PINKROOT SPIGELIA MARILANDICA

PINKROOT (Spigelia marilandica (L.) L.) X

Synonym :
Lonicera marilandica L.
The Herbal PDR mentions wormwood grass as a selected common name; bad selection. Earlier names in Europe and America were American Wormgrass or Wormroot, not Wormwood. European floras have tended to mix the North American S. marilandica L. with the more tropical American S. anthelmia L. I doubt the Herbal PDR people know which they are talking about.

Activities (Pinkroot) :
Antipyretic (f; GMH; HH2; PH2); Cardiac (f; EFS); Cardiotonic (f; EFS); Digestive (f; CRC); Paralytic (f; PH2); Poison (1; DEM; PH2); Narcotic (f; EFS); Sedative (f; EFS); Soporific (f; EFS); Tonic (f; EFS); Toxic (1; EFS; PH2); Tranquilizer (f; PH2); Vermifuge (1; CRC; DEM; FEL; PH2).

Indications (Pinkroot) :
Convulsion (f; CRC); Cough (f; HAD; TOM); Endocardosis (f; FEL); Fever (f; CRC; GMH; HH2; PH2); Fit (f; CRC); Hydrocephaly (f; FEL; GMH); Insomnia (f; EFS); Malaria (f; CRC; HH2; PH2); Mania (f; CRC); Nervousness (f; EFS; PH2); Strabismus (f; CRC); Stress (f; PH2); Worm (1; CRC; DEM; FAD; FEL; HAD; PH2; TOM).

Dosages (Pinkroot) :
Don’t take it (JAD). Adults 2–5 g (children over 4 years old, 0.5–4 g), morning and evening, with strong purgative like senna (AHP); 1–2 drachms dry root (GMH).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Pinkroot) :
Class 2d. Not for long-term use. Do not exceed recommended dose (AHP). Has been used for poisoning humans, the toxic effects similar to those of strychnine. Effects of spigeline are rather like those of coniine, lobeline, and nicotine. “Even proper doses may lead to disturbed vision (dimness), dizziness, muscular spasms, twitching eyelids, dilated pupils, facial spasms, and increased heart activity. In large doses, circulation and respiration are depressed and muscular power diminished; there have been fatalities in children” (CRC; HH2). Side effects include increased heart action, vertigo, convulsions, and possibly death (FAD). Toxic, may paralyze the spinal marrow causing death by asphyxiation (PH2).