Fw: Viscum album/Mistletoe

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Hi, everyone- I have researched some herbs and thought I would pass them along. June Viscum album (Mistletoe) Botanic Name Viscum album Common Name Mistletoe, Birdlime Mistletoe, Herbe de la Croix, Mystyldene, Lignum Crucis 1 Family Loranthaceae Parts Used Leaves and young twigs, berries 1 Habitat Throughout Europe, Asia and North Africa (North American mistletoe is a completely different species), most commonly on oak, chestnut, black poplar, and fruit trees, rarely on conifers. 2 Constituents Viscotoxin 2 (a cardio-active polypeptide) 3 Saponins 2 Alkaloids 2 Tannin 2 Choline 3 Histamine 3 Anti-tumour proteins 3 Actions Nervine 3 Hypotensive 3 Cardiac depressant 3 Possibly anti-tumour 3 Vasodilator 2 Slowing and steadying an excessive heart rate 2 Relaxant 2 Diuretic 2 Stimulant 4 Applications Hypertension – especially associated with nervousness and high pulse rate2 Symptoms of nervous tension and spasm 2 Arteriosclerosis 3 Headache due to high blood pressure 3 Digestive problems 4 As a wash for chilblains and leg ulcers 4 A compress for varicose veins 4 Dosage Medium Dose Herb Dried leaves and stems 2 – 4 gms infusion tds 2 Tincture 1 – 4 mls tds 3 Combinations Crataegus, Tilia for hypertension 3 C/I Cautions Contraindicated in protein hypersensitivity and chronic-progressive infections such as tuberculosis and AIDS 5 Do not exceed recommended dose 5 Monitor blood pressure 5 Australian preparations must be labelled "Do not take with medications prescribed for high or low blood pressure except on professional advice" 5 Large doses have a detrimental effect on heart action 4 Do not wildcraft – buy preparations from professional organisations [RK] Cycle dosage in and out of formula over 6 – 8 week period [RK] BHP S/I Arterial Hypertension 6 Referenes Grieve, M., A Modern Herbal, Tiger, Great Britain, 1994. Mills, S., The Complete Guide to Modern Herbalism, Thorsons, Great Britain, 1994. Hoffmann, D., The New Holistic Herbal, Element, Dorset, 1990. Lust, J., The Herb Book, Bantam Books, USA, 1974. McGuffin, M., Hobbs, C., Upton, R., Goldberg, A., American Herbal Products Association - Botanical Safety Handbook, CRC Press, 1997. British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1983. British Herbal Medical Association. 1989. _________Get more from your time online. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com _________Get more from your time online. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com