Allspice
Botanical Description / Habitat
Pimenta officinalis
Family
Myrtaceae
Common Names
Clovepepper
Jamaica pepper
Pimento
Habitat
East Indies, South America
Description
It is a slow-growing evergreen tree, reaching about 4 feet in height. It bears glossy, aromatic, oblong leaves, which bear prominent veins on their undersides. From June to August, small white flowers grow in clusters on the upper leaf axils; they are followed by small berries, which are used for the spice. The dried berries were given the name allspice because they combine the flavors of nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, and juniper berries.
Medicinal Parts
Fruit/berry - dried, collected when nearly full-size but completely ripe.
Historical Properties & Uses
Allspice is a highly aromatic herb, possessing a volatile oil high in eugenol. Like other aromatic herbs, it is commonly employed as a carminative and gastrointestinal stimulant. Allspice is used to treat various gastrointestinal complaints, such as flatulence, constipation, and upset stomach.
The essential oil is also used externally for symptomatic relief of the pains of rheumatism and neuralgia. The oil has also been found to possess moderate antibacterial action. Although little research has been done on allspice, its uses conform to those of many similar herbs, and are probably reliable.
Method of Action
Almost all medicinal properties of this herb are the result of a high eugenol content. Eugenol is the major essential oil in many carminative plants. Allspice does contain several other important essential oils, including caryophyllene and cineole.
Allspice has a small-to-moderate antibacterial activity.
Drug Interactions & Precautions
Comments
Allspice may, because of the presence of eugenol in the herb, inhibit certain liver microsomal hydroxylating systems. This produces toxic effects from drugs normally metabolized by those systems.
In the absence of other hard data, it may still be assumed that observable interactions may occur between the many central nervous system drugs and the psychoactive principles in allspice.
Safety Factors & Toxicity
The toxicity level of allspice has not been determined at this time.
Preparation & Administration
Three times a day
Essential oil
0.05-0.2 ml
Note: This Herbal Preparation information is a summary of data from books and articles by various authors. It is not intended to replace the advice or attention of health care professionals.
References
Am Hospital Formulary Service. Am Soc of Hosp Pharm. Washington, D.C.
Blacow, N.W. The Extra Pharmacopoeia. Pharmaceutical Press: London, 1973.
Bressler, R., M.D. Bogdonoff & G.J. Subak-Sharpe. 1981. The Physicians Drug Manual. Doubleday & Co, Inc. Garden City, NY. 1213 pp.
Culbreath, David M. R. A manual of Materia Medica and Pharmocology. Eclectic Medical Publications, Portland, Or, l983.
Goodman, L.S. & A. Gilman. 1975. Pharm Basis of Thera. Macmillan, N Y.
Hansten, P.D. 1979. Drug Interactions, 4th ed. Lea & Febiger, Phila.
Jaffe, H., et.al. 1968. In vivo inhibition of mouse liver microsomal hydroxylating systems by methylenedioxyphenyl insecticide synergists and related compounds. Life Sciences, 7. pp. 1051-1052.
Kastrup, E.K., ed. 1981. Drug Facts and Comparisons, 1982 edition. Facts and Comparisions Division, JP Lippincott Co, Phila (St. Louis).
Lewis, Walter H. and Elvin-Lewis, Memory P.F. Medical Botany: Plants Affecting Man's Health, John Wiley and Sons. New York, l977.
List, P. & L. Hoerhammer. 1969-1976. Hagers Hanbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, vols. 2-5. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Martin, E.W. 1978. Drug Interactions Index, 1978/79. J.B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia.
Maruzzella, J.C. & Sircurella, N.A. Antibacterial activity of essential oil vapors. J Of The Am Pharm Assoc, 49(11), 692-694, 1960.
Morton, J.F. Major Medicinal Plants: Botany, Culture, And Uses. Thomas. Springfield, Illinois, 1977.
Mowrey, Daniel B., Ph.D. Exper. Psych., Brigham Young University. Director of Nebo Institute of Herbal Sciences. Director of Behavior Change Agent Training Institute. Director of Research, Nova Corp.
Martin, E.W. 1978. Drug Interactions Index, 1978/79. J.B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia.
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