PACIFIC YEW TAXUS BREVIFOLIA

PACIFIC YEW (Taxus brevifolia Nutt.) X

PHR treats the European yew, Taxus baccata; APA treats the Western Yew, Taxus brevifolia; DEM treats both; all apparently contain the antitumor compound, Monroe Wall, named taxol (Paclitaxel).

Activities (Pacific Yew) :
Anticancer (1; APA); Antimelanomic (1; APA); Antimitotic (1; APA); Antitumor (1; APA); Depurative (f; DEM); Diaphoretic (f; DEM); Poison (1; DEM).

Indications (Pacific Yew) :
Cancer (1; APA; DEM); Cancer, breast (1; APA); Cancer, cervix (1; APA); Cancer, ovary (1; APA); Cancer, skin (1; APA); Debility (f; DEM); Dysuria (f; APA); Enterosis (f; DEM); Fever (f; DEM); Gastrosis (f; DEM); Hematuria (f; DEM); Hepatosis (f; APA); Melanoma (1; APA); Metastasis (1; APA); Pain (f; DEM); Pulmonosis (f; DEM); Rheumatism (f; APA); Stomachache (f; DEM); Sunburn (f; DEM); Tumor (1; APA); Wound (f; DEM).

Dosages (Pacific Yew) :
Not appropriate for home use (APA).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Pacific Yew) :
Not covered (AHP; KOM). Very poisonous plant, causing colic, dry mouth, dyspnea, hypotension, mydriasis, paleness, queasiness, rash, reddening or blueness of the lips, unconsciousness, vertigo, and vomiting. Death may result from asphyxiation and diastolic cardiac arrest. 50 - 100 g fresh needles can kill an adult (APA; PHR). Fatalities reported from drinking yew tea (APA). Still, Indians ate the berries as food.