhi