Botanical Index No. 802

Pleurisy Root

asclepias tuberosa

Medicinal Actions

Analgesic, Antiinflammatory, Antispasmodic, Cardiotonic, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Diuretic, Emetic, Estrogenic, Expectorant, Laxative, Oxytocic, Tonic, Uterocontractant, Uterotonic

Primary Conditions Treated

Abortifacient Asthma Bite Bleeding Bronchosis Bruise Cancer Cardiopathy Catarrh Chancre Childbirth Cold Congestion Constipation Cough Cramp Diarrhea Dropsy Dysentery Dyspepsia Dyspnea Enterosis Fever Flu Gastrosis Hoarseness Infection Inflammation Lameness Mastosis Mucososis Pain Pleurisy Pulmonosis Pneumonia Respirosis Rheumatism Rhinosis Snakebite Sore Stomachache Swelling Syphilis Typhus Uterosis VD Worm Wound

General Dosage

1–4 g root, or in tea, 3 ×/day; 1 tbsp powdered root/8 oz warm liquid 1 ×/day; 2.5–5 ml liquid root extract; 1–4 ml liquid root extract 3 ×/day; 1–5 ml root tincture 3 ×/day.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 2b, 2d. May cause nausea and vomiting. “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages”. CAN reports cardenolides can be irritant and cause cardiac activity and dermatosis. Because of cardioactive constituents and uterine activity in vivo, its use in pregnancy, lactation, and cardiac patients is to be avoided. May interfere with cardiac, depression, and hormone therapy. “Not allowed as a non-medicinal ingredient in oral use products in Canada”. Toxic in large quantities.

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