LARKSPUR FORKING LARKSPUR LATUA

LARKSPUR, FORKING LARKSPUR (Consolida regalis S. F. Gray) X

Synonym:
- Delphinium consolida L.
I hope the nonbotanists who wrote Commission E and the Herbal PDR have figured out the larkspurs etter than I have. Otherwise, they know not of which larkspur they speak. There are more than a dozen Consolidas and Delphiniums, many called larkspurs. And dont forget the pediculicide stavesacre, D. staphisagria (the USDA did). After wasting a day with the nomenclatorial nuances, I feel I should treat three species or lump them all into one, larkspur, Consolida regalis (formerly Delphinium consolida), the slightly different rocket larkspur, Consolida ajacis, and finally the stavesacre, Delphinium staphasiagria, not covered by the USDA. All are poisonous and dangerous, and probably not reliably distinguished by nonbotanists. So it is, methinks, a bit presumptuous to believe the data in the literature were based on better speculations than mine.

Activities (Forking Larkspur) :
- Aperitif (f; KOM); Bradycardic (f; KOM); Cardiodepressant (f; KOM); CNS-Depressant (f; KOM); Curare (f; KOM); Diuretic (f; HHB; KOM; PH2); Hypotensive (f; KOM); Laxative (f; HHB); Respiradepressant (f; KOM); Sedative (f; KOM; PH2); Vermifuge (f; HHB; KOM; PH2).

Indications (Forking Larkspur) :
- Anorexia (f; KOM); Constipation (f; HHB); High Blood Pressure (f; KOM); Insomnia (f; KOM; PH2); Nervousness (f; KOM; PH2); Water Retention (f; HHB; KOM; PH2); Worm (f; HHB; KOM; PH2).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Forking Larkspur) :
- Not covered (AHP). No health risks or side effects reported from proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages (PH2). But the LD50 in rabbits, intravenously, is only 1.5 - 3 mg/kg (PH2). Commission E reports flower is not permitted for therapeutic use (KOM), while citing unapproved folk usage as diuretic, orexigenic, sedative, and vermifuge. The plant contains toxic alkaloids, but there are
no reliable data on the alkaloid level in the flowers (AEH). Alkaloids are bradycardic, cardiodepressant,
CNS-depressant, hypotensive, and respiradepressant. Seed and leaf of some species are dermatitigenic. Ajacine and delphinine occur in seed and young plants of many Delphinium spp. Ingestion of such species may upset nerves and stomach, death may occur if the plant is eaten in large quantities, especially by children. In Asia, where seeds reportedly poison cattle, seeds are still dangerously used as cathartics and emetics (CRC). The Herbal PDR, and I, often get too broad-brushed and talk generically, in the process condemning innocent species and occasionally praising undeserving species.


LATUA (Latua pubiflora (Gris.) Phil.) X

Activities (Latua) :
- Aphrodisiac (f; CRC); Deliriant (1; CRC); Hallucinogen (1; CRC); Narcotic (1; CRC); Piscicide (1; CRC); Poison (1; CRC); Psychedelic (1; CRC).

Indications (Latua) :
- Impotence (f; CRC).