White Bryony
Botanical Description & Habitat
Bryonia alba, B. cretica ssp. dioica
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Common Names
| Tetterberry | Wild bryony |
| Wild hops | Wood vine |
Habitat
A climbing plant cultivated in the United States and Europe; found wild in moist areas and vineyards of Europe. Also found in Western Asia.
Medicinal Parts
Rootstock
Historical Properties & Uses
White bryony is known and used mainly as a certain and powerful purgative. A common German practice is to fill a hollow root with beer and let it sit for a couple of days. At doses of a teaspoonful, this "beer extract" makes a good laxative.
White bryony root, dried, is also a treatment for respiratory problems. The tincture is used for laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia and pleurisy.
Other uses include muscular rheumatism, polyarthritis and sciatica. Many British physicians prescribed bryony for severe muscular polyarthritis.
White bryony is used frequently in homeopathy (e.g. multiple sclerosis).
Method of Action
Bryony is a Strong Purgative
Bryony roots contain a resin (bryresin, cucurbitacin) and an extremely bitter glucoside (bryonine). It is the resin is responsible for the purgative action. Even very small doses of this resin can produce drastic diarrhea. Overdose is not rare.
Bryony may have Anti-arthritic Action
The antiarthritic properties are supported by research showing good anti-inflammatory action.
Bryony May be a Good Immune System Stimulant
Bryony species are among the most-used herbs for enhancing immune system action, though it is uncertain what effect they would have on non-specific resistance to infection beyond the anti-inflammatory effect discussed above.
Drug Interactions & Precautions
Known Interactions
White bryony, 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 hypokalemia increases toxicity and potency of absorbed digitalis.
Cathartic-induced hypokalemia potentiates muscle relaxants
In addition to the specific interactions listed, the cathartic action of white bryony tend to hasten the passage of all oral medications through the gut and thereby inhibit their action.
In sub-laxative and sub-emetic doses this herb should have no drug interactions. At higher doses, interactions similar to those involving diuretics and cathartics may occur.
Possible Interactions
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.
Comments
Laxative-induced increased speed of intestinal emptying may result in decreased absorption of vitamin and/or anticoagulants.
Safety Factors & Toxicity
The berries of white bryony are poisonous and must be avoided. Large doses of the root can also cause undesirable effects, such as rapid purgation, producing much pain, and being very stressful also on the kidneys. It is best not to use white bryony without trained supervision, and it is best saved for emergency situations.
Large doses may precipitate menstruation (emmenagogue) or cause hemorrhoidal trouble. Avoid this herb during pregnancy.
Preparation & Administration
Use three times daily
Decoction
use 0.1-0.5g of dried root for small dose
use 0.5-2g for large dose
Liquid Extract
use 0.1-0.5ml of 1:1 in 25% alcohol
Tincture
use 0.06-0.6ml
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. & Frohne, D. Heilplanzen-Lexikon Fuer Aerzte und Apotheker. Gustav Fisher Verlag, Stuttgart, New York, 1987.
British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, British Herbal Medicine Association, 1983.
Lewis, D.A. Anti-inflammatory Drugs for Plant and Marine Sources, Birkhouse Verlag, Berlin, 1989.
Mascolo, N., G. Autore, F. Capasso, A. Menghini & M.P. Fasulo. Biological screening of italian medicinal plants for anti-inflammatory activity. Phytotherapy Research, 1(1), 28-31, 1987.
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.
Wagner, H. Immunprophylaxe und -therapie durch pflanzenpraeparte. Zhurnal der Allgemein Medizin. 59, 1282-1289, 1983.
| 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.
|
