-IBIS-1.5.0-

rx

herb

Senecio spp. (Life Root)

botanicals

definition

botanical name(s): Senecio aureus, Senecio jacobaea

synonyms: life root, ragwort, cocash weed, coughweed, golden ragwort, grundy swallow, squaw weed

part(s) used: herb

qualities:

affinities:

actions:

dosage:

» tincture: 2 - 4 ml.

therapy:

toxicity: 3; see pyrrolizidine alkaloid toxidrome

» contraindicated during pregnancy due to its emmenagogue, oxytocic, and teratogenic effects and content of hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids: senecine, senecifoline (Brinker, Lust, Lewis and Elvin-Lewis, Brooks, Winship)

» contraindicated in nursing mothers due to excretion of hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids into milk (Winship)

» caution is advised regarding use in children due to their sensitivity to pyrrolizidine alkaloids (Brinker, p. 91)

constituents: pyrrolizidine alkaloids, eremophilane sesquiterpenes

footnotes

Brinker F. 1996. The Toxicology of Botanical Medicines, rev. 2nd ed., Sandy, Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications.

Brooks S (ed.). 1995. Botanical Toxicology. Protocol J Bot. Med, 1:147-58.

Lewis, W.H., and Elvin-Lewis, M.P. 1977. Medical Botany. New York: John Wiley and Sons.

Lust, J. 1983. The Herb Book. New York: Bantam Books.

Winship KA. 1991. Toxicity of comfrey. Adverse Drug React. Toxicol. Tev., 10:47-59.

, Sandy, Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications.

Brooks S (ed.). 1995. Botanical Toxicology. Protocol J Bot. Med, 1:147-58.

Lewis, W.H., and Elvin-Lewis, M.P. 1977. Medical Botany. New York: John Wiley and Sons.

Lust, J. 1983. The Herb Book. New York: Bantam Books.

Winship KA. 1991. Toxicity of comfrey. Adverse Drug React. Toxicol. Tev., 10:47-59.

omfrey. Adverse Drug React. Toxicol. Tev., 10:47-59.