Parts used: root.
Pharmacy name: Rauwolfia root – Rauvolfiae radix (formerly: Radix Rauvolfiae).
Botanical description. In the wild state, serpentine rauwolfia is found in the tropical regions of the Himalayas, in Sikkim, North and Central Bengal, Peru, on the Deccan Plateau, in Sri Lanka and Java. The plant is a small shrub 20-45 cm tall, occasionally 60-90 cm, with white bark. Leaves 6-17 cm long, 3-7 cm wide, elliptical to lanceolate or pointed-ovate, tapering to a short petiole. White or pink flowers, collected in large numbers in umbrellas 2-5 cm in diameter, have a corolla tube swollen in the middle with a pubescent throat, 5 small subulate sepals, an upper ovary and a black drupe approximately 6 mm long.
Collection and preparation. Pharmaceutical raw materials are obtained from both wild and cultivated plants. The sinuous, abundantly branching root is dug up, cut into pieces 5-20 cm long and hung out to dry in a ventilated place. Roots wrinkled, 0.7-1.7 cm thick, grey-yellow to light brown, whitish-gray to yellowish inside. The active ingredients are alkaloids, which are approximately 5% in the root bark, and only within 0.5% in the root wood. On average, this is about 1%. The main alkaloid is reserpine. Along with it, there are many other side alkaloids, the number of which reaches 40.
Healing action and application.Since ancient times, rauwolfia snake root has been used in India as a remedy for snake and insect bites, fever, diarrhea and even cholera, and as a sleeping pill for babies. In Java, it is given primarily as an anthelmintic. Science has only dealt with this medicinal plant within six decades. In 1931, the composition of the first rauwolfia alkaloid was discovered, and subsequently more and more new alkaloids were isolated, their structure was elucidated, and a method for their synthetic preparation was developed. Therefore, in a number of places, in particular in Germany, they experimented not with the pharmaceutical product itself, but with individual components or with extracts from the starting material. When using rauwolfia, the calming effect and lowering blood pressure are in the foreground, but one cannot fail to mention the antispasmodic effect, especially with spasms of smooth muscles. Countless rauwolfia products are used worldwide to lower blood pressure, to alleviate states of arousal, and to protect against external irritants. If we take into account combinations with other medicinal plants – such as hawthorn, mistletoe, garlic – the number of drugs for a variety of purposes becomes immense. Nevertheless, self-treatment with rauwolfia should not be done, you must first consult with your doctor. – the number of drugs for a variety of purposes is becoming immense. Nevertheless, self-treatment with rauwolfia should not be done, you must first consult with your doctor. – the number of drugs for a variety of purposes is becoming immense. Nevertheless, self-treatment with rauwolfia should not be done, you must first consult with your doctor.
Use in homeopathy. The homeopathic remedy Rauvolfia serpentina is used in conditions of depression and to lower blood pressure. This remedy is used in low dilutions (from D 1 to D 1 ) to lower blood pressure, in large (from Dg) – for the treatment of nervous diseases and psychosis.
Side effects. It has already been noted that rauwolfia can only be used under the supervision of a physician, since a medicine whose active ingredients are alkaloids cannot but have side effects. With misuse and overdose, circulatory disorders, nightmares and severe depression are found. The main thing is that Parkinson’s syndrome is often observed, the visible signs of which are a slowdown in movements and mental reactions.