-IBIS-1.5.0-
rx
herb
Chenopodium spp. (Wormseed; Lamb's Quarters)
botanicals

definition

botanical name(s): Chenopodium ambrosioides, C. album
synonyms:
» Chenopodium ambosioides: wormseed, feather geranium, goosefoot, Jesuit tea, Jerusalem oak, Mexican tea, American wormseed, wurinsamen
» Chenopodium album: lamb's quarters
part(s) used: seeds, herb
qualities:
affinities:
actions:
dosage:
» powder: 1 - 4 g
» tincture: 3 - 5 ml.
• <therapy:
toxicity: C. ambrosioides = 1; other species = 0
» contraindicated in pregnancy (Ellingwood, p. 505) due to the emmenogogue and abortifacient effects of the seed oil (Brinker, Farnsworth, Conway and Slocumb)
» contraindicated in patients with gastrointestinal irritation (Felter, p. 286) since the seed oil acts as an irritant to the alimentary tract (Brinker)
» contraindicated in heart disease since the seed oil acts as a cardiac depressant (Brinker)
» contraindicated in liver disease since the seed oil has toxic hepatic effects (Brinker)
» contraindicated in patients with kidney disease since the seed oil has toxic renal effects (Brinker)
» contraindicated in repeated use (more than once) of 1-3 cc of the seed oil in a one-week period, or use of seed oil alone in the undernourished, in debilitated subjects, or in very young children (Brinker)
» Chenopodium ambrosioides reportedly has potential for causing paralysis (Ellingwood, p. 505); sialagogue effects are seen with increased bronchial and epidermal secretions (Potter, p. 206). Other effects include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain; vertigo, general depression, impaired vision and amblyopia. The patient may feel the inclination to sleep due to drowsiness and depression (Duke,
p. 115; von Oettingen, p. 288)
» renal involvement can lead to lumbar pain; pulse rate may increase (Ellingwood, p. 505; von Oettingen, p. 288)
» In severe cases, neural signs predominate including delirium, paresthesias, depressed and/or Cheyne-Stokes respirations, clonic twitches and convulsions. Following recovery, many neurological symptoms remain, especially neuromotor and auditory disturbances (Duke, p. 115; von Oettingen, p. 288)
» laboratory test results: changes in white blood cell count and albuminurea may occur (von Oettingen, pp. 77, 124-134)
» death may occur from respiratory paralysis
constituents: volatile oil, methyl salicylate, butyric acid, triterpenes


footnotes


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

Conway GA, Slocumb JC. 1979. Plants used as abortifacients and emmenagogues by Spanish New Mexicans. J Ethnopharm., 1:241-61.

Duke, J.A. 1985. C.R.C. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton, FL: The C.R.C. Press.

Ellingwood, F. 1898. American Materia Medica, Therapeutics, and Pharmacognosy. Portland, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications.

Farnsworth NR, Bingel AS, Cordell GA, Crane FA, Fong HHS. 1975. Potential Value of Plants as Sources of New Antifertility Agents I. J. Pharm. Sci., 64:535-98.

Felter, H.W. & Scudder, John K., 1922. The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Cincinnati, Ohio. Reprinted in 1985 by Eclectic Medical Publications, Portland, OR.

Potter, S.O. 1887. Materia Medica, Pharmacy and Therapeutics.

von Oettingen, W.F. 1958. Poisoning: A Guide to Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders and Company.