Wahoo
Botanical Description & Habitat
Euonymous atropurpureus, E. europaeus
Family
Celastraceae
Common Names
Spindle
Spindle bark
Habitat
E. atropurpureus is found in eastern and central U.S. and Canada, while E. europaeus is found through Europe in open woods, along woodland margins, on scrubby hillsides.
Medicinal Parts
The dried bark
Historical Properties & Uses
Wahoo is used as a cardiac, diuretic, expectorant, laxative and tonic. In times past, it was the most popular diuretic. It is used for mild cases of chest and lung congestion, indigestion and fever. Caution must be exercised, however, since Wahoo has a digitalis-like action on the heart.
Method of Action
Wahoo has Considerable Cardiovascular Activity
Wahoo contains alkaloids (heterosides), including evonoside which can be distilled down into an extract with digitalis-like action. Whole plant material usually contains small enough amounts of evonoside to not be dangerous.
Wahoo is recognized by the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia as a cholagogue, laxative, diuretic, mild cardioactive, circulatory stimulant, for use in treatment of constipation, icterus, cholecystitis and cutaneous eruptions.
Specific indications are constipation with liver and gallbladder dysfunction. Combined with iris in skin complaints; with barberry, dandelion root, fringe-tree bark and tormentil in liver and gallbladder disease.
Drug Interactions & Precautions
Known Interactions
Wahoo, insofar as its diuretic action increases the renal excretion of sodium and chloride, may potentiate the hyperglycemic and hyperuremic effects of glucose elevating agents.
Diuretics may potentiate the action of antihypertensive, ganglionic or peripheral adrenergic blocking drugs, tubocurarine and norepinephrine.
The effects of dopamine and diuretic agents are additive. Diuretics may potentiate the action of antihypertensive drugs, ganglionic or peripheral adrenergic blocking drugs, tubocurarine and norepinephrine.
Wahoo, due to its cathartic activity, may potentiate anticoagulant therapy by reducing absorption of vitamin K from the gut. It may also inhibit absorption of dextrose from the intestines.
This cathartic may increase intestinal transit time of digitalis glycosides, inhibit their absorption and cardiac action. But cathartic-induced hypokalmia increases toxicity and potency of absorbed digitalis.
Cathartic-induced hypokalemia potentiates muscle relaxants
In addition to the specific interactions listed, the cathartic action of wahoo tend to hasten the passage of all oral medications through the gut and thereby inhibit their action.
In sub-laxative and sub-emetic doses of wahoo should have no drug interactions. At higher doses, interactions similar to those involving diuretics and cathartics may occur.
Possible Interactions
Wahoo and sparteine may have synergistic oxytocic activity.
Cyclopropane or halogenated hydrocarbon anesthetics may sensitize the myocardium to the cardiotonic effects of wahoo, though the chances are very few of this happening.
Wahoo is synergistic with parenteral calcium salts, pancuronium, succinylcholine, rauwolfia alkaloids, ephedrine, epinephrine, and other adrenergic agents.
In conjunction with ACTH or corticosteroids, this diuretic is more prone to produce hypokalemia.
Use of diuretics may require dosage adjustments of antidiabetic drugs. The diuretic action of wahoo may reduce renal clearance of lithium.
An initial dose of captopril (an antihypertensive) may cause a severe drop in blood pressure within three hours if the person is also using a strong diuretic.
Laxative-induced diarrhea may result in decreased absorption of isoniazid the same is true with sulfisoxazole, but it appears to be a clinically unimportant interaction effect.
Comments
Prolonged use of this diuretic may affect certain lab test results such as electrolytes (esp. potassium and sodium), bun, uric acid, glucose, and pbi.
Strong diuretics such as this in conjunction with indomethacin may produce natriuretic effects.
Laxative induced increased speed of intestinal emptying may result in decreased absorption of vitamin K and/or anticoagulants.
Safety Factors & Toxicity
The leaves of wahoo must be avoided, since they are poisonous, causing colic, diarrhea and circulatory disturbances. Otherwise, the bark is nontoxic in therapeutic doses.
Preparation & Administration
Use three times daily
Decoction
Use 0.3-1g of dried root bark
Liquid Extract
Use 0.3-1ml of 1:1 in 45% alcohol
Tincture
Use 0.6-2.6ml
References
British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, British Herbal Medicine Association, 1983.
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.
| Signup Free Applied Health Journal |
||||
|
FREE Sample Issue Your email address is all we need to start you on a better path to health. We respect your privacy.
|
