Botanical Index No. 850

Rauwolfia, Snakewood

rauvolfia serpentina

Medicinal Actions

Antiandrogenic, Antiarrhythmic, Anti-bacterial, Antidote, Antifertility, Antipyretic, Carcinogenic, Cardiodepressant, Cardiotonic, CNS Depressant, Expectorant, Hypnotic, Hypotensive, Lactagogue, MDR Inhibitor, Narcotic, Peristaltic, Respiradepressant, Sedative, Sympathicolytic, Teratogenic, Tonic, Uterocontractant, Colic

Primary Conditions Treated

opiate Bitter Hypothyroid Tranquilizer Vermifuge Addiction Anxiety Arrhythmia Asthenia Bacteria Bite Childbirth Cholera Constipation Corneal Opacity Cramp Debility Dermatosis Diarrhea Dropsy Dysentery Dyslactea Dysuria Eclampsia Enterosis Epilepsy Fever Gas Gastrosis Headache Hepatosis High Blood Pressure Hyperthyroid Hypertony Hypochondria Hysteria Insanity Insomnia Mental Problem Migraine Nausea Nervousness Ophthalmia Pain Parasite Parturition Rheumatism Satyrism Schizophrenia Sinus Tachycardia Snakebite Somnambulism Sore Staphylococcus Sting Swelling Tension Ulcer Vomiting Worm Wound

General Dosage

1–3 g powdered root for insanity; 20–30 g powdered root for high blood pressure; 200 mg root/day for 1–3 weeks; 600 mg drug or 6 mg alkaloids.

Safety & Contraindications

Not covered. “Health hazards not known with proper therapeutic dosages”. Commission E reports for root, contraindications, adverse effects, and interactions of the toxic alkaloid reserpine. Contraindications: depression, lactation, pheochromocytoma, pregnancy, and ulcer. Side effects, often with minimum therapeutic dose, include depression, dizziness, drowsiness, dyspnea, erectile dysfunction, lethargy, rash, and reactive changes, reduced sexual potency, and stuffy nose. Drug interactions: appetite suppressants, barbiturates, digitalis glycosides, levodopa, neuroleptics, and sympathomimetics. Reserpine, by its dopamine-depleting effect, may raise prolactin levels. Galactorrhea is one side effect of reserpine. Reserpine given orally to rabbits increased mammary gland secretions. Hypothalmic dopamine inhibits prolactin. Conversely estrogens promote prolactin production. Galactorrhea is a side effect of

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