May apple (Podophyllum peltatum)
Podophyllum peltatum
Western Herbalism
Western Herbalism

May apple

Podophyllum peltatum

Also known as American mandrake, Mandrake, Podophyllum, Lemon Apple, Wild Lemon, Raccoon Berry, Wild mandrake, etc.

coolingdryingTaste: bitter

I. Podophyllum. Podophyllum is a certain but slow cathartic; it is also. alterative. Unlike most strong cathartics the effects are quite permanent and the tone of the intestines improved. It may be used in nearly all cases in which podophyllin is useful, though there are some conditions where the former gives better results than the latter.

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AlterativeCatharticCholagogueLymphagogueAntineoplasticAntiviralAnti-HPVPurgativeHepatic tonicCytotoxic

Indications what the tradition reached for it in

Safety

Recognised toxicity. This plant carries a toxicity flag in the record; it is for trained practitioners only.

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

Pregnancy: Pregnancy Caution

Breastfeeding: Lactation (internal/topical)

The record lists 4 contraindications; open the plate in the library to read them in full.

Dosing as the sources wrote it

PreparationAs writtenMetric
If used internally, low dose only (H2O or low ETOH extraction) and results may take 4-12 hrs
Tincture (1:10)1-10 drops TID water extraction0.02-0.2 mL
Put Vaseline around normal skin as barrier, debride skin over wart, then apply 1-2 gtts on wart 2x/day0.02-0.04 mL
The cathartic dose of the powder varies from ten to twenty grains648-1296 mg
From twenty to forty drops are a dose0.4-0.8 mL
The cathartic dose is from one to two grains64.8-130 mg

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

From the sources

Therapy. I. Podophyllum. Podophyllum is a certain but slow cathartic; it is also. alterative. Unlike most strong cathartics the effects are quite permanent and the tone of the intestines improved. It may be used in nearly all cases in which podophyllin is useful, though there are some conditions where the former gives better results than the latter.

Therapy. These conditions will suggest the use of the agent whatever the name of the existing disease. In acute inflammatory conditions, or in irritable conditions of the stomach or bowels, it is contra-indicated in active doses.

Properties and Uses. The root of podophyllum, when fresh, is an acrid and excoriating poison, producing nausea, severe vomiting, burning at the praecordia, and violent catharsis, with tormina and watery (sometimes bloody) stools.

Properties and Uses. The roots of polemonium are diffusibly stimulating and relaxing, leaving a gentle tonic impression. Their influence is expended with moderate promptness toward the surface and throughout the nervous system, a warm infusion securing a rather free perspiration and a fuller circulation in the capillaries.

Drawn from Cook's Physio-Medical Dispensatory; Scudder's Specific Medication and Specific Medicines; King's American Dispensatory, 18th edition (Felter and Lloyd); Ellingwood's American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy, and the Bountiful Herbs editorial.

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