Traditional Uses Hypertension and arrhythmia. Mechanism of Action Rauwolfia’s effects on the heart include decreasing myocardial excitability, inhibiting atrial-ventricular conduction, and extending the refractory period of the heart rhythm.1 Much of the medicinal effects of Rauwolfia serpentina and Rauwolfia vomitoria have been attributed to the hypotensive indole alkaloid reserpine.2 Additional…
Indications Menopausal symptoms; general female reproductive health; support of bone, hair, and fingernails; sexual longevity including vaginal lubrication; and enhanced breast size. Mechanism of Action Pueraria contains numerous isoflavones that are phytosterols, plant compounds with steroid-like effects. The phytosterols include β-sitosterol, coumestrol, genistein, daidzein, formononetin, puerarin, and miroesterol.1,2,3,4 Miroesterol is…
Indications Used for high blood pressure, pain, and tension. Mechanism of Action Piscidia erythrina has not yet been extensively researched in terms of its chemical constituents, but root extracts are known to contain the resins piscidin, jamaicin, and rotenone and isoflavonoids sumatrol, durmillone, and erythynone, collectively referred to as rotenoids.1…
Indications Diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, diabetes-related heart disease, and metabolic syndrome. Mechanism of Action The bright magenta-to-orange colors of various species of Opuntia fruits is partly because of the presence of betalains,1 so named because they also occur in beets (Beta vulgaris). The betalains include betacyanins and betaxanthins, such as…
Indications Hypertension, arrhythmia and nervous palpitations, anxiety, and insomnia. Mechanism of Action Melissa contains phenolic acid derivatives such as rosmarinic and the related lithospermic and chlorogenic acids,1 and it is a natural inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzymes.2 Rosmarinic acid and the triterpenoids oleanolic acid and ursolic acid inhibit γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)…
Indications Hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, and menopausal symptoms (e.g., hot flashes, poor bone density). Mechanism of Action Some of the benefits on lipids and glucose metabolism are believed to occur via mechanisms involving hormonal effects.1 Medicago is a genus of plants in the legume family whose species are high in phytosterols and…
Indications Hyperthyroidism and hyperthyroid-like symptoms including heart palpitations, tachycardia, chest tightness, tremor, and anxiety. Mechanism of Action Lycopus contains rosmarinic acid, a phenolic compound derived from caffeic acid and found in several other Lamiaceae plants, all indicated historically for the symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Rosmarinic acid, and the related lithospermic and…
Indications Cardiac insufficiency, tachycardia or other arrhythmias, hypertension, stress and anxiety, and hyperthyroidism. Mechanism of Action Leonurus cardiaca contains monoterpenes, diterpenes, triterpenes, nitrogen-containing compounds, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids and phenolic acids, lectins, and phytosterols as well as volatile oils, sterols, and tannins. Quality Leonurus products should contain at least 0.2% flavonoid, often…
Indications Adrenal-related fatigue and hypotension. Mechanism of Action Glycyrrhiza contains steroidal saponins credited with many of the supportive effects on the adrenal glands and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. Many adaptogenic plants possess steroidal saponins shown to exert immunomodulating and anabolic activities.1 As a general group of plant steroid-like compounds, saponins have…
Indications Cynara scolymus is used for hyperlipidemia, dyspepsia, nausea, alcohol-induced hangover, liver dysfunction, irritable bowel syndrome, and gallstone prevention. It is also used orally as a diuretic and choleretic to promote bile production. Because bile plays an important role in lipid and cholesterol processing, choleretic agents are often used in…
Indications Cardiovascular conditions such as congestive heart failure, coronary circulation problems, weak cardiac output, hypertension, angina, arrhythmias, and atherosclerosis. Hawthorn is also used as a sedative and anxiolytic. Mechanism of Action Proanthocyanidins, a group of flavonoid compounds in hawthorn berries are credited with much of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions.…
Related Species Convallaria keiskei (Asian or Japanese lily of the valley) Indications For heart conditions with weak cardiac output, cardiac irregularities, or both due to mechanical impediments or arrhythmic forms of heart failure (e.g., mitral stenosis and regurgitation and mild-to-moderate congestive heart failure) associated with symptoms such as edema, palpitations,…
