Birthwort
Botanical Description & Habitat
Aristolochia clematitis
Family
Aristolochiacea
Common Names
aristolochia root
upright birthwort
Habitat
Found around fences, thickets, field edges.
Medicinal Parts
Rootstock, flowering herb.
Historical Properties & Uses
Birthwort is ancient remedy, dating at least to the age of the Egyptians.
As the name indicates, one its commonest uses is oxytocic, to promote uterine contractions during childbirth. In the Middle ages it was used to treat women after childbirth who had infected lochia (vaginal discharge).
Beyond that birthwort is used as a diaphoretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge and stimulant.
Recently, birthwort has gained a reputation as a good immune system enhancer. Unfortunately, toxicology studies on birthwort constituents have thrown a cloud over optimistic use of this plant.
Method of Action
Birthwort has Good Antibiotic/Immune Enhancing Action
The ability of birthwort to aid women suffering from infectious problems following childbirth depends on the presence of aristolochic acid which, in concentrations as low as 1:100,000 is capable of stimulating the phagocytic activity of white blood cells, and of increasing the natural bactericidal action of the blood, and of stimulating beta-lysine. It also stimulates the production of granulatomous tissue in animal tests. It thus is an immune enhancer.
These findings, obtained during the early 1960's, established birthwort as one of the earliest products to be labeled as an immune system enhancer, preceding even such luminaries as Siberia ginseng. This research led, in Germany, to the production of many proprietary substances used to heal fistulas (anal and dental), wounds with poor healing tendencies, furunculosis, leg ulcers, and osteomyelitis. But the new preparations were yanked when the aristolochic acid was found to be carcinogenic.
Despite much protest from herbalists and physicians alike, the substance was banned, except in very weak homeopathic dosages. Most pro-aristolochic acid experts believe that other principles in the whole plant, or whole plant extract (mainly proteinaceous substances), effectively neutralize carcinogenic action. Tradition, experience, and science are on their side.
Drug Interactions & Precautions
Known Interactions
This oxytocin-like action of birthwort may produce neonatal jaundice which would interfere with serum bilirubin test results.
Possible Interactions
The oxytocic property of birthwort in conjunction with vasoconstrictors such as ephedrine, methoxamine, phenylephrine orsympathomimetics may cause severe hypertension.
Citrates and tannates in conjunction with this herb may produce erratic and unpredictable results because of the oxytocic action.
Comments
There is evidence combining bactericidal and bacteriostatic agents will lower the effectiveness of the '-static' variety. How this finding applies to herbal antibioticsis not known.
Safety Factors & Toxicity
The active principles of birthwort behave in manner similar to colchicine, a poisonous alkaloid from Colchicum autumnale, when isolated from the parent plant.
Care should therefore be used when applying pure aristolochic acid; ideally an expert practitioner's aid should be sought before using the pure acid. In large doses, birthwort can lead to menorrhagia.
Other than in the case of menorrhagia due to overdose, in hundreds of years of experience there have been no cases of human toxicity reported from the use of birthwort, or its common extracts.
Preparation & Administration
Use only under medical direction
Decoction
2 tbsp fresh plant or rootstock in cup water; boil ten minutes, strain
Cold extract
2 tsp plant or rootstock in 1 cup cold water; let stand 6-8 hours
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
Braun, H. & D. Frohne. Heilplanzen-Lexikon Fuer Aerzte und Apotheker. Gustav Fisher Verlag, Stuttgart, New York, 1987.
Moese, J.R. Arzneimittel Forschung, 12, 33, 1961.
Moese, J.R. Arzneimittel Forschung, 16, 16, 1966.
Moese, J.R. Planta Medica, 11, 72, 1963.
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.
Orzechowski, G. Pflanzliche polysaccharide zure steigerung der koerpereignen abwehr. Die Medizinische Welt, 9 February 1963, #6, 293-300.
Wagner, H. Immunprophyklaxe und-therapie durch pflanzenpraeparate. Zhurnal der Allgemein Medizin, 59, 1282-1289, 1983.
Weiss, R.F. Fortschritte in der behandlung mit heilpflanzen. Zahnaerztliche Mitteilungen, 65(14), 673-674, 1975.
Weiss, R.F. Herbal Medicine. Beaconsfield Publishers, LTD, Beaconsfield, England, 1988.
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