Home :: Hellebore American

Hellebore American Herb - Uses And Side Effects

American (green) hellebore comes from the dried roots of the perennial called Veratrum viride. Related species include V. album (white hellebore), V. californicum, V. officinale (Cevadilla), and V. japonicum.

Veratrine, a chemically similar Mexican herb, was listed in some national drug directories 100 years ago. Still used as a soothing lotion and to kill parasites, it has been linked to birth defects in grazing animals who eat it in the wild. However, in preliminary test tube research, veraclntine, a hellebore derivative, killed leukemia cells.

Common doses of hellebore-american

Hellebore comes as fluid extract, tincture, and powder. Some experts recommend the following dose:

• For heart "sedation," 1 to 3 minims of fluid extract taken orally every 2 to 3 hours until the pulse rate slows. Or 1 to 2 grains of powder or 10 to 30 minims of tincture taken orally. Intravenous doses are unknown.

Uses of hellebore-american herb

• Epilepsy
• Kidney disease
• Pertonitis (inflammation of the abdominal cavity's lining)
• Pneumonia
• Pulmonary edema
• Seizures
• Sharp stabbing pains
• To induce vomiting

Side effects of hellebore-american

Call your health care practitioner if you experience any of these possible side effects of hellebore:

• abdominal pain and bloating
• pale skin
• salivation
• bad taste in the mouth
• seizures
• shortness of breath
• fainting
• slow pulse
• irregular heartbeats
• sneezing (if inhaled)
• labored breathing
• sweating
• muscle weakness
• vomiting.
• nausea
• numbness, prickling, or tingling in the arms and legs

American hellebore also can cause:

• high or low blood pressure
• increased muscle tone
• paralyzed eye muscles.

All parts of the plant are poisonous if eaten. However, most cases haven't been fatal because of the rapid vomiting that occurs and poor intestinal absorption of the plant's chemicals. Overdose symptoms include:

• abdominal pain
• burning throat
• diarrhea
• fainting
• loss of consciousness
• nausea
• paralysis
• reduced vision
• shortness of breath
• spasms.

Interactions

Combining herbs with certain drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side effects. Tell your health care practitioner about any prescription or nonprescription drugs you're taking.

Important paints to remember

• Don't use American hellebore if you have high blood pressure or another type of heart or blood vessel disease.
• Avoid this herb if you're pregnant.
• Know that American hellebore is considered highly toxic.

What the research shows

Although once used extensively to treat high blood pressure, American hellebore and its derivatives are no longer preferred for this purpose because of their dangerous effects. What's more, we now have safer and more tolerable high blood pressure drugs.

Other names for hellebore-american: -

Other names for American hellebore include false hellebore, green hellebore, Indian poke, itch-weed, and swamp hellebore.

A product containing hellebore is sold as Cryptenamine.