-IBIS-1.5.0-
rx
herb
Selenicereus grandiflorus (Cactus Grand, Night Blooming Cactus)
botanicals
definition
botanical name(s): Selenicereus grandiflorus, Cereus grandiflorus
synonyms: cactus, night-blooming cereus, cactus grandiflorus, night blooming cactus, large-flowering cactus, sweet-scented cactus, vanilla cactus, cereus grand, konigin der nacht, ciege a grandes fleurs
part(s) used: stems, spires and flowers
qualities: sweet, bitter, cool, dry
affinities:
actions: heart stimulant and tonic, sympathetic nerve stimulant (especially to heart plexus but also renal plexuses), increases arterial tension, increases blood pressure, increases pulse, increases cardiac output, nutritive to heart, diuretic
dosage:
» tincture: 0.1 - 2 ml.
pulse:
» flooding, irregular, chaotic surging (Scudder)
specific indications: impaired heart action, whether feeble, irregular, or tumultuous; cardiac disorders with mental depression, precordial oppression, and apprehension of danger and death; nervous disorders with feeble heart action; tobacco heart; hysteria with enfeebled circulation; vertex headache; vasomotor spasms (Felter and Scudder, pp. 253-254)
therapy: enfeeblement of the heart; valvular troubles; cardiac arrhythmias, pain, palpitations, dyspnea; aortic regurgitation; cardiac muscle spasm; constrictive cardiac pain; endocarditis; pericarditis; neurasthenia of menopause; menstrual headache (Felter and Scudder, pp. 253-255); as a substitute for digitalis, heart incompetence and weakness with dilatation and atony of the muscles, congestive heart failure, irregular feeble pulse, arteriosclerosis or atheromas, angina, dyspnea, valvular insufficiency, low blood pressure, myocardial infarct, menopausal hot flashes (Anderson Geller)
AHPA Botanical Safety Rating: 1
toxicity: 1
» contraindicated in high blood pressure, excessive heart action, increased pulse, overstimulated nervous system due to cardiac-stimulating effect; symptoms include tachycardia, arrhythmia, cardiospasm, mental confusion, violent headaches, gastrointestinal upsets, quickened pulse, constricted sensation in chest, sadness and paranoia; toxicity is noncumulative
» contraindicated in cardiac patients: increases the tension of the arterial wall and causes myocardial hypercontractility (Ellingwood, p. 213)
» not recommended in extreme inflammatory conditions or during acute onset stage (Harper-Shove, p. 197)
» Ellingwood observed no toxic effect at therapeutic dosages (Ellingwood, p. 212); Felter and Lloyd recognized numerous signs and symptoms including: irritability, hyperesthesia, confusion, vertigo, delirium, dim-sightedness, hallucinations, melancholia, gastric irritation, tachycardia, arrhythmias, myocarditis, and other cardiac pains, palpitations, feeling of constriction in the chest (Felter and Lloyd, p. 379)
constituents: mucilage, resins, cardiac glycosides, alkaloids, flavonoids
footnotes
Anderson Geller, C. 1984-1989. Lectures in Botanical Medicine, National College of Naturopathic Medicine. Portland, OR.
Ellingwood, F. 1898. American Materia Medica, Therapeutics, and Pharmacognosy. Portland, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications.
Felter, H. W., and Lloyd, J. U. 1983. King's American Dispensatory, Vols. I and II. Portland, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications.
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.
Harper-Shove, Captain F. 1985. Prescriber and Clinical Repertory of Medicinal Herbs. New Delhi, India: B. Jain Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
Scudder, John, M.D. 1882. Specific Diagnosis: A Study of Disease. Cinncinnati, OH: Witlstach, Baldwin and Co.