Sabal serrulata / Saw Palmetto / Arecaceae (Palm family)

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Other Names

Serenoa repens, Sabal serrulatum, Saw palmetto, Palmier de l’ Amerique du Nord, Sagepalme, Zwergpalme, Palmetto di Florida, Zaagpalmbes.

Contents

The seed oil is an abundant source of short chain fatty acids and their glycerides. The major one being lauric acid. The fruit is also a rich source of phytosterols such as sitosterol, campesterol, and cycloartenol (2).

Historical

Saw palmetto has a long history of human use both as a food crop and medicinal herb. The fruits were a common food source for natives of the Southeastern United States. In the 1800’s the first description of its medicinal use came into being. (1). Even today the fruits of Saw Palmetto are widely used to support the health of the prostate and the urinary tract. 2-4 g of dried fruits or equivalent tincture helps maintain a good function of the prostate and supports peak urinary flow. (3)

Plant Description

Saw palmetto is for the most part stemless and grows to be about 2 meters in height. It has fan shaped leaves with teeth along the edges of the stalk. It forms clusters of small flowers with form fruits that can reach up to 30mm in length. The berries turn black as they mature (2).

Legal Remarks

This product is illegal or somehow problematic to send to the following countries. Click on the country link for further information.

• Finland

References

(1) George W. Tanner, J. Jeffrey Mullahey and David Maehr. "Saw-palmetto: An Ecologically and Economically Important Native Palm". Circular WEC-109. University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service. (July 1996).
(2) Ben-Erik van Wyk, Michael Wink. "Medicinal Plants of the World". Timber Press, 2004.
(3) BHC 2006 p.345-52; BHP 1996 p.166-7; Canadian government (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/alt_formats/hpfb-dgpsa/pdf/prodnatur/mono_sawpalmetto-palmiernain_e.pdf); Commission E monograph; ESCOP monograph; Hager Drogen P-Z p. 681-7; WHO monograph.

Pfaffia paniculata / Suma / Amaranthaceae (Amaranth family)

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Other Names

Hebanthe paniculata, Gomphrena paniculata, G. eriantha, Iresine erianthos, I. paniculata, I. tenuis, Pfaffia eriantha, Xeraea paniculata, Suma, Brazilian Ginseng, Pfaffia, Para Toda, Corango-Acu.

Contents

Suma root contains several major constituents, including the nortriterpene pfaffic acid, six pfaffic acid saponins (pfaffosides A-F), pterosterone, ecdysterone, and ecdysteroid. (2)

Historical

There are many claims and little evidence about the historical use of Pfaffia peniculata. The root has supposedly been used for generations by indigenous peoples of the Amazon region. There are also reports of its use in modern herbal medicine in Brazil, North America, Europe. It has also been called "the Russian secret", claiming that Rusian Olympic athletes have used it for many years. (1)
There is no human clinical research to support most of the wide variety of health benefits attributed to this plant by its advocates. "What little research has been done focuses on the plant's anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and aphrodisiac effects and has been completed only in test tubes or with animals." (2)

Plant Description

Suma is a large, rambling, shrubby ground vine with an intricate, deep, and extensive root system. It is indigenous to the Amazon basin and other tropical parts of (southern) Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela. Since its first botanical recording in 1826, it has been referred to by several botanical names, including Pfaffia paniculata, Hebanthe paniculata, and Gomphrena paniculata. The genus Pfaffia is well known in Central and South America, with over 50 species growing in the warmer tropical regions. (1)

References

(1) Suma, Raintree Tropical Plant Database
(2) Suma, Blue Shield of California
Published research on the Pfaffia paniculata can be found at PubMed.

Eurycoma longifolia / Tongkat Ali / Simaroubaceae (Simarouba family)

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Other Names

Longjack, Tongkat Ali, Pasak Bumi, Cay Ba Binh.

Contents

The plant's pharmacological activity is attributed to various quassinoids, squalene derivatives, biphenylneolignans, tirucallane-type triterpenes, canthine-6-1, and beta-carboline alkaloids. (2)
The 100:1 extract contains: (by TLC) Eurycomanone 1.65%, and is produced from dried roots of old matured trees, wild collected from natural rainforests.

Historical

"It has been used in Malaysia for many years by men to increase sexual desire, libido, sexual performance and to treat erectile dysfunction."(3) In the old days, the roots, found only in the wild tropical forest of Southeast Asia, had to be brewed for long hours to get a bitter extract. Now, Tongkat Ali, which literally means Ali's cane, is widely sold in pill or "tea-bag" form and mixed with regular Coffee or tea for an extra "lift". (4)

Plant Description

Eurycoma longifolia is a small evergreen tree growing to 15m tall, with spirally arranged, pinnate leaves 20-40 cm long with 13-41 leaflets. The flowers are dioecious, with male and female flowers on different trees; they are produced in large panicles, each flower with 5-6 very small petals. The fruit is green ripening dark red, 1-2 cm long and 0.5-1 cm broad. (5)

References

(1) MIT research helps ID tree that 'cures 1,000 diseases', Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
(2) Eurycoma Longifolia, drugs.com
(3) Tongkat Ali, Cathy Wong, About.com: Alternative medicine.
(4) Tongkat Ali — Malaysia's very own 'Viagra', Asian Economic News.
(5) Eurycoma longifolia, Wikipedia article.

Dioscorea villosa / Wild Yam / Dioscoreaceae (Yam family)

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Other Names

China root, Colic Root, Devil's Bones, Dioscorea, Huang Yao Tzu, Mexican Wild Yam, Rheumatism Root, Shu Yu, Wild Yam, Wild Yamwurzel, Yabani Hindelmasi, Yam, Yuma.

Contents

Diosgenin, a steroid sapogenin, is the product of hydrolysis by acids, strong bases, or enzymes of saponins, extracted from the tubers of Dioscorea wild yam. The sugar-free, aglycone, diosgenin is used for the commercial synthesis of cortisone, pregnenolone, progesterone, and other steroid products. (4)

Historical

"Early Americans used wild yam to treat colic; hence, the term colic root. Traditionally, it has been used to treat inflammation, muscle spasms and a range of disorders including asthma. Related species of Dioscorea are used in the Amazon and in central America to treat conditions including fever, urinary tract infections, colds, rheumatism (joint and muscle related conditions), arthritis, hemorrhoids, boils, and dysentery."(1)
"In the 18th and 19th centuries, wild yam ( Dioscorea villosa ) was used by herbalists to treat menstrual cramps and problems related to childbirth. The subsequent discovery of a substance contained in wild yams revolutionized the pharmaceutical industry. The tubers, or fleshy, root-like parts, of wild yams (not to be confused with the sweet potato yam) contain diosgenin, a steroid-like substance that is involved in the production of the hormone progesterone. Diosgenin has served a key role in the making of hormones and the development of the birth control pill, two of the major advances in plant drug medicine this century. Wild yam continues to be used for treating menstrual cramps, nausea and morning sickness associated with pregnancy, inflammation, osteoporosis, menopausal symptoms, and other health conditions."(1)
"While the diosgenin found in wild yam created quite a stir in the 1990s as a cure for menopausal disorders and other symptoms of aging in women, the plant itself has no proven hormonal action, nor have any studies shown it to be effective in treating hormone related disorders."(1)

Plant Description

This is an herbaceous, slender vine, found throughout the United States, but more common in the central and southern portions. The stem is a smooth green twiner, about the size of a goose-quill, twining from the right to the left, over fences, bushes, etc. The leaves are symmetrical and heart-shaped, gradually tapering to a sharp, acuminate point, and are borne on leaf stalks from 2 to 4 inches long. The flowers appear in June or July, are dioecious, very small, and greenish-yellow. (2)

References

(1) Wild yam, University of Maryland Medical Center
(2) Dioscorea.—Wild Yam., King's American Dispensatory
(3) Wild yam, Raintree Tropical Plant Database
(4) Diosgenin, Wikipedia