AYURVEDIC PRACTITIONER
| Gelsemium, ©2008 Todd Caldecott |
Botanical Name: Gelsemium sempervirens, Loganiaceae Common names: Yellow Jasmine, Yellow Jessamine, False Jasmine, Jessamine, Carolina Jessamine, Wild Woodbine, White Poison Vine, White Jessamine Similar species: G. nitidum, G. elegans, G. lucidum Plant description: Gelsemium is an evergreen, woody vine, often climbing in the higher branches of trees, often moving from one tree into the next. It has a smooth slender stem, the immature bark dark brown to reddish brown and shining, exuding a milky-white juice when broken. The leaves are opposite, simple, lanceolate, the apex acute to acuminate, the base acute to rounded, glossy green on upper surface, margin entire, with a short petiole. The axillary flowers are bright yellow and highly fragrant, reminiscent of the true Jasmine. Each flower is between 3-5 cm long, the petals fused in to a trumpet-shaped corolla with five lobes, and five stamens surrounding a central four-clefted style. The fruit is composed of two separable, jointed pods that contain numerous, flattened winged seeds. Habitat, ecology and distribution: Gelsemium is found in thickets and woodlands, often weedy in disturbed areas along roadsides and fences, in moist areas of the southern United States, from Virginia south to Florida and westwards into Texas, extending down into Mexico and Guatemala. Some species (e.g. G. elegans) occur in south-east Asia. Yellow Jasmine is also cultivated as an ornamental. Part used: Fresh root and rhizome; dried plant preparations are stated to be inferior (Felter and Lloyd 1893). History: The use of Gelsemium in herbal medicine is stated to have begun with an anonymous plantation owner from Mississippi, who, while suffering an attack of the "bilious fever," sent a servant into his garden to find a certain medicinal root to prepare an infusion of it for him to drink. The servant however collected another root by mistake, and when the infusion was given, the patient was seized with a sudden paralysis, and could not even open his eyelids, although he was otherwise lucid, and could hear the voices about him. His condition caused great anxiety amongst his friends who all gathered around him expecting him to die. After a few hours however the patient gradually recovered, and found that his fever had completely abated. The plantation owner then determined which plant it was that his servant had mistakenly harvested, and then began to use it among his workers and shared it with his neighbors as a treatment for fever. It eventually attracted the interest of a local physician who prepared an extract and marketed it under the name "Electrical Febrifuge" (Felter and Lloyd 1893). Constituents: Gelsemium contains a variety of unique, highly toxic indole alkaloids including gelsemine, gelsemicine, sempervirine, 1-methoxyoxogelsemine, 21-oxogelsemine, 14-hydroxygelsemicine, gelsedine and 14-hydroxygelsedine. Other constituents noted in Gelsemium include scopoletin (which gives the drug a bluish glow in ultraviolet light), iridoid glycosides, an essential oil and tannin (Evans 1988, 615; Duke 2003). Medical Research: Researchers observed an inhibitory activity upon HepG2 hepatoma cells with the in vitro administration of Gelsemium alkaloids. The result was thought to be related to an ability of these alkaloids to induce apoptosis (Wang et al 2001). Low doses of G. sempervirens were determined to have significant neurotropic, immunological, and protective effects on stress-induced behavioral, immunological and gastric alterations in experimental mice (Bousta et al 2001). Toxicity: The toxicity of Gelsemium root and rhizome is undeniable, but to what extent is largely a matter of dosage. The alkaloids appear to be responsible for a profound depressant effect upon the central nervous system, appearing to act as both muscarinic and nicotinic acetylcholine antagonists, promoting a marked weakness and muscular paralysis. Toxic symptoms include drooping of the eyelids (ptosis) and jaw, double-vision (diplopia), pupil dilation, profuse sweating and muscle paralysis. The pulse rate drops dramatically as does the core body temperature. Respiration is initially quickened but then slowed, becoming quite shallow, the slowing of cardiac activity proportional to the respiratory effects. Consciousness is usually maintained throughout, and although the patient can hear he or she will not be able to react to stimuli. Death is from cerebral hypoxia from the accumulation of CO2. Treatment consists of emetics or gastric lavage, the hypodermic administration of morphine, artificial respiration, vigorous massage, and external heat. Poisoning can occur from the use of honey made from the nectar of Gelsemium, and as little as 2-3 g can be fatal in an adult, although there are reports in the literature of people consuming much more with any permanent effect (note the entry under History). The effects of a moderate dose typically resolve within a few hours. Apart from its ability to paralyze the lungs Gelsemium is otherwise non-toxic and non-irritating, evidenced by the fact that Gelsemium was as one time used in surgery as a kind of anesthetic, in which the patient was kept alive by artificial respiration until the effects wore off (Felter and Lloyd 1893; Potter 1902). Herbal action: febrifuge, sedative, analgesic, anodyne Indications: fever, inflammation, pain, neuralgia, insomnia; all characterized by extreme heat, burning sensations and inflammation Contraindications and cautions: symptoms of coldness; weak, slow, thin pulse; bradycardia, congestive heart failure, senile heart, emphysema, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis; pregnancy, lactation Medicinal uses: Gelsemium is a powerful herbal agent to diminish muscular spasm and irritation, indicated in inflammatory conditions, evidenced by a "Šflushed face, bright eye, contracted pupils, increased heat of head, great restlessness, and excitation" (Felter and Lloyd). The prototypical Gelsemium patient has a muscular build and a florid complexion, and "…is grouchy, touchy, every impulse and feeling, whether painful or pleasant, is magnified or accelerated" (Felter and Lloyd). The pulse will be full, tense and bounding, and the tongue red and pointed. In insomnia Gelsemium is useful, particularly when characterized by complaints of being too hot and emotional irritability, classic Type A personalities that have difficulty letting go and relaxing. To this end Gelsemium may be combined with Passiflora. Specifically, Gelsemium is used in severe fever, especially in children where convulsion may occur, or in cerebro-spinal meningitis. It is an important remedy in smooth muscle spasm that accompanies diarrhea and dysentery, particularly when accompanied by fever, or in renal colic from the passing of stones. In gynecological disorders it finds utility in dysmenorrhea, pelvic inflammation, post-partum pain, ovaritis, and severe cystitis. Similarly, Gelsemium is indicated in neuralgia, such as that of the trigeminal nerve, as well as in toothaches and almost any kind of pain that is characterized by burning sensations. Gelsemium is also indicated in active states of joint inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Historically Gelsemium was considered a powerful remedy in epilepsy, palsy, chorea and tetanus. Weiss recommends Gelsemium is irritability of the heart in extra-systole and functional heart disease (1988, 151). In psychiatric disorders Gelsemium is used in manic conditions, and in delirium tremens from sudden abstinence in alcoholics. Pharmacy and dosage: Doses should be administered cautiously, beginning with diluted doses up to full drop doses, administered 1 gtt per dose until the effects are noted. Although some texts state that doses can be administered until diplopia occurs, this is an indication of toxicity and should be avoided.
REFERENCESBousta D, Soulimani R, Jarmouni I, Belon P, Falla J, Froment N, Younos C. 2001. Neurotropic, immunological and gastric effects of low doses of Atropa belladonna L., Gelsemium sempervirens L. and Poumon histamine in stressed mice. J Ethnopharmacol Mar 3;74(3):205-15 |