SMARTWEED POLYGONUM HYDROPIPER

SMARTWEED (Polygonum hydropiper L.) ++

Synonym :
Persicaria hydropiper (L.) Spach.

Activities (Smartweed) :
Allergenic (1; FAD; HH2); Analgesic (1; DEM; PHR); Antibacterial (f; WOI); Anticapillary Fragility (1; FAD); Antifertility (1; HH2); Anti-implantation (1; MPI); Antimutagenic (1; HH2); Antirheumatic (f; PHR); Antiseptic (f; EFS); Carminative (f; DEP; EFS); Contraceptive (f; WOI); Diaphoretic (f; EFS); Diuretic (f; EFS; FAD; HH2); Emmenagogue (f; PNC); Hemostat (1; PHR); Hypotensive (1; WOI); Insectifuge (f; WOI); Irritant (f; PH2); Larvicide (1; WOI); Litholytic (f; WOI); Myorelaxant (1; WOI); Piscicide (1; DEM; HH2; WOI); FNF); Rubefacient (f; EFS); Sedative (f; WOI); Stimulant (f; DEP; EFS; PNC); Tonic (f; DEP); Uterotonic (f; EFS); Vasoconstrictor (f; EFS); Vermifuge (f; DEP).

Indications (Smartweed) :
Amenorrhea (f; MAD; PNC); Angina (f; MAD); Arthrosis (f; DAA); Asthma (f; MAD); Bacteria (1; WOI); Bleeding (1; EFS; HH2; PHR; PH2); Bruise (f; HH2; PH2); Cancer (1; HH2; JLH; MAD); Cancer, leg (f; JLH); Cancer, mesentery (f; JLH); Cancer, uterus (f; JLH); Capillary Fragility (1; FAD); Chill (f; DEM; FAD); Cholera (f; MAD); Colic (f; DAA); Cough (f; MAD); Cystosis (f; HH2; MAD; PH2); Dermatosis (f; DEP; MAD; WOI); Diarrhea (f; DEM; PHR; PH2); Dropsy (f; DEM); Dysentery (f; MAD; PH2); Dysmenorrhea (f; FAD; MAD; PH2); Dyspepsia (f; DEM; PH2); Dysuria (f; DEM; FAD; MAD); Edema (f; JLH; MAD); Enterosis (f; MAD); Fever (f; DEM; EFS; FAD); Fibroma (f; JLH; MAD); Fistula (f; CEB); Gangrene (f; MAD); Gas (f; DEP; EFS); Gastrosis (f; DEM; HH2; MAD); Gonorrhea (f; MAD); Gout (f; HH2; PH2); Gravel (f; DEM); Headache (f; CEB; MAD); Hematuria (f; DEM; FAD); Hemoptysis (f; MAD); Hemorrhoid (f; FAD; HH2; MAD; PH2); High Blood Pressure (1; WOI); Induration (f; JLH); Inflammation (f; DEM); Insomnia (f; WOI); Itch (f; DEP); Jaundice (f; DAA; MAD); Leukorrhea (f; MAD); Metrorrhagia (f; MAD); Mucososis (f; HH2); Nephrosis (f; DEM; HH2; PH2); Nervousness (f; WOI); Pain (1; DEM; FAD; FNF; PHR; PH2); Rheumatism (1; FNF; PHR; PH2); Scabies (f; PH2); Scald (f; DEM); Sore (f; CEB; MAD); Sprain (f; PH2); Stomatosis (f; CEB); Stone (f; MAD; WOI); Strangury (f; DAA); Stroke (f; DAA); Swelling (f; DEM; JLH); Toothache (f; MAD); Uterosis (f; FAD); Uterrhagia (f; MAD; PH2); Varicosis (f; PH2); VD (f; PH2); Vomiting (f; PH2); Water Retention (f; EFS; FAD; HH2); Whitlow (f; JLH); Worm (f; DEP; PNC); Wound (f; MAD; PH2).

Dosages (Smartweed) :
600–3750 mg herb fluid extract (MAD); 1 tsp herb/cup 3 ×/day (PHR; PH2).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Smartweed) :
Not covered (AHP). “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2). “Consumption of larger quantities of the fresh kraut (= herb) can cause gastroenterosis” (PH2). Plant is potentially allergenic (FAD).

Extracts (Smartweed) :
Extract LD50 = 464 mg/kg ipr mus (MPI). Contains 2000–3000 ppm silicic acid, 2000 ppm readily soluble (HH2). Alcoholic extract anti-implantation, IC60 = 200 mg/kg rat. The Herbal PDR lists polygodial, an antihyperalgesic, which I translate as a pain reducing compound. I myself have chewed it for toothache. Like so many other anesthetic toothache compounds (e.g., spilanthin), this one, too, is a fish intoxicant. Noting all the pesticidal activities, I’m not yet ready to give it a ++. Polygodial reportedly has activities also shared with the closely related phytochemical warburganal. These are both hot pungent compounds, and probably explain the name smartweed.