G
GENTIAN
Botanical Name: | Gentiana lutea |
---|---|
Family: | Gentianaceae |
Plant Part Used: | Root |
PRESCRIBING INFORMATION
Actions | Bitter tonic, gastric stimulant, sialagogue, cholagogue | |
Potential Indications | Based on appropriate evaluation of the patient, practitioners should consider prescribing gentian in formulations in the context of: • Stimulating gastric secretion, bile release from the gallbladder, bile production by the liver (4) • Loss of appetite,* dyspepsia,* asthenia, coated tongue, postprandial bloating, in combination with rhubarb (3) • Stimulating gastric secretion, constipation, flatulence, abdominal fullness,* itching of skin, in combination with rhubarb, cascara, and boldo (3) | |
Contraindications | Gastric and duodenal ulcers,1 hyperacidity,2 gastric inflammation3 | |
Warnings and Precautions | None required. | |
Interactions | None known. | |
Use in Pregnancy and Lactation | No adverse effects expected. | |
Side Effects | ||
Dosage | Dose per day** | Dose per week** |
0.7-2.0 ml of 1:2 liquid extract | 5-15 ml of 1:2 liquid extract |
* Gentian has also been used in traditional herbal medicine. ESCOP recommends gentian for treating appetite loss and dyspepsia. The Commission E also recommends gentian for abdominal fullness and flatulence. (4,5)
** This dose range is extrapolated from the British Pharmaceutical Codex 1934, the British Pharmacopoeia 1932, and the author’s education and experience.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
1 Blumenthal M, et al, editors. The complete German Commission E monographs: therapeutic guide to herbal medicines. Austin: American Botanical Council, 1998.
2 Scientific Committee of the European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy [ESCOP]. ESCOP monographs: Gentianae radix. Argyle House, Gandy Street, Exeter, Devon, EX4 3LS, United Kingdom: European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy, ESCOP Secretariat, July 1997.
3 Felter HW, Lloyd JU. King’s American dispensatory, ed 18. Portland: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1905. rev 3, reprinted 1983
4 British Herbal Medicine Association’s Scientific Committee. British herbal pharmacopoeia. Bournemouth: BHMA, 1983.
5 Gebhardt R. Pharm Pharmacol Lett. 1997;7(2-3):106-108.
6 Kazakov BN. Cited in Scientific Committee of ESCOP: ESCOP monographs: Gentianae radix. Argyle House, Gandy Street, Exeter, Devon, EX4 3LS, United Kingdom: European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy, ESCOP Secretariat, July 1997.
7 Leslie GB. Medita. 1978;8:31-47.
8 Moorhead LD. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1915;7:577-589.
9 Chibanguza G, Marz R, Sterner W. Arzneim Forsch. 1984;34(1):32-36.
10 Goetzl FR. Drug Stand. 1956;24:111.
11 Zimmerman W, Gaisbauer G, Gaisbauer M. Z Phytother. 1986;7:59-64.
12 Borgia M, et al. Curr Ther Res. 1981;29(3):525-536.
13 Glatzel H, Hackenberg K. Planta Med. 1967;15(3):223-232.
GINGER
Botanical Name: | Zingiber officinale |
---|---|
Family: | Zingiberaceae |
Plant Part Used: | Rhizome |
PRESCRIBING INFORMATION
Actions | Carminative, antiemetic, peripheral circulatory stimulant, spasmolytic, antiinflammatory, antiplatelet, diaphoretic, digestive stimulant, pungent | |
Potential Indications | Based on appropriate evaluation of the patient, practitioners should consider prescribing ginger in formulations in the context of: | |
Contraindications | According to the Commission E, using ginger is contraindicated in patients with gallstones, except under close supervision. In TCM, dried ginger is used cautiously during pregnancy. A daily dose of 2 g of dried ginger should not be exceeded in pregnancy. | |
Warnings and Precautions | The user should proceed with caution in cases of peptic ulceration, gastroesophageal reflux, or other gastric diseases. | |
Interactions | Ginger may increase the absorption of pharmaceutical drugs. | |
Although no problems have been reported in humans, ginger may increase the chance of bleeding. Daily doses of (dried) ginger in excess of 4 g should be prescribed with caution in patients who are already taking blood-thinning drugs such as warfarin or aspirin or who have increased risk of hemorrhage. | ||
Use in Pregnancy and Lactation | No adverse effects are expected within the recommended dose (0.7 to 2.0 ml of 1:2 liquid extract). A daily dose of 2 g of dried ginger should not be exceeded in pregnancy. Ginger has been successfully used in clinical trials to treat pregnant women with nausea. | |
Side Effects | At doses approaching or greater than the maximum recommended dose, a blood-thinning effect and an increase in gastric secretory activity leading to heartburn is possible. Topical application of ginger may cause contact dermatitis in sensitive patients. Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from spices, including ginger, has been reported. | |
Dosage | Dose per day* | Dose per week* |
0.7-2.0 ml of 1:2 liquid extract | 5-15 ml of 1:2 liquid extract |
* This dose range is extrapolated from the British Pharmaceutical Codex 1934, the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1983, the British Pharmacopoeia 1975, and the author’s education and experience.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Except when specifically referenced, the following book was referred to in the compilation of the pharmacologic and clinical informationMills S, Bone K. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy: Modern Herbal Medicine. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 2000.
1 British Herbal Medicine Association’s Scientific Committee. British herbal pharmacopoeia. Bournemouth: BHMA, 1983.
2 Felter HW. The eclectic materia medica, pharmacology and therapeutics. Portland: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1922. reprinted 1983
3 Grieve M. A modern herbal. New York: Dover Publications, 1971.
4 Pharmacopoeia Commission of the People’s Republic of China. Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China, English ed. Beijing: Chemical Industry Press, 1997.
5 Ernst E, Pittler MH. Br J Anaesth. 2000;84(3):367-371.
6 Jewell D, Young G. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. (2):2000. CD000145
7 Ribenfeld D, Borzone L. Healthnotes Rev Complement Integr Med. 1999;6(2):98.
8 Eden J: Medical Observer July 21, 2000.
9 Lien HC, Sun WM: Digestive Disease Week 2000, San Diego, May 20-24, 2000.
10 Careddu P. HealthNotes Rev. 1999;6:102-107.
11 Bliddal H, et al. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2000;8(1):9-12.
12 Altman RD, Marcussen KC. Arthritis Rheum. 2001;44(11):2531-2538.
13 Micklefield GH, et al. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1999;37(7):341-346.
14 Verma SK, Bordia A. Indian J Med Sci. 2001;55(2):83-86.
15 Blumenthal M, et al, editors. The complete German Commission E monographs: therapeutic guide to herbal medicines. Austin: American Botanical Council, 1998.
16 Scientific Committee of the European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy [ESCOP]. ESCOP monographs: Zingiberis rhizoma. Argyle House, Gandy Street, Exeter, Devon, EX4 3LS, United Kingdom: European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy, ESCOP Secretariat, March 1996.
GINKGO
Botanical Name: | Ginkgo biloba |
---|---|
Family: | Ginkgoaceae |
Plant Part Used: | Leaf |
PRESCRIBING INFORMATION
* This dose range is based on those used in clinical trials.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Except when specifically referenced, the following book was referred to in the compilation of the pharmacologic and clinical informationMills S, Bone K. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy: Modern Herbal Medicine. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 2000.
1 Davydov L, Stirling AL. J Herbal Pharmacother. 2001;1(3):65-69.
2 Soholm B. Adv Ther. 1998;15(1):54-65.
3 Le Bars PL, Kieser M, Itil KZ. Dement Geriatr Cogn Discord. 2000;11(4):230-237.
4 Wettstein A. Phytomed. 2000;6(6):393-401.
5 van Dongen MC, et al. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2000;48(10):1183-1194.
6 Cockle SM, Kimber S, Hindmarch I. Phytomed. 2000;7(supp 2):21.
7 Mix JA, Crews WD. J Altern Complement Med. 2000;6(3):219-229.
8 Rigney U, Kimber S, Hindmarch I. Phytother Res. 1999;13(5):408-415.
9 Kennedy DO, Scholey AB, Wesnes KA. Psychopharmacology. 2000;151(4):416-423.
10 Kennedy DO, Scholey AB, Wesnes KA. Phytomed. 2000;7(supp 2):21.
11 Stough C, et al. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2001;4(2):131-134.
12 Wesnes KA, et al. Psychopharmacology. 2000;152(4):353-361.
13 Pittler MH, Ernst E. Am J Med. 2000;108(4):276-281.
14 Ernst E, Stevinson C. Clin Otoloaryngol. 1999;24(3):164-167.
15 Drew S, Davies E. BMJ. 2001;322(7278):73-75.
16 Cesarani A, et al. Adv Ther. 1998;15(5):291-304.
17 Lingaerde O, Foreland AR, Magnusson A. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1999;100(1):62-66.
18 Hemmeter U, et al. Pharmacopsychiatry. 2001;34(2):50-59.
19 Chung HS, et al. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 1999;15(3):233-240.
20 Kudolo G. Altern Ther Health Med. 2001;7(3):105.
21 Blumenthal M, et al, editors. The complete German Commission E monographs: therapeutic guide to herbal medicines. Austin: American Botanical Council, 1998.

Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel

Full access? Get Clinical Tree

