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2 - The cardiovascular system
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 August 2010
Summary
Plants in tropical West Africa with an action on the cardiovascular system
In the particular field of cardiovascular drugs, plants still provide the basis of treatment, even in orthodox pharmacy. However, some of the plants accepted by most Pharmacopoeias, such as Digitalis, Convallaria, Adonis, Helleborus and Crataegus, which act mainly on the heart, and Hydrastis, Veratrum, Amni visnagi, Viscum album and Aesculus hippocastanum, which act more specifically on the blood vessels, do not grow in West Africa. On the other hand, the possibilities of many plants that are locally available have not yet been fully investigated. Also, some of the currently used cardiotonics have a high toxicity; less toxic but yet active constituents might be found amongst the West African plants. As mentioned in the general introduction only a limited number of local uses have been indicated.
Most herbalists will know that many plants in this group (several formerly used as arrow poisons or even in ordeals) are very toxic and will avoid using them. A few healers, however, may, in view of the fact that they are also emetics, purgatives or diuretics, be tempted to make use of them. But these plants should be employed only after complete extraction and with very exact dosages of the active constituents, and then only by physicians in possession of a full clinical diagnosis. In this, these plants differ from many others, which may be given as a decoction, an infusion or in dried or powder form.
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- Medicinal Plants in Tropical West Africa , pp. 9 - 55Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1986