Copaiba
scientific name: Copaifera officinalis other common names: Jesuit's balsam, copal,
balsam growing areas: Brazil, Peru, Panama, and Venezuela physical description: It is a large tree that can grow up to 100 feet in height.
traditional uses:. The tree produces an oleoresin, which is obtained through cuts made on the bark. The resin is bitter to the taste and yellow-brown in color. In traditional medicine, the resin has been used for the treatment of bronchitis, catarrh, and inflammation of the gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts. It has also been used as a styptic for wounds and ulcers to promote healing. Though it is a plant native to Latin America, copaiba was introduced to Europe in the sixteenth century.
Copaiba has also been used for nonmedicinal purposes, such as as an additive to perfumes and varnishes. availability and dosage: Available as an oil, usually sold by the ounce. Dosages vary.
contraindications: None noted.
special precautions: Consult your physician before beginning any use of an ethnobotanical substance for medicinal purposes.
Researchers report that large doses can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and skin rashes.
medical research: Researchers in Brazil found in a 1998 study that rats fed an extract of the resin of copaiba suffered less damage to their stomach tissue from chemicals meant to induce gastric ulcers. The researchers concluded that the resin increased mucus production in the stomach and acted as an antacid.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Herbs: Contribo
Contribo
scientific name: Aristolochiagrandiflora other common names: Duckflower, alcatraz, hierba del indio
growing areas: The southern part of Mexico to Panama
physical description: A hairy vine that grows along streams and in other wet areas. The leaves are long-stemmed and appear heart-shaped. In her encyclopedic atlas of plant life, Julia Morton has described the flower of the vine before opening as resembling the shape of a duck, with the stalk appearing like a bill and a slender tail dangling at the other end.
traditional uses: It has a number of reported uses in Central America. Based on their studies in Central America, Michael Balick and Rosita Arvigo say that contribo is one of the most popular herbal remedies in Belize. They report that contribo can often be seen soaking in a bottle of rum at saloons, since it is taken by the shot for everything from hangovers and flu to flatulence, late menstrual periods, and irregular heartbeat. The crushed leaves are sometimes applied as a plaster for skin diseases, as a poultice for snakebite, and as an emmena-gogue and treatment for diarrhea, according to Morton.
availability and dosage: Generally not available in the United States. In Belize, the vine is used to make a decoction or infusion.
contraindications: None noted.
special precautions: Consult your physician before beginning any use of an ethnobotanical substance for medicinal purposes.
It has reportedly been used to poison humans, according to Morton. Balick and Arvigo also note that contribo contains aristolochic acid, a mutagen and carcinogen in animals, and that the use of the plant on a continuing basis "cannot be recommended." That being the case, it should be avoided. medical research: Balick and Arvigo reported that contribo extracts have been tested and were not found to have any antimalarial or insecticidal activity.
scientific name: Aristolochiagrandiflora other common names: Duckflower, alcatraz, hierba del indio
growing areas: The southern part of Mexico to Panama
physical description: A hairy vine that grows along streams and in other wet areas. The leaves are long-stemmed and appear heart-shaped. In her encyclopedic atlas of plant life, Julia Morton has described the flower of the vine before opening as resembling the shape of a duck, with the stalk appearing like a bill and a slender tail dangling at the other end.
traditional uses: It has a number of reported uses in Central America. Based on their studies in Central America, Michael Balick and Rosita Arvigo say that contribo is one of the most popular herbal remedies in Belize. They report that contribo can often be seen soaking in a bottle of rum at saloons, since it is taken by the shot for everything from hangovers and flu to flatulence, late menstrual periods, and irregular heartbeat. The crushed leaves are sometimes applied as a plaster for skin diseases, as a poultice for snakebite, and as an emmena-gogue and treatment for diarrhea, according to Morton.
availability and dosage: Generally not available in the United States. In Belize, the vine is used to make a decoction or infusion.
contraindications: None noted.
special precautions: Consult your physician before beginning any use of an ethnobotanical substance for medicinal purposes.
It has reportedly been used to poison humans, according to Morton. Balick and Arvigo also note that contribo contains aristolochic acid, a mutagen and carcinogen in animals, and that the use of the plant on a continuing basis "cannot be recommended." That being the case, it should be avoided. medical research: Balick and Arvigo reported that contribo extracts have been tested and were not found to have any antimalarial or insecticidal activity.
Herbs: Chuchuhuasha
Chuchuhuasha
scientific name: Maytenus laevis
other common names: Chucchu, chuchuhaso
growing areas: Areas of the Amazon basin, including Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia
physical description: It is a large tree that can grow to the height of 100 feet, creating a canopy in the forest. Its leaves can grow up to 12 inches long. It produces a small white flower.
traditional uses: It is reported to be used by several tribes in the sub-Andean rain forest. An alcohol infusion made from the powdered root bark has been used as a tonic for treating arthritis and rheumatism and even as an aphrodisiac. Extracts from a related species (Mayte-nus ilicifolia) are reported to have been used by one tribe of indigenous people in the Amazon for birth control. Chuchuhuasha has also been used as an antitumor agent for skin cancer.
availability and dosage: The bark is available in powdered form. Dosages vary. Some herbalists recommend taking one cup of a bark decoction up to three times a day.
contraindications: None noted.
special precautions: Consult your physician before beginning any use of an ethnobotanical substance for medicinal purposes.
medical research: Chemicals extracted from the bark have been found by Italian researchers to have antitumor and anti-inflammatory effects. However, a study done by researchers in Spain showed that extracts of a related species, Maytenus macrocarpa, did not have any antitumor activity against human lung, colon, and melanoma cancer cells in a laboratory setting.
scientific name: Maytenus laevis
other common names: Chucchu, chuchuhaso
growing areas: Areas of the Amazon basin, including Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia
physical description: It is a large tree that can grow to the height of 100 feet, creating a canopy in the forest. Its leaves can grow up to 12 inches long. It produces a small white flower.
traditional uses: It is reported to be used by several tribes in the sub-Andean rain forest. An alcohol infusion made from the powdered root bark has been used as a tonic for treating arthritis and rheumatism and even as an aphrodisiac. Extracts from a related species (Mayte-nus ilicifolia) are reported to have been used by one tribe of indigenous people in the Amazon for birth control. Chuchuhuasha has also been used as an antitumor agent for skin cancer.
availability and dosage: The bark is available in powdered form. Dosages vary. Some herbalists recommend taking one cup of a bark decoction up to three times a day.
contraindications: None noted.
special precautions: Consult your physician before beginning any use of an ethnobotanical substance for medicinal purposes.
medical research: Chemicals extracted from the bark have been found by Italian researchers to have antitumor and anti-inflammatory effects. However, a study done by researchers in Spain showed that extracts of a related species, Maytenus macrocarpa, did not have any antitumor activity against human lung, colon, and melanoma cancer cells in a laboratory setting.
Herbs: Chamomile
Chamomile
scientific name: Matricaria chamomilla
other common names: Manzanilla, English chamomile, German chamomile
growing areas: Native to Europe; grows in the United States and Central and South America
physical description: It is an annual flowering herb. M. chamomilla is the more widely known variety and is grown in the United States. It can reach a height of 3 feet. Another variety, Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis), tends to grow about 8 inches high. Both varieties have flowers with small white petals and yellow centers.
traditional uses: Of all the medicinal plants used to cure indigestion, probably none is as well known as chamomile. It has a long history of medicinal use stretching back to the time of the ancient Egyptians and Romans. Botanical historians say that the Germans have used it for centuries to treat not only stomach upset but also menstrual problems such as cramps. Doctors in England and the colony of Virginia also included chamomile in their bags of medicinals. In modern-day Eastern Europe, particularly in Romania, children were sometimes asked to bring chamomile plants to school during government-run collection campaigns.
Chamomile is believed to have been brought to the United States by immigrants from Europe, but its use has spread throughout the Hispanic cultures, where it is considered one of the key remedios. Considered by some to be "herbal aspirin," chamomile use is so widespread among Hispanics that one survey found it to be among the top ten substances used by mothers in Puerto Rican communities for treating asthma. In another survey done in ethnic Mexican communities along a portion of the Texas-Mexico border, chamomile was the most frequently mentioned home remedy.
Known popularly among Hispanics as manzanilla, chamomile tea is used to treat abdominal pain, vomiting, and other forms of gastrointestinal distress among children. Mexicans tend to use chamomile to treat conditions among children known as empacho, or blocked intestine, and colico, or colic. It is also reported to be used to treat menstrual and other gynecological problems.
The traditional uses and benefits of chamomile, in both European and Hispanic cultures, have earned it a reputation for being an antispasmodic, antibacterial, deodorant, and sedative.
availability and dosage: It is widely available in tea form throughout the United States at the retail level. Loose chamomile flowers and crushed plants can be purchased as well for the making of teas or for use in baths. Chamomile oil is also available. Dosages vary. It is also available in capsule form in doses up to 350 milligrams.
contraindications: While Commission E said there were no known contraindications for chamomile, other researchers in the United States recommend that it should be avoided by pregnant and breast-feeding women. Caution is urged for people who are sensitive to certain volatile oils or may develop contact dermatitis.
special precautions: Consult your physician before beginning any use of an ethnobotanical substance for medicinal purposes.
In their professional handbook on complementary and alternative medicines, pharmacists Charles W. Fetrow and Juan R. Avila report that chamomile is believed to be an abortifacient and should be avoided by pregnant women.
medical research: A test done of patients undergoing cardiac catheterization showed that chamomile had no effect on heart function but put 80 percent of the patients to sleep shortly after drinking tea made from the herb.
A study done on rats determined that one of the most active substances in chamomile was bisabolol, a compound that suppresses the formation of chemically induced ulcers. Another study carried out with mice evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of a chamomile extract. The animals' ears were chemically treated to induce swelling and then given a topical application of the extract. The chamomile extract was found to have reduced the swelling to a degree similar to that obtained with anti-inflammatory steroids.
scientific name: Matricaria chamomilla
other common names: Manzanilla, English chamomile, German chamomile
growing areas: Native to Europe; grows in the United States and Central and South America
physical description: It is an annual flowering herb. M. chamomilla is the more widely known variety and is grown in the United States. It can reach a height of 3 feet. Another variety, Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis), tends to grow about 8 inches high. Both varieties have flowers with small white petals and yellow centers.
traditional uses: Of all the medicinal plants used to cure indigestion, probably none is as well known as chamomile. It has a long history of medicinal use stretching back to the time of the ancient Egyptians and Romans. Botanical historians say that the Germans have used it for centuries to treat not only stomach upset but also menstrual problems such as cramps. Doctors in England and the colony of Virginia also included chamomile in their bags of medicinals. In modern-day Eastern Europe, particularly in Romania, children were sometimes asked to bring chamomile plants to school during government-run collection campaigns.
Chamomile is believed to have been brought to the United States by immigrants from Europe, but its use has spread throughout the Hispanic cultures, where it is considered one of the key remedios. Considered by some to be "herbal aspirin," chamomile use is so widespread among Hispanics that one survey found it to be among the top ten substances used by mothers in Puerto Rican communities for treating asthma. In another survey done in ethnic Mexican communities along a portion of the Texas-Mexico border, chamomile was the most frequently mentioned home remedy.
Known popularly among Hispanics as manzanilla, chamomile tea is used to treat abdominal pain, vomiting, and other forms of gastrointestinal distress among children. Mexicans tend to use chamomile to treat conditions among children known as empacho, or blocked intestine, and colico, or colic. It is also reported to be used to treat menstrual and other gynecological problems.
The traditional uses and benefits of chamomile, in both European and Hispanic cultures, have earned it a reputation for being an antispasmodic, antibacterial, deodorant, and sedative.
availability and dosage: It is widely available in tea form throughout the United States at the retail level. Loose chamomile flowers and crushed plants can be purchased as well for the making of teas or for use in baths. Chamomile oil is also available. Dosages vary. It is also available in capsule form in doses up to 350 milligrams.
contraindications: While Commission E said there were no known contraindications for chamomile, other researchers in the United States recommend that it should be avoided by pregnant and breast-feeding women. Caution is urged for people who are sensitive to certain volatile oils or may develop contact dermatitis.
special precautions: Consult your physician before beginning any use of an ethnobotanical substance for medicinal purposes.
In their professional handbook on complementary and alternative medicines, pharmacists Charles W. Fetrow and Juan R. Avila report that chamomile is believed to be an abortifacient and should be avoided by pregnant women.
medical research: A test done of patients undergoing cardiac catheterization showed that chamomile had no effect on heart function but put 80 percent of the patients to sleep shortly after drinking tea made from the herb.
A study done on rats determined that one of the most active substances in chamomile was bisabolol, a compound that suppresses the formation of chemically induced ulcers. Another study carried out with mice evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of a chamomile extract. The animals' ears were chemically treated to induce swelling and then given a topical application of the extract. The chamomile extract was found to have reduced the swelling to a degree similar to that obtained with anti-inflammatory steroids.
Herbs: Cha de Bugre
Cha de Bugre
scientific name: Cordia salicifolia
other common names: Cafe do mato, cafe de bugre
growing areas: Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay
physical description: It is a small tree that grows to a height of about 18 feet.
traditional uses: In Brazil, according to Leslie Taylor, it is known as cafe do mato, "coffee of the woods," because of the red fruit produced by the plant, which resembles a coffee bean. The fruit is roasted and brewed into a tea with a high caffeine content, said Taylor. It is widely sold in pharmacies and stores in Brazil as a tea, tincture, and floral extract. It is used as an appetite stimulant, energy booster, and diuretic, most likely because of the caffeine content.
availability and dosage: Available as a powdered herb made from the leaf. Dosages vary.
contraindications: None noted.
special precautions: Consult your physician before beginning any use of an ethnobotanical substance for medicinal purposes.
medical research: Researchers in Japan have shown that an extract from cha de bugre inhibited the growth of herpes simplex virus type 1, which is responsible for cold sores in humans.
scientific name: Cordia salicifolia
other common names: Cafe do mato, cafe de bugre
growing areas: Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay
physical description: It is a small tree that grows to a height of about 18 feet.
traditional uses: In Brazil, according to Leslie Taylor, it is known as cafe do mato, "coffee of the woods," because of the red fruit produced by the plant, which resembles a coffee bean. The fruit is roasted and brewed into a tea with a high caffeine content, said Taylor. It is widely sold in pharmacies and stores in Brazil as a tea, tincture, and floral extract. It is used as an appetite stimulant, energy booster, and diuretic, most likely because of the caffeine content.
availability and dosage: Available as a powdered herb made from the leaf. Dosages vary.
contraindications: None noted.
special precautions: Consult your physician before beginning any use of an ethnobotanical substance for medicinal purposes.
medical research: Researchers in Japan have shown that an extract from cha de bugre inhibited the growth of herpes simplex virus type 1, which is responsible for cold sores in humans.
Herbs: Cat's Claw
Cat's Claw
scientific name: Uncaria tomentosa other common names: Una de gato, hawk's claw growing areas: Peruvian rain forests of the Amazon basin, as well as Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Trinidad, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, and Venezuela physical description: The plant grows as a woody vine and can reach heights of around 100 feet. It earned the common name cat's claw from the claw-shaped thorns that grow from the base of the leaves. Both the bark and the root of the vine are used in the preparation of medicine. The inner bark is preferred as a medicinal source because it regenerates and its harvesting does not harm the vine.
traditional uses: Cat's claw has a history of use going back to the time of the Incas, and it has been continuously used by indigenous peoples of South America for two thousand years. Cat's claw has been used by the Ashaninka Indians of central Peru to treat asthma, urinary tract inflammation, arthritis, and rheumatism. It has also been used by indigenous peoples to treat general inflammations and to treat wounds. In addition, some Indian peoples in Colombia are reported to use it to treat gonorrhea and dysentery.
availability and dosage: It can be found in liquid extract and as bark powder in capsule form. Dosages vary, though'capsules can range from 25 milligrams to 500 milligrams. The raw herb can be found in cut-and-dried form in botanicas.
contraindications: Experts say it is contraindicated for persons undergoing skin grafts and organ transplants, as well as those suffering from coagulation disorders, tuberculosis, and autoimmune diseases.
special precautions: Consult your physician before beginning any use of an ethnobotanical substance for medicinal purposes.
Experts caution that persons taking the herb should watch for signs of bleeding and possible hypotension (low blood pressure).
medical research: Though it has been used medicinally for thousands of years, medical research into cat's claw is relatively new. Interest increased among researchers after 1970, and in 1994 the World Health Organization sponsored a conference in which cat's claw was recognized as a medicinal plant.
Researchers have focused attention on several phyto-chemicals in cat's claw. Among them are okindole alkaloids, found in the bark and roots, which help stimulate the immune system. Researchers have found that other alkaloids present in the plant have diuretic and hypertensive effects and lower the heart rate. Other substances found in cat's claw are believed by researchers to show antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. Flavo-noids, which are plant substances that give color to flowers and leaves, also protect the human body's cells from damage by oxidation.
The properties of cat's claw are making it useful in the study of possible treatments for AIDS, leukemia, and other forms of cancer. In mid-1999 researchers led by Alan Snow, Ph.D., of the University of Washington in Seattle announced that the National Institutes of Health were funding a study of a substance derived from cat's claw that has been found to inhibit the formation in rats of brain plaque like that associated with Alzheimer's disease. Similar effects were also found when the cat's claw substance, identified as the proprietary product PTI-00703®, was combined with another well-known botanical substance, ginkgo biloba. The results of the clinical trials are expected to be known by early 2001.
scientific name: Uncaria tomentosa other common names: Una de gato, hawk's claw growing areas: Peruvian rain forests of the Amazon basin, as well as Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Trinidad, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, and Venezuela physical description: The plant grows as a woody vine and can reach heights of around 100 feet. It earned the common name cat's claw from the claw-shaped thorns that grow from the base of the leaves. Both the bark and the root of the vine are used in the preparation of medicine. The inner bark is preferred as a medicinal source because it regenerates and its harvesting does not harm the vine.
traditional uses: Cat's claw has a history of use going back to the time of the Incas, and it has been continuously used by indigenous peoples of South America for two thousand years. Cat's claw has been used by the Ashaninka Indians of central Peru to treat asthma, urinary tract inflammation, arthritis, and rheumatism. It has also been used by indigenous peoples to treat general inflammations and to treat wounds. In addition, some Indian peoples in Colombia are reported to use it to treat gonorrhea and dysentery.
availability and dosage: It can be found in liquid extract and as bark powder in capsule form. Dosages vary, though'capsules can range from 25 milligrams to 500 milligrams. The raw herb can be found in cut-and-dried form in botanicas.
contraindications: Experts say it is contraindicated for persons undergoing skin grafts and organ transplants, as well as those suffering from coagulation disorders, tuberculosis, and autoimmune diseases.
special precautions: Consult your physician before beginning any use of an ethnobotanical substance for medicinal purposes.
Experts caution that persons taking the herb should watch for signs of bleeding and possible hypotension (low blood pressure).
medical research: Though it has been used medicinally for thousands of years, medical research into cat's claw is relatively new. Interest increased among researchers after 1970, and in 1994 the World Health Organization sponsored a conference in which cat's claw was recognized as a medicinal plant.
Researchers have focused attention on several phyto-chemicals in cat's claw. Among them are okindole alkaloids, found in the bark and roots, which help stimulate the immune system. Researchers have found that other alkaloids present in the plant have diuretic and hypertensive effects and lower the heart rate. Other substances found in cat's claw are believed by researchers to show antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. Flavo-noids, which are plant substances that give color to flowers and leaves, also protect the human body's cells from damage by oxidation.
The properties of cat's claw are making it useful in the study of possible treatments for AIDS, leukemia, and other forms of cancer. In mid-1999 researchers led by Alan Snow, Ph.D., of the University of Washington in Seattle announced that the National Institutes of Health were funding a study of a substance derived from cat's claw that has been found to inhibit the formation in rats of brain plaque like that associated with Alzheimer's disease. Similar effects were also found when the cat's claw substance, identified as the proprietary product PTI-00703®, was combined with another well-known botanical substance, ginkgo biloba. The results of the clinical trials are expected to be known by early 2001.
Herbs: Casca-de-anta
Casca-de-anta
scientific name: Drimys winteri other common names: Winter's cinnamon, canelo, aktarcin
growing areas: Native to Brazil; grows in forests from southern Mexico to Cape Horn, at the very tip of Argentina; also grown as an ornamental plant in England
physical description: It is a tree that grows up to 30 feet in height. It produces a lot of small white flowers with yellow centers and a small seed pod. The flowers have a fragrant scent, like jasmine, and the seeds are fleshy and aromatic. The leaves have a peppery taste and are used as a condiment.
traditional uses: The tree is named after Captain John Winter, who used the bark in the area of the Strait of Magellan to treat the crew of his ship, Elizabeth, for scurvy during the voyage of Sir Francis Drake's fleet around the world in the sixteenth century. His discovery of it as a remedy led to a great demand for the botanical in Europe.
In Brazil, according to Taylor, the bark is used as a treatment for respiratory ailments, asthma, gastrointestinal disorders such as dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting, and colic. It has sometimes been substituted for quinine to treat malaria. In Costa Rica, the bark is chewed to relieve toothaches, and an infusion is used to treat stomach disorders, said Morton.
availability and dosage: The bark is used as an infusion. It is not believed to be available in the United States.
contraindications: None noted.
special precautions: Consult your physician before beginning any use of an ethnobotanical substance for medicinal purposes. medical research: As with many botanical substances, studies done of the properties of casca-de-anta have relied on animal test subjects, not humans. But in using mice and guinea pigs, researchers in Brazil have come up with some findings that they believe point the way to further study of the plant as a human medicine, particularly in the treatment of diseases affecting the throat and lungs. In one case, mice who were suffering from a chemically induced swelling of the paw were shown to have significantly increased survival rates when given an extract of the plant. From this, the researchers concluded that the bark of casca-de-anta contained substances that had anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties, thus confirming its use as a folk medicine for the management of breathing problems such as asthma. In a different study, this time using guinea pigs suffering from chemically induced inflammations of the trachea, a major constituent of the bark known as polygodial was shown to interfere with constriction in the airway of the animals.
Another animal study, using mice, indicated that polygodial extracts had an antinociceptive action on animals suffering from the effects of acetic acid given internally. The acid has the effect of causing abdominal contractions, but in the test the plant extracts appeared to diminish the muscle activity, more so than aspirin and acetaminophen, two drugs used in the study for comparison.
scientific name: Drimys winteri other common names: Winter's cinnamon, canelo, aktarcin
growing areas: Native to Brazil; grows in forests from southern Mexico to Cape Horn, at the very tip of Argentina; also grown as an ornamental plant in England
physical description: It is a tree that grows up to 30 feet in height. It produces a lot of small white flowers with yellow centers and a small seed pod. The flowers have a fragrant scent, like jasmine, and the seeds are fleshy and aromatic. The leaves have a peppery taste and are used as a condiment.
traditional uses: The tree is named after Captain John Winter, who used the bark in the area of the Strait of Magellan to treat the crew of his ship, Elizabeth, for scurvy during the voyage of Sir Francis Drake's fleet around the world in the sixteenth century. His discovery of it as a remedy led to a great demand for the botanical in Europe.
In Brazil, according to Taylor, the bark is used as a treatment for respiratory ailments, asthma, gastrointestinal disorders such as dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting, and colic. It has sometimes been substituted for quinine to treat malaria. In Costa Rica, the bark is chewed to relieve toothaches, and an infusion is used to treat stomach disorders, said Morton.
availability and dosage: The bark is used as an infusion. It is not believed to be available in the United States.
contraindications: None noted.
special precautions: Consult your physician before beginning any use of an ethnobotanical substance for medicinal purposes. medical research: As with many botanical substances, studies done of the properties of casca-de-anta have relied on animal test subjects, not humans. But in using mice and guinea pigs, researchers in Brazil have come up with some findings that they believe point the way to further study of the plant as a human medicine, particularly in the treatment of diseases affecting the throat and lungs. In one case, mice who were suffering from a chemically induced swelling of the paw were shown to have significantly increased survival rates when given an extract of the plant. From this, the researchers concluded that the bark of casca-de-anta contained substances that had anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties, thus confirming its use as a folk medicine for the management of breathing problems such as asthma. In a different study, this time using guinea pigs suffering from chemically induced inflammations of the trachea, a major constituent of the bark known as polygodial was shown to interfere with constriction in the airway of the animals.
Another animal study, using mice, indicated that polygodial extracts had an antinociceptive action on animals suffering from the effects of acetic acid given internally. The acid has the effect of causing abdominal contractions, but in the test the plant extracts appeared to diminish the muscle activity, more so than aspirin and acetaminophen, two drugs used in the study for comparison.
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