Western Herbalism
Lady's Slipper
Cypripedium pubescens
Also known as Yellow Lady's Slipper, Nerve Root, American Valerian, Cypripedium, Yellow Ladies' Slipper, (1) Ladies’ Slipper, Yellow Mocassin Flower, (2) Small-flowered Ladies’ Slipper.
All of the species of Cypripedium resemble valerian in their effects. They are excellent nerve stimulants for weak women and nervous children. They improve a feeble circulation and increase the innervating power of weakened nerve centers.
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Indications what the tradition reached for it in
- Nervous excitability
- Chorea
- Nervous headache
- Joint pains post-scarlet fever
- Menstrual irregularities with despondency
- Nervous tension
- Depression
- Climacteric dementia tendency
- Delirium from atony
- Nervous irritability
- Hysteria
- Anxiety
- Hypochondria
- Insomnia
- Epilepsy from reflex irritation
- Neuralgia
- PFAF
- Tension headaches
- Prostration in low fevers
- Mental depression from digestive derangement or sexual abuse
- Colic
- Cramps
- Debility
- Fatigue
- Muscle spasms
- Restlessness
- Stress
- Weakness
- Headache
- Common cold
Safety
Pregnancy: Pregnancy Caution
Breastfeeding: Lactation (source flag notSafeInLactation)
The record lists 2 contraindications; open the plate in the library to read them in full.
Dosing as the sources wrote it
| Preparation | As written | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Tincture, 1-3 fluid drachms | 3.7-11.09 mL | |
| infusion, 1-4 fluid ounces | 29.57-118 mL | |
| powder, 1 drachm | 3888-3888 mg | |
| alcoholic extract, 10-20 grains | 648-1296 mg | |
| specific fluid extract, 10-60 drops | 0.2-1.2 mL | |
| Dried rhizome/root 2-4 g as an infusion three times daily | 2000-4000 mg |
Doses are reproduced from the sources for practitioners and are not a recommendation for any person.
From the sources
Action and Therapy. All of the species of Cypripedium resemble valerian in their effects. They are excellent nerve stimulants for weak women and nervous children. They improve a feeble circulation and increase the innervating power of weakened nerve centers.
Therapy. Cypripedium exercises a special influence upon nervous conditions induced by or depending upon disorders of the female genito-urinary organs. Hysteria, melancholia, restlessness with morbid excitability, sleeplessness, and pain from general hyperaesthesia induced by uterine or ovarian disorder will be benefited by this remedy.
Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage. This oleoresin may be used in all cases where cypripedium is indicated, in doses of from 1 to 5 grains, 2 or 3 times a day; it is best given in pill form with some inert or active (as may be desired) excipient. A dry Cypripedin has been presented to the profession, consisting of the oleoresin and a sufficient quantity of magnesia or other absorbent powder; in other instances, it has been simply a dried aqueous extract. Either of these dried preparations are nearly worthless.
Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage. This powder is useful to allay irritability or excitability of the nervous system, to relieve spasms, and to produce sleep in restless, wakeful, or excited conditions. When acidity of the stomach is present, it is common to add bicarbonate of sodium, 1 ounce. The dose is from ½ to 1 drachm, 3 times a day, or as required. It is usually administered in tea or water (J. King).
Drawn from Scudder's Specific Medication and Specific Medicines; King's American Dispensatory, 18th edition (Felter and Lloyd); Ellingwood's American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy; Felter's Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and the Bountiful Herbs editorial.
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