Indian Snakeroot
Botanical Description / Habitat
Rauwolfia serpentina
Family
Apocynaceae
Common Names
Indian Snakeroot
Habitat
Indigenous to India and Indonesia (Indochina).
Description
An erect, evergreen, with white to pink flowers and a purple-black fruit when ripe.
The root is gray-brown. It has a bitter taste.
Medicinal Parts
Dried roots.
Wild plants are harvested at 4 years, while cultivated plants are harvested at 2 years.
Historical Properties & Uses
In folk medicine, extracts are used in India for snake bites (as well as from other reptiles). It is also used for fever and a general tonic.
This herb has approval status by the German Commission E for mild, essential hypertension especially sinus tachycardia.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Method of Action
Contains at least 1% reserpine alkaloids.
Drug Interactions & Precautions
| Barbiturates | mutual potentiation |
| Digital glycosides | bradycardia |
| Levodopa | reduced effectiveness, increased |
| extrapyramidal motor symptoms. | |
| Neuroleptics | mutual potentiation |
| Sympathomimetics | blood pressure increase |
Safety Factors & Toxicity
Contraindications include: depression, lactation, pregnancy or ulcer.
Side effects include: stuffy nose, depressive mood, fatigue, impotence.
Should not be taken with alcohol.
It affects the metabolism of noradrenaline i.e. sympathicolytic, resulting in antiarrhythmic, hypotensive and sedative effects.
Preparation & Administration
This herb has approval status by the German Commission E.
Recommended daily dosages in Germany are as follows:
600 mg herb. (6 mg total alkaloids)
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
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
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Gruenwald, J, Brendler, T & Jaenicke, C (Eds.): PDR for Herbal Medicines. Medical Economics, NJ. 1998.
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