Useful Benefits of Using Hellebore, Blac Description
22 January 2009Taxonomic
Class Ranunculaceae
Common Trade Names
None known.
Common Forms
Available as fluidextract, powdered root, seed, or a solid extract.
Source
The active components are extracted from the dried rhizome and root of the perennial plant Helleborus niger.
Chemical components
The extract may contain hellebrin, an aglycone, and two highly toxic crystalline glycosides-bufadienole helleborin and helleborcin. These glycosides may indicate contamination with other related species. Other components include saponosides, ranunculoside derivatives, resin, fat, and starch. The commercial hellebore roots consist mainly of H. niger and are mostly hellebrin-free. Other related species, especially H. viridis, tend to have higher levels of glycosides and aglycones.
Actions
The entire plant is considered poisonous. Extracts of black hellebore are claimed to promote menstrual flow and to have anthelmintic, narcotic, and purgative properties.
Protoanemonine is thought to cause abdominal pain, a burning sensation in the mouth and throat, dermatitis, eye irritation, and vomiting.
It combines with sulfhydryl groups, which results in subepidermal vesication. Topical application of the freshly bruised plant can cause serious irritation. Early in vitro studies using protoanemonine identified antifungal and cytotoxic properties .
Reported Uses
The plant has been used historically as a purgative and to treat amenorrhea, anxiety, heart failure, intestinal parasite infections, mental disorders, and skin ulcers. Other claims include its use as an anesthetic and a diuretic and to induce abortion.
In homeopathy, black hellebore tincture is said to be useful for eclampsia, encephalitis, epilepsy, meningitis, and psychoses. In Europe, black hellebore is used in homeopathy and as adjuvant therapy for cancer patients because of its claimed immunostimulatory properties. An in vitro study observed increased cytokine production in cells given an extract of black hellebore. There have been no controlled, double-blind, randomized human trials involving black hellebore preparations.
Dosage
For laxative use, 1 to 10 gtt of fluidextract P.O., 1 to 2 grains of solid extract P.O., or 10 to 20 grains of powder P.O.
Adverse Reactions
CV: arrhythmias, bradycardia, hypotension, irregular pulse (with contamination) .
EENT: burning sensation in the mouth, conjunctival and nasal irritation, increased salivation, sneezing.
GI: abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting.
Respiratory: respiratory failure (with contamination), shortness of breath.
Skin: dermatitis.
Interactions
None reported.
Contraindications and precautions
Avoid using black hellebore in pregnant or breast-feeding patients; effects are unknown.
Special considerations
Caution the patient that ingestion of the plant may result in abdominal pain, a burning sensation in the mouth and throat, diarrhea, increased salivation, and vomiting.
Advise the patient that black hellebore is considered toxic and, therefore, should not be consumed.
Advise the patient to consult a health care provider before using herbal preparations because a treatment that has been clinically researched and proved effective may be available.
Although no known chemical interactions have been reported in clinical studies, consideration must be given to the pharmacologic properties of the herbal product and the potential for exacerbation of the intended therapeutic effect of conventional drugs.
Points of Interest
H. niger blossoms white flowers in the winter, from which it received its name Christmas rose.
“Hellebore” is derived from the Greek elein (to injure) and bora (food), describing its toxic nature.
Commentary
Besides its use in homeopathy, black hellebore is used mainly as an ornamental garden plant. Although it is being used as a potential immunostimulant, controlled human trials to support this claim are lacking. Because of its recognized poisonous status and the lack of clinical data to support the medicinal use of black hellebore, products containing components of this plant should be avoided.
Tagged under:amenorrhea, anthelmintic, blac hellebore, glycosides, Herbal Medicines, intestinal parasite, parasite infections psychoses
