Week 3 - Lymphagogues Flashcards
Lymphagogues
- Agents that stimulate the movement of lymphatic fluid, thereby relieving congestion and edema, and accelerating the removal of waste products
- Can help resolve infection and inflammation
- Generally cooling and stimulating
- Some are potentially toxic or irritating
Lymphagogue Botanicals
- Ceanothus americanus (Red Root)
- Gallium aparine (Cleavers)
- Phytolacca americana (Poke Root)
- Calendula officinalis (“pot marigold”)
- Stillingia sylvatica (Queen’s Root)
- Echinacea spp.
- Trifolium pratense (Red Clover)
Ceanothus americanus - Family
- Rhamnaceae
Ceanothus americanus - Part Used
- Root
Ceanothus americanus - Energetics
- Drying
Ceanothus americanus - Indications
- Cough
- Bronchitis
- Pharyngitis
- Asthma
- Splenic enlargement
- Dysentery
Ceanothus americanus - Contraindications/Cautions
- May antagonize anticoagulants or accelerate coagulation in large doses
Ceanothus americanus - Preparation and Dosage
- Root tincture: (1:4) 20 - 40 drops 1 - 4 times per day
- Fluid extract: 1 - 30 drops
- Decoction: 1 tsp per cup of water taken a few tablespoons at a time throughout the day
Gallium aparine - Family
- Rubiaceae
Gallium aparine - Parts Used
- Fresh aerial parts
Gallium aparine - Energetics
- Cooling, drying
Gallium aparine - Indications
- Lymphadenopathy
- Tonsilitis
- Nodular growths under the skin
- Painful urinary tract conditions
- Kidney and bladder inflammation
- BPH
- Interstitial cystitis
Gallium aparine - Contraindications/Cautions
- None reported
Gallium aparine - Preparation and Dosage
- Tincture: 1:1 fresh plus dry plant, 30 - 60 drops three times daily
- Fresh juice or succus: 3 - 15 mL three times daily
- Infusion: 2 - 4 g infused in 60 - 120 mL of water taken three times daily
Phytolacca americana - Family
- Phytolaccaceae
Phytolacca americana - Part Used
- Root (very caustic - wear gloves!)
- Some uses of berries without the seed
Phytolacca americana - Energetics
- Cooling
Phytolacca americana - Indications
- Hard, painful glandular swellings
- Mastitis
Phytolacca americana - Contraindications/Cautions
- Pregnancy
- Lactation (because don’t want the baby to get any)
- Not good for kids
- Potentially toxic: If take too much, will get nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Phytolacca americana - Preparation and Dosage
- Tincture: 1 - 30 drops three times daily
- Olive oil root extract: used topically for mastitis and lymphatic swellings
- Therapeutic window is narrow
Phytolacca americana - Toxicity
- Toxic constituents: phytolaccigenin, phytolaccine, and phytolaccotoxin
- Toxicity is decreased with heat and drying
- < 2g root is toxic to adults
- Less than or equal to 10 berries fatal in children, 1/2 oz of berries fatal in adults
- Root can cause dermatitis when collected
- Symptoms of overdose: nausea, vomiting, tingling throughout the body, hypotension, respiratory failure, severe gastroenteritis with vomiting, diarrhea, bone marrow depression, death from respiratory or cardiac depression
Calendula officinalis - Family
- Asteraceae
Calendula officinalis - Part Used
- Flower
Calendula officinalis - Energetics
- Drying
Calendula officinalis - Indications
- Lymphatic congestion with a predilection for the chest, axilla, and inguinal crease
- Wounds
Calendula officinalis - Contraindications/Cautions
- Allergy to Asteraceae family
Calendula officinalis - Preparation and Dosage
- Tincture: 30 - 60 drops TID
- Fluid extract: 10 - 40 drops TID
- Infusion: 1 - 4 g flowers/240 mL water
Stillingia sylvatica - Family
- Euphorbiaceae
Stillingia sylvatica - Part Used
- Fresh root
Stillingia sylvatica - Energetics
- Stimulating
Stillingia sylvatica - Indications
- Dry, red, irritated mucous membranes of the larynx, pharynx, bronchi
- Croupy cough
Stillingia sylvatica - Contraindications/Cautions
- Potentially toxic!
- Sylvacrol, which is present in the fresh root tincture, may cause gastrointestinal burning, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia, muscular weakness, and prostration
Stillingia sylvatica - Preparation and Dosage
- Fresh root tincture (1:1.4): 10 - 30 drops 1 - 3 times daily
- Recently dried root infusion: 1 tsp per cup of water infused for 25 minutes
- Recently dried root: a small piece chewed occasionally throughout the day (keeps producing a small amount of liquid and acting like a cough drop)
Echinacea spp. - Family
- Asteraceae
Echinacea spp. - Part Used
- Root
- Rhizome
- Whole plant
Echinacea spp. - Energetics
- Cooling
- Drying
- Stimulating
Echinacea spp. - Indications
- Infection
- Sepsis
- Pharyngitis
- Snake bites
- Ulcers
Echinacea spp. - Contraindications/Cautions
- Some practitioners avoid use with inflammatory autoimmune diseases
Echinacea spp. - Preparation and Dosage
- Decoction: 1 - 2 tsp/cup, three times daily
- Tincture: 1 - 5 mL (1:5, 40-50%) three times daily
Trifolium pratense - Family
- Fabaceae
Trifolium pratense - Part Used
- Flower
Trifolium pratense - Energetics
- Cooling
Trifolium pratense - Indications
- Cancer
- Gout, arthritis
- Acne
- Spasmodic cough
- Cachexia
- Burns with poor healing
- Ulcers of the skin or mucous membranes
- TB or inflammation of the lungs
