-IBIS-1.5.0-
rx
herb
Thuja occidentalis (Arbor Vitae, White Cedar, Yellow Cedar)
botanicals
definition
botanical name(s): Thuja occidentalis
synonyms: yellow cedar, arbor vitae, white cedar, tree of life, white cedar, abendlandischer lebensbaum, thuya
part(s) used: leaves, tops
qualities:
affinities:
actions: expectorant, stimulant, emmenagogue, anthelmintic, antifungal and antiviral
dosage:
» tincture: 2 - 4 ml.
therapy:
» internal: expectorant in bronchial catarrh, amenorrhea, parasites; thujone is toxic in large doses and should be taken internally only occasionally
» external: warts
AHPA Botanical Safety Rating: 2b, 2d
toxicity: 2; essential oil is toxic
» contraindicated during pregnancy; young leafy twigs are potentially abortifacient (Brinker, p. 99; Duke, pp. 181-182) due to uterine stimulant activity caused by its volatile oil, thujone (Brinker, Albert-Puleo)
» contraindicated in patients with cystitis; may injure the bladder resulting in mucosal necrosis (von Oettingen, pp. 574-575)
» excessive use can result in abdominal pain and diarrhea; severe cases result in stridulous respirations, frothing, pulmonary edema, tonic-clonic convulsions, and increased spinal pressure; hypotension may occur; death results from circulatory failure (von Oettingen, pp. 574-575; Westbrooks and Preacher, pp. 181-182)
» laboratory test results: oliguria or anuria, complicated by uremia (von Oettingen, pp. 574-575)
» do not exceed recommended dose; not for long-term use (McGuffin)
constituents: volatile oil, containing thujone as the major component; flavonoids, mucilage, tannins
footnotes
Albert-Puleo M. 1978. Mythobotany, pharmacology, and chemistry of thujone-containing plants and derivatives. Econ. Bot., 32:65-74.
Brinker F. 1996. The Toxicology of Botanical Medicines, rev. 2nd ed., Sandy, Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications.
Duke, J.A. 1985. C.R.C. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton, FL: The C.R.C. Press.
McGuffin, Michael, ed. 1997. American Herbal Products Associations Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: The CRC Press.
von Oettingen, W.F. 1958. Poisoning: A Guide to Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders and Company.
Westbrooks, R.G., Preacher, J. W. 1986. Poisonous Plants of North America. Los Angeles: University of Southern California Press.