Botanical Index No. 109

Bittersweet

solanum dulcamara l.

Medicinal Actions

Alterative, Analgesic, Anticholinergic, Antidote, Antiinflammatory, Antipyretic, Antisarcomic, Antiseptic, Antiviral, Astringent, Cardiotonic, Cytotoxic, Depurative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emetic, Expectorant, Hypnotic, Immunostimulant, Laxative, Mucoirritant, Narcotic, Phagocytotic, Secretagogue, Sedative, Stimulant, Tonic, Colic

Primary Conditions Treated

Anaphrodisiac Pectoral Poison Resolvent Abscess Acne Adenopathy Allergy Angina Aphonia Arthrosis Asthma Biliousness Bleeding Blepharosis Boil Bronchosis Bruise Cancer breast eye face Carbuncle Catarrh Cold Conjunctivosis Constipation Corn Cough Cystosis Dermatosis Diarrhea Dropsy Dyscrasia Dysentery Dyslactea Dysmenorrhea Dysuria Eczema Emaciation Enterosis Epistaxis Exanthema Felon Fever Flu Furuncle Gastrosis Glossosis Gout Hemorrhoid Hepatosis Herpes Immunodepression Impetigo Incontinence Infection Inflammation Insomnia Itch Jaundice Leprosy Malaria Meningosis Myalgia Myelosis Nausea Nervousness Neuralgia Ophthalmia Otosis Pain Paralysis Pemphigus Pertussis Pityriasis Psoriasis Respirosis Rheumatism Scabies Scarlatina Scrofula Sore Splenosis Stammering Stone Swelling Syphilis Tenesmus Tonsilosis Tumor Typhoid Ulcer Urticaria Uterosis VD Virus Wart Water Retention

General Dosage

1–3 g stem/day; 0.5–2 g powdered stem several ×/day; 0.6–1.2 g extract/day; 1–2 g drug/250 ml water; 1–3 g/day.

Safety & Contraindications

AHP doesn’t index any Solanum species. “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages”. Contraindicated in pregnant and nursing mothers. Will cause convulsions, paralysis, vertigo, vomiting, and weakened heart. One source reports excessive use of stalk preparations has been associated with serious poisoning. With low alkaloid content, stem preparations at doses below 25 g should not be toxic. In children, 10 green berries can cause diarrhea, dilated pupils, nausea, and vomiting. Lethal dosage is estimated to be 200 berries. Solasodine has a cortisone-like effect.

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