botanical name(s): Colchicum autumnale
synonyms: meadow saffron
part(s) used: root, seed, corm
qualities:
affinities:
actions: cathartic, depressant
dosage:
» tincture: 0.5 - 1 ml.
specific indications: acute gout; rheumatism, without much fever, occurring in gouty individuals; tearing pain, aggravated by heat (Felter, p. 314)
therapy: gouty diathesis; rheumatoid arthritis; subacute and chronic sciatica (Felter, p. 315); inhibits phagocytosis of uric acid crystals by leukocytes, breaking the circle of the inflammatory process (Weiss, p. 273)
toxicity: 3; see gastrointestinal toxidrome
» contraindicated during pregnancy; colchicine is known to prevent cell division, suggesting a potential for teratogenic, abortifacient, and carcinogenic effects (Keeler and Tu, p. 163)
» leaves and fresh corns cause contact dermatitis and irritate skin and mucosal
membranes (Duke, p. 137)
constituents: alkaloids, the most important of which is colchicine; flavonoids, organic acids, sugars, phytosterols
footnotes
Duke, J.A. 1985. C.R.C. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton, FL: The C.R.C. Press.
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.
Keeler, R.F., and Tu, A.T. 1983. Handbook of Natural Toxins. New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc.
Weiss, R.F. 1988. Herbal Medicine. Gothenburg, Sweden: Ab Arcanum; Beaconsfield, England: Beaconsfield Publishers, Ltd.