Surface-tension modifiers

Of the small number of effective saponin-containing expectorant herbs, two are not commonly used in the United States. The leaves of ivy, Hedera helix L. (family Araliaceae), cannot be employed as a tea, and the concen- trated extracts available in Europe are not articles of commerce in the United States. The flowers and root of primula, Primula veris L. or P. elatior

(L.) Hill of the family Primulaceae, are very popular in Europe but not readily available in the United States. 41

Licorice Also known as glycyrrhiza, licorice is widely used in the United States and has very useful expectorant or antitussive properties. It has already been discussed as a treatment for stomach ulcers. Although licorice does contain saponins, its mode of action in the treatment of upper respiratory congestion and coughs requires considerable clarification. 41

88 Tyler's herbs of choice: The therapeutic use of phytomedicinals Senega snakeroot

The only significant herb remaining in this category is senega snakeroot. Variously known as senega or seneca root, this herb consists of the dried root of Polygala senega L. (family Polygalaceae). The plant is native to the

eastern woodlands of North America. It was used by the Seneca Indians to treat rattlesnake bite—hence, the name.

Senega snakeroot contains 5–10 percent of a mixture of triterpenoid saponins, which are the active expectorant principles. The major compo- nents of the mixture are senegin, also known as polygalin, and polygalic acid. Although these probably function directly to reduce the viscosity of thickened bronchial secretions, their primary mechanism of action appears to be that of a nauseant–expectorant. Irritation of the gastric mucosa leads, by reflex stimulation, to an increase in bronchial mucous gland secretion. 42

The herb is administered in the form of a decoction prepared from 0.5

g (about 1/5 teaspoonful) and 1 cup of water. Total daily dose should not exceed 3 g because of the tendency of large doses to upset the stomach and to produce nausea and diarrhea. Commission E has approved senega sna-

keroot as an expectorant for the treatment of upper respiratory catarrh. 43 The drug was official in the NF until 1960.

Sore throat

Often, but not necessarily, associated with colds and flu, sore throat may

be a symptom of many illnesses. These range from acute simple (catarrhal) pharyngitis, usually caused by bacterial or viral infections of the upper respiratory tract, to severe streptococcal infections. It also accompanies certain acute specific infections, such as measles and whooping cough. The kind of dry sore throat that attends colds and flu is usually self-lim- iting; treatment is symptomatic with emphasis on increasing the patient’s comfort. Gargling with warm infusions or decoctions of various herbs is often recommended. The antiseptic and astringent botanicals commonly used as palliatives are essentially the same as those employed for lesions and infections of the oral mucosa. They are discussed together in

Chapter 10 .

References

1. Torphy, T. J., and D. W. P. Hay. 1994. Drugs used in asthma. In Modern phar- macology, 4th ed., ed. C. R. Craig and R. E. Stitzel, 509–521. Boston: Little, Brown.

2. List, P. H., and L. Hörhammer, L., eds. 1973. Hagers Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4th ed., vol. 3, 639. Berlin: Springer–Verlag. 3. Haas, H. 1991. Arzneipflanzenkunde, 64. Mannheim, Germany: B. I. Wissenschaftsverlag.

Chapter five: Respiratory tract problems

89 4. Osol, A., and G. E. Farrar, Jr. 1947. The dispensatory of the United States of

America, 24th ed., 403–407. Philadelphia, PA: J. B. Lippincott.

5. Kreig, M. B. 1964. Green medicine, 415–416. Chicago: Rand McNally. 6. Steinegger, E., and R. Hänsel. 1988. Lehrbuch der Pharmakognosie und

Phytopharmazie, 450–453. Berlin: Springer–Verlag. 7. Hegnauer, R. 1962. Chemotaxonomie der Pflanzen, vol. 1, 460–462. Basel: Birkhäuser Verlag. 8. Lee, T. J.-F., and R. E. Stitzel. 1994. Adrenomimetic drugs. In Modern phar- macology, 4th ed., ed. C. R. Craig and R. E. Stitzel, 115–128. Boston: Little, Brown.

9. Pahlow, M. 1985. Das Grosse Buch der Heilpflanzen, 387–388. Munich: Gräfe und Unzer. 10. Williams, D. M., and T. H. Seif. 1996. Asthma. In Handbook of nonprescription drugs, 11th ed., ed. T. R. Covington, 157–177. Washington, D.C.: American Pharmaceutical Association.

11. Blumenthal, M., and A. Dickinson. 1996. HerbalGram 38:28–31. 12. Blumenthal, M. 1997. HerbalGram 40:26–27. 13. Health Foods Business 37 (6): 8 (1991). 14. Health Foods Business 37 (8): 12 (1991). 15. Haller, C. A., and N. L. Benowitz. 2000. New England Journal of Medicine

343:1833–1838. 16. Calapai, G., F. Firenzuoli, A. Saitta, F. Squadrito, M. R. Arlotta, G. Constantino, and G. Inferrera. 1999. Fitoterapia 70:586–592. 17. Colker, C. M., D. S. Kalman, G. C. Torina, T. Perlis, and C. Street. 1999. Current Therapeutic Research 60:145–153. 18. Fugh-Berman, A., and A. Myers. 2004. Experimental Biology and Medicine 229. 19. American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, MD, September 2,

2004. 20. Tietze, K. J. 1996. Cold, cough, and allergy. In Handbook of nonprescription drugs, 11th ed., ed. T. R. Covington, 133–156. Washington, D.C.: American Pharmaceutical Association.

21. Hänsel, R. 1991. Phytopharmaka, 2nd ed., 99–104. Berlin: Springer–Verlag. 22. Lawrence Review of Natural Products: June 1996. 23. Bisset, N. G., ed. 1994. Herbal drugs and phytopharmaceuticals, English ed.

(Teedrogen, M. Wichtl, ed.), 137–139. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. 24. Bundesanzeiger (Cologne, Germany): January 5, 1989. 25. Airaksinen, M. M., P. Peura, and S. Ontere. 1986. Archives of Toxicology 9

(suppl.): 406–409. 26. Bundesanzeiger (Cologne, Germany): February 1, 1990. 27. Bisset, N. G., ed. 1994. Herbal drugs and phytopharmaceuticals, English ed.

(Teedrogen, M. Wichtl, ed.), 379–381. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. 28. Bundesanzeiger (Cologne, Germany): November 30, 1985. 29. Lawrence Review of Natural Products: March 1991. 30. Claus, E. P., and V. E. Tyler, Jr. 1965. Pharmacognosy, 5th ed., 85. Philadelphia,

PA: Lea & Febiger. 31. Haas, H. 1991. Arzneipflanzenkunde, 65–72. Mannheim, Germany: B. I. Wissenschaftsverlag. 32. Robbers, J. E., M. K. Speedie, and V. E. Tyler. 1996. Pharmacognosy and pharma- cobiotechnology, 160–161. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins.

90 Tyler's herbs of choice: The therapeutic use of phytomedicinals 33. Tyler, V. E. 1987. The new honest herbal, 150–151. Philadelphia, PA: George F.

Stickley. 34. Tyler, V. E. 1987. The new honest herbal, 127–128. Philadelphia, PA: George F. Stickley. 35. Bisset, N. G., ed. 1994. Herbal drugs and phytopharmaceuticals, English ed. (Teedrogen, M. Wichtl, ed.), 317–318. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. 36. Bisset, N. G., ed. 1994. Herbal drugs and phytopharmaceuticals, English ed. (Teedrogen, M. Wichtl, ed.), 493–495. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.

37. Reiter, M., and W. Brandt. 1985. Arzneimittelforschung 35 (I): 408–414. 38. Van den Broucke, C. O., and J. A. Lemli. 1983. Pharmaceutisch Weekblad, scien-

tific ed. 5: 9–14.

39. Bundesanzeiger (Cologne, Germany): December 5, 1984; March 6, 1990. 40. Tyler, V. E., L. R. Brady, and J. E. Robbers. 1988. Pharmacognosy, 9th ed., 133–

135. Philadelphia, PA: Lea & Febiger. 41. Hänsel, R. 1991. Phytopharmaka, 2nd ed., 105–120. Berlin: Springer–Verlag. 42. Briggs, C. J. 1988. Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal 121:199–201. 43. Bundesanzeiger (Cologne, Germany): March 13, 1986; March 6, 1990.

chapter six

Cardiovascular system problems

Surface-tension modifiers