Hoary Pea (Tephrosia)
Tephrosia
Western Herbalism
Western Herbalism

Hoary Pea

Tephrosia

Also known as Turkey pea, Devil's shoestring, Goat's rue, Cat gut, Catgut.

WarmingDryingcoolingTaste: BitterTaste: Acrid

Tephrosia virginiana is a low, hairy perennial legume native to dry sandy soils, open woods, and barrens across eastern and central North America. The root was the part used by Indigenous peoples and later adopted by nineteenth century Eclectic physicians, who valued it chiefly as a vermifuge and tonic. It is a minor, largely historical remedy today, overshadowed by safer anthelmintics and constrained by its content of rotenone, a compound now better known as a fish and insect poison than a human medicine.

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AnthelminticVermifugeTonicAlterativeDiaphoreticInsecticidal (topical)

Indications what the tradition reached for it in

Specific indications

Persistent intestinal worm infestation, especially tapeworm, unresponsive to gentler vermifuges

General tonic debility with weakness and poor appetite, as reached for by Eclectic physicians when a stimulating tonic vermifuge was wanted

Safety

Low dose botanical. Used in drop doses in the classical practice; not a plant to dose freely.

Pregnancy: Limited safety data in pregnancy

The record lists 7 contraindications; open the plate in the library to read them in full.

In practice

This root belongs to the older American Eclectic tradition rather than to current practice. It was given as a decoction or fluid extract for intestinal worms, particularly tapeworm, sometimes combined with a purgative to hasten expulsion, and was also used as a general bitter tonic for convalescent weakness with poor appetite. Externally, root preparations were rubbed on the skin for lice and mange. Because the plant's anthelmintic and insecticidal activity is attributable largely to rotenone and related rotenoids, which are mitochondrial poisons, this is not a remedy to reach for casually or in anything but modest, short courses. Most modern herbalists have set it aside in favor of better characterized and safer vermifuges. If it is used at all, it should be at conservative traditional doses, for a limited time, and with attention to gastrointestinal tolerance.

Dosing as the sources wrote it

PreparationAs writtenMetric
Root decoction (historical Eclectic dosing)1-4 g dried root as a short course, not exceeding a few days1000-4000 mg
Fluid extract (1:1)1-2 mL up to twice daily, short course only1-2 mL
The dose is from ½ to 1 fluid ounce, 2, 3, or 4 times a day (Amer.14.79-29.57 mL

Doses are reproduced from the sources for practitioners and are not a recommendation for any person.

From the sources

Overview. Tephrosia virginiana is a low, hairy perennial legume native to dry sandy soils, open woods, and barrens across eastern and central North America. The root was the part used by Indigenous peoples and later adopted by nineteenth century Eclectic physicians, who valued it chiefly as a vermifuge and tonic. It is a minor, largely historical remedy today, overshadowed by safer anthelmintics and constrained by its content of rotenone, a compound now better known as a fish and insect poison than a human medicine.

Clinical Notes. This root belongs to the older American Eclectic tradition rather than to current practice. It was given as a decoction or fluid extract for intestinal worms, particularly tapeworm, sometimes combined with a purgative to hasten expulsion, and was also used as a general bitter tonic for convalescent weakness with poor appetite.

Drawn from King's American Dispensatory, 18th edition (Felter and Lloyd), and the Bountiful Herbs editorial.

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