Name Constituents Actions Indications Pharm / Toxic

Internal Pharmacology:
Nepata cataria Volatile oils (citronellol, Sedative,  nervousness w/insomnia (v.good relaxant for  mice: catnip oil and hexobarbitol  first become
citrol); Organic acid; Cis- Carminative, getting to sleep), h/a, or cold w/upset ST stimulated, and secondarily, euphoric & relaxed;
trans-nepetelactone (cpd Anti-spasmodic,
(Cat Nip)  respiratory problems w/assoc nervousness – ↑s sleep time
that affects cats); Bitter, Diaphoretic
Tannin spastic respiratory coughs, ie., bronchitis  #1 mosquito repellant, but attracts all types of
(smoke rolled leaves) cats
Lamiaceae
 leaf can produce “happy intoxication”
Key: Relaxing for humans Toxicity:
 delayed menstruation
(no buzz for us)  emmenagogue
 irritating to mucus membranes
External
 hemorrhoids –(crushed leaves applied
 s/e’s – h/a, malaise – from tea, smoked
directly or sitz bath) more soothing than
astringent
 swelling – bruises or other injuries – poultice
 depression – difficult, persistent morphine, narcotine, codeine = sedative, analgesic;
Papaver Alkaloids (>20 – narcotine, Sedative, anti-tussive = ↓s CNS excitation, inhibits cough
morphine, Nervine hypochondriac (only ↓doses; ↑ dose  reflex; anti-diarrhea = inhibits GI persitalsis
somniferum severe aggravation);
codeine, rhoeadine, Caution: ↓d respiratory reserve, pregnancy, lactation
narcerine, thebaine,  melancholy & feelings of guilt;
(Opium Poppy) papaverine);  menopausal; CI: acute pancreatitis, biliary colic, depression at
Sulphuric acid,  mood change in elderly (d/t arteriosclerosis in higher doses
Erythritol, brain) – ill-tempered & irritability that is out Toxicity:
Myoinositiol; of character  toxic (codeine) = 1mg/kg children
Papaveraceae D-mannoheptulose
 ST CA w/N&V (v. painful);  fatal (codeine) = 5mg/kg children; 7-14 mg/kg
 painful fever, spasm & inflammation, soft adults
pulse, moist skin, pale faced, dilated pupils,  s/e = CONSTIPATION (Tx w/Rheum, Cassia,
expressionless face = typhoid fever, asthma, Rhamnus
cholera, passage of renal/biliary colic; OD =
 Increased chronic d/c – nose, mouth, oral - constipation (nerve plexus stops func’) - pinpoint
salivation, uterine or other hemorrhage; pupils
- pale/clammy skin
 chronic incessant cough; - prostration
 severe spastic pain, - cyanosis
 severe diarrhea/dysentery - shallow irregular breathing
- bradycardia, hypotension, hypothermia
 anti-dote to Atropine, Atopa, Physostigma, - shock or coma (hallucinations if conscious)
Datura & strychnine - pupils dilate, severe sweat, then death(resp shut-
 addiction c/b treated w/ Valeriana down)
- hallucinations – dreamy, c/b violent, pill-rolling,
External – linament, ointment & plaster: very bugs crawling on wall; severe sweat then respiratory
painful inflammation, eg. erysipelatous, eye shut-down
inflammation
Tx: maintain resp, CPR, GI lavage, KMnO4,
stimulants, catherization, heat stimulants. Keep them
awake and moving

Internal – Pharmacology:
 Passiflora Alkaloids (passiflorine,
officinalis/ incarnata harmitol,harmine);
- Cyanogenic glycoside,
- Flavonoids (vitexin, rutin,
(Passion Flower)
quercitin, apigenin),
- Calcium oxalate
Passifloraceae
Piper methysticum Kavalactones (kava pyrones Skeletal muscle relaxant,
– kavaine, dihydrokavine); Anti-spasmodic,
Yangonoic acid; Sedative
(Kava Kava)
Cinnamic acid;
Benzoid acid
Starch (49%)
Piperaceae Excellent Anxiolitic the
best herb for this!!!
* benzoic & cinnamic acid =
anesthetic, antifungal
Piscidia erythrina Glycosides (piscidin)
Isoflavones
Rotenones (lisetin,
(Jamaican Dogwood)
piscerythrone, piscidone)
Resin, fat, wax, calcium,
Nervine, - restlessness, wakefulness from exhaustion or
Sedative, debility from nervous excitement;
Anti-spasmodic - nervous from menstrual disturbances;
- insomnia from worry, infants, elderly, mental
overwork, fever
– sleep induced is peaceful, pt awakens quiet &
refreshed (induces relaxation, not sleep = permits
normal sleep cycle);
spasmodic disorders – worms in children, chorea,
esp in girls approaching first menstruation
- spasmodic asthma
- convulsive movements, tetanus,
- at first warning of epileptic attack;
- nervous h/a, h/a of debility or cerebral fullness
- nervous tachycardia
- palpitations from excitement, shock, nervousness
* usually not strong enough on its own, works well
with the other nerviness
External –(soothing bath) hemorrhoids, burns,
inflammation
- neuralgia esp facial,
- trigeminal neuralgia– toothache, earache, eye
neuralgia;
- anxiety, despondency (benefits w/i 2 wks)
- anorexia, GI cattarrh
- vertigo, despondent, insomnia; anxious
- urinary catarrh d/t gonorrhea, edema w/scanty
micturition, cystitis of the bladder neck, neurogenic
bladder;
- renal colic;
- swelling of prostate d/t prostatitis;
Bronchitis (relieves cough),
- gout, rheumatic pains
External –
- leprosy (M.leprii) – rinse or paste over skin
- otitis type pain,
- abscesses or other skin problems,
- vaginal douche for infections
Pharm:
- anticonvulsant
- dopamine antagonist
- antagonist to strychnine & tetanus poisoining
-Insomnia from neuralgia, nervous tension
Sedative -Nervous unrest, hysterical insomnia, DT
Analgesic -Pain: toothache, burns, scalds, hemorrhoids, oral
Anodyne abscess, neuralgia, sciatica, eyeball neuralgia,
supraorbital neuralgia, OM
-H/A: migrane esp. with neuralgias; reduces
apigenin – may bind benzodiazepine receptors
↓d dyspnea in NY HT Ass II cardiac insufficiency
↑ pain threshold
- decreases amphetamine induced hypermotility,
aggressiveness, restlessness
- increases pain threshold
- decreases anxiety, anticonvuls (animal)
Caution: SSRIs, MAOIs, tyramine containing foods,
may potentiate barbiturates, avoid 5d pre-surgery
(any CNS herbs)
CI: pregnancy, uterine stimulant (harmane,
harmaline)
Toxicity: some sources suggest non-toxic
Harmaline – has marked CNS effects, toxic =
200mg
OD  convulsion, motor paralysis, CNS depression,
hypothermia, ↓HR, ↓myocardial strength, ↓
respiration
Pharmacology:
acts on reticular formation in brain stem (like LSD)
animal: ↓d brain damage induced by brain ischemia =
may be good for high risk stroke pt
anesthetic on bladder mucosa (specifically irritating
cystitis)
- eliminated by kidneys
- compared to benzos  no S/E, improved
memory, no drowsiness, “safe to operate
machinery”
-↓ in anxiety and phobias w/ no dependency or
withdrawl symptoms
Caution:
kavalactones enter breast milk
may potentiate alprazolam, EtOH, benzodiazepines
Toxicity:
dihydromethysticin  exfoliative dermatitis, ulcers
(ext/int), inflammation of eyes
resins  can accumulate in spinal column, LIV ( #
of cases of LIV failure) & KIs (problem when
combining w/meds) – considered safe until now
OD  vomiting, unconscious (infusion)
Pharm:
-Rotenones: toxic to insects (neurotoxin)
-animal: rotenones are carcinogenic
Toxicity:
-Piscidin affects CNS
OD: ↓ sensation, salivation, sweating, hyporeflexia,
 oxalate pain but not prophylactic (unlike feverfew) bradycardia, mydriasis, weakness, ↓ respiration &
Fabaceae -Spasm: dysmenorrhea, false labour pains or volume, dyspnea, paralysis, death from resp failure.
threatened abortion w/ Viburnum Tx: establish resp, emesis/ GI lavage, charcoal,
-Reflex cough: chronic bronchitis, consumption cathartic fluids for hypotention, IV Diazapam
convulsions
Caution:
May potenciate sleep aids
-Nervous restlessness, imagines impending dz or Toxicity:
Pulsatilla vulgaris Saponins Nervine danger CNS stimulation then paralysis
Alkaloids Sedative -Gloomy and depressed; weepy Irritates KI and urinary tract in high doses
Emmenagogue -Mind tends to wander (b/c unsettled, hysterical
(Pulsatilla, Wind
or anxious) OD: Burning in mouth and throat, salivation, n/v,
Flower) -Unpleasant dreams colic, bloody diarrhea, cardiac arrhythmia, SOB, lose
-Pulse: weak, soft, except when discharging control of sensory and moter functions, convulsions
Key: Discharge: thick w/ -Amenorrhea from uterine atony, nervous shock,
Ranuncluaceae yellow and bland out of anemia or from getting chilled Tx: emesis/ lavage, charcoal, demulcents such as
every orifice -Leukorrhea tends to be thick, yellowish-white and Ulmus and Althea spp.
bland
Urine: clear and copious; dysuria during preg; Sxs external: Dermatitis with vesiculations
↑ed micturation during cold
-Nervousness during cold Tx: water and soap
-Epididymitis and orchitis (mumps, N. gon);
spermatorrhea; prostatorrhea and varicoceles
-Improves sexual dysfunction, reduces morbid
sexual excitement
-H/A: menstral, nasal catarrh & nervousness,
biliousness, chilliness, nausea
-URTI: thick mucous, yellow and bland
-Asthma in preg w/ profuse mucous or suppressed
menses
-Coryza or lacrimation from measles or cough
from measles
-constipation in hysterical females (anxious) w/
dyspepsia, indigestion and greasy taste;
constipation alt. w/ diarrhea (IBS)
-greasy fat taste in the mouth
-Ear aches or Otitis from cold-wet wind thick
yellow and Bland discharge
-Cataracts, iritis, glaucoma, hordeolum/stye
-Lacrimation in the wind
-Eye discharge thick, yellow, bland
-Rheumatism: >cold, < worm; pains move and
change location
-Toothache w/ abscess, yellow pus
Nervousness- from illness; mental or physical Pharm:
Scutellaria VO Nervine tonic exhaustion -Inhibits Ab release, preventing allergy, asthma, or
lateriflora Tannin Anti-spasmodic -teething in children- sub for chamomile but not dermatitis rxns
Gum sugar Anti-convulsant as pleasant. -anti-fungal
Bitter -DT; seizure remedy for petit and grand mal -anti-bacteria
(Skullcap) Flavonoid (scutellarin -insomnia (restless type- can’t go to sleep more -has anti-inflammatory effect potentiates
crystals) from mental exhaustion/ overwork benefits for inflammatory types of cancer
-HRT dz assoc w/ nervousness, irregular
Laminaceae arrhythmias or intermittent pulses Toxicity:
-Muscular fasciculations esp w/ nervousness Scutellarin: Giddy, stupor, limb twitching, seizure,

Valeriana officinalis Vol Oil
Isovaltrate, valtrate, vale-
potriates, valeranone
(Valerian)
(neuro effects)
Organic acids (malic acid
and Mg to increase
Valerianaceae absoption fibromyalgia)
Starch, gum resin, tannin
iridoid
Monoterpines- cat buzz
Strychnos ignatia Indole Alkaloids
(strychnine, brucine)
Tannic acid
(Ignatia)
Glycosides
Loganiaceae
Strychnos nux Indole Alkaloids
(strychnine, brucine,
-♀ remedy: uterine probs d/t nervousness or
excitability and mm spasm
-Circulatory probs (stroke, emboli, thrombi),
used for paralysis or insomnia assoc w/ stroke
(Ginko may be better)
-Exhaustion assoc w/ chronic dz (severe
influenza or pneumonia)
Internal:
Sedative - Despondant
Anodyne - Mental depression, hypochondria esp. if cold
-irritable, pain, nervous excitement
-Depression w/ nervousness
-Insomnia from nervousness, grief or loss, with
depression
-Nervous H/A- hemicranium
-↓ cerebral circulation
-Epilepsy, spasmodic movements
-Nervous palpitations
-Elevated BP (has never been tested)
External:
-Add to bath for sleeplessness
-Similar to S. nux but milder in action
Neuromuscular stimulant -Atony, nervous dibility; amenorrhea, anemia
Tonic -Dysmenorrhea w/ colic pains and heaviness in
uterus, ovaries (pain assoc w/ cysts), pains in
lumbar
- Right hypochondrium pains
-menopause w/ coldness of extremites
Brain anemia w/ hysteria, choreic, epileptoid,
melancholic, hypochodriacal behaviour from
nervousness, mm debility, facial twitching
-Disposition to grieve, nervous depression
-Atonic dyspepsia, chronic catarrh of ST
-Sick congestive h/a
-Sexual coldness- impotence in ♂, sterility and
frigitity in ♀
-Visual atonia, sensation of dust in eye, eyelid
twitching
-Tinitus (also indication for selenicereus
grandiflorus, Ginko biloba) and impaired hearing
from atony
-Epilepsy
-Anti-fungal
-n/v from GI irritation, nervous ST, anorexia
Stomachic -congested LV, spleen, portal circ
Synergist -Bilious intermittent fever, bilious h/a w/ nausea,
intermittent pulse
OD: Tremors, causes LV toxicity d/t adulteration w/
other plants.
Dose for insomnia: after dinner and before bed.
Pharm:
-Valepotriates may inhibit thymidine synthsis in
DNA
-↑ GABA ↓ CNS activity
-↓ wakefulness, AM wake w/out hangover (adv over
benzos; also a benzo sub for withdrawalof the drug )
Tox: FAIRLY SAFE
SX: H/A, vertigo, altered vision, restlessness,
agitation, insomnia, nausea, motility and reflex
excitability, central paralysis (20x normal dose)
Note: some people it does not induce sleep and
they get wired (too much LV heat 5% of cases)
Caution: w/ centrally acting drugs (benzo,
barbiturates, epileptic drugs)
Toxicity:
-CNS stimulant by selective block of motor
inhibitors at post synaptic membrane.
-rapidly absorbed in GI, metabolized in 24hrs by
LV and excreted in urine.
-Strycnine: accumulates w/ chronic use, causing
LV damage
Fatal: 30-90mg adults; 15mg kids
OD: Prodrome (sense of doom), mm cramps and
spasm, stiffness, agitation, extreme convulsions in
15-60 min (5min if inhaled), lactic academia, spasm,
opisthotonos (massive back bend), depressed resp.,
death d/t hypoxia, Increased: SGOT, LDH, CPK,
leukocytosis
Tx: Immediate emesis/lavage but not if tetany has
begun, Keep quiet, recumbent, decrease any
stimulation of any kind, dark room, monitor blood
gases, curare (sedate px)
CI: hepatitis, preg
Fatal: 30-90mg adult; 15mg kids
OD: restless, uneasy, sense of suffocation, violent
convulsions (from slight stimulus), opithotonos, death
 vomica vomicine) Stimulant umbilical pain, forehead pain dysentery 2hrs after 2-5 convulsions, recovery if not dead w/in
Glycosides -constipation, diarrhea, menstrual colic from 6hrs.
(Nux Vomica) Caffeotannic acid atony, Lv or func’al GI peristalsis paralysis pain Tx: KmnO4 or I, no lavage/emesis to prevent
convulsions, cathartic, charcoal, camphor, quiet-dark
room to ↓ stimulus, CPR, IV-Diazapam for seizure
Loganiaceae and Hx: passiflora and Gelsemium
Curare is the best anti-dote- paralyses

Similars to Homeo pictures:

-Atropa
-Aconite
-Pulsatila
-Strychnos ignatia
*** all are toxic at small doses and all have Alkaloids