Common Name: |
Asthma Weed |
Other Names: |
Pill-bearing spurge, Catshair, Garden Spurge, Milkweed, Snake Weed/ |
Botanical Name: |
Euphorbia hirta syn. E. pilulifera |
Genus: |
Euphorbia |
Family: |
Euphorbiaceae |
Cultivation: |
Well-drained to dry, sandy soil in sun. |
Propagation: |
By seed sown in spring at 15-20°C (59-68°F). |
Harvest: |
Plants are cut when flowering and used fresh for juice, or dried for use in infusions, liquid extracts, and tinctures. |
Native Location: |
Weed of Tropics and Subtropics |
Height: |
20-40cm (8-16in) |
Width: |
20-30cm (8-12in) |
Warning: |
All euphorbias are toxic if eaten. The sap (latex) is a serious skin and eye irritant. |
Hardiness: |
Min. 10-15°C (50-59°F) |
Parts Used: |
Whole Plant, juice. |
Properties: |
An acrid, bitter, antiseptic herb that expels phlegm and relieves spasms. |
Medicinal Uses: |
Internally for asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, nervous cough, mucus, hay fever, and amebic dysentery. Externally for burns and warts (juice). Combined with Grindelia camporum (See, gumweed) or Lobelia inflata (See, Indian tobacco) for bronchitis and asthma. To treat allergies, asthma, bronchitis, colds, diarrhea, sexually transmitted disease, and snakebite. |
Typical Dose: |
A typical dose of pill-bearing spurge may range from 120 to 300 mg in powdered form, taken three times daily. |
Possible Side Effects: |
Pill-bearing spurge's side effects include nausea, vomiting, gastric symptoms, and allergic reactions. |
Drug Interactions: |
Taking pill-bearing spurge with these drugs may interfere with the action of the drug: |
Cyclosporine, (Neoral, Sandimmune) |
Erythromycin, (Erythrocin, Staticin) |
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Disease Effects: |
May worsen inflammatory or infectious gastrointestinal ailments by irritating the gastrointestinal tract. |
Bibliography: |
Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown. Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited. pg 210 The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by Geo. T. Grossberg,MD and Barry Fox,PhD Copyright©2007 Barry Fox,PhD. Pg.368
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