PUSSY WILLOW PYGEUM

PUSSY WILLOW (Salix discolor Muhl.) ++

Activities (Pussy Willow) :
Analgesic (1; DEM; FNF); Antiaggregant (1; FNF); Anticancer (f; MIC); Antipyretic (1; DEM; FNF); Astringent (f; DEM); Hemostat (f; DEM); Lactagogue (f; DEM).

Indications (Pussy Willow) :
Alactea (f; DEM); Bleeding (f; DEM); Bruise (f; MIC); Cancer (f; MIC); Cold (f; MIC); Diarrhea (f; DEM); Fever (1; DEM; FNF); Gastrosis (f; DEM); Hemorrhoid (f; DEM); Loneliness (f; DEM); Nephrosis (f; MIC); Pain (1; DEM; FNF); Pharyngosis (f; DEM); Sore Throat (f; DEM); Stomachache (f; DEM); Syncope (f; DEM); Tremor (f; DEM); Tuberculosis (f; DEM).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Pussy Willow) :
See Salix alba (White Willow). Probably enough salicylic acid in the plant to impart the activities and indications of salicylates.


PYGEUM (Prunus africana (Hook. f.) Kalkman) +++

Synonym :
Pygeum africanum Hook. f.

Activities (Pygeum) :
Antialzheimeran (1; COX; FNF); Antiandrogenic (1; SHT); Antiarthritic (1; COX; FNF); Anticancer (1; COX; FNF); Antiinflammatory (1; COX; FNF; SHT); Antiprostaglandin (1; SHT); COX-2 Inhibitor (1; COX; FNF); Decongestant (1; SKY); Hypocholesterolemic (1; SHT).

Indications (Pygeum) :
Alzheimer’s (1; COX; FNF); Arthrosis (1; COX; FNF); BPH (1; SHT; VVG); Cancer (1; COX; FNF); Chest Pain (f; VVG); Congestion (1; SKY); Dysuria (1; SHT); High Cholesterol (1; SHT); Inflammation (1; COX; FNF; SHT); Nocturia (1; SHT); Pain (f; VVG; ZUL); Pollakisuria (1; SHT); Rib Ache (f; ZUL).

Dosages (Pygeum) :
100–200 mg/day StX (lipophilic); 50–100 mg StX (13% sterols calculated as beta-sitosterol) 2 ×/day (SKY).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Pygeum) :
“Devoid of severe side effects ... mutagenesis and teratogenesis” (SHT). Rare reports of GI irritation in clinical studies of lipophilic extract (SKY). Varro Tyler cautioned against self medication with BPH. Whenever treating BPH a practitioner should be involved. Base-line levels of PSA should be established before considering an herbal treatment (JAD). Phytosterols, both free and conjugated, compete with androgen receptors and inhibit prostaglandin synthesis. Pentacyclic terpenes, and crataegolic, oleanolic, and ursolic acids inhibit inflammation by inhibiting the glucosyl transferase and beta-glucuronidase enzyme, which are involved in depolymerizing connective proteoglycans. Ferulic acid esters of fatty alcohols reduce prostate cholesterol, hindering androgen synthesis and reducing levels of the hormone prolactin. Prolactin increases uptake of testosterone in the prostate, and cholesterol increases binding sites for testosterone and its more active form, dihydrotestosterone (SHT; SKY). An important source of the COX-2-Inhibitor, ursolic-acid (COX).