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Appendix XIII cont’d
Traditional and Empirical Therapeutic Commentaries on Selected
Cardiovascular Remedies (Cont’d)
To the Heart of the Matter
Selenicereus grandiflorus (L.) Britt. & Rose (Cereus grandiflorus Miller & DeCandolle)
“Stimulating cardiac tonic and trophorestorative. Elevates arterial tension and accelerates the
pulse. Stimulating to the spinal nerves and motor centres. Cardiac weakness. Bradycardia and
cardiac neurosis” (Priest & Priest 1983, p. 90-91).
Felter writes that the remedy is indicated in conditions of: ”Impaired heart action, whether
feeble, irregular, or tumultuous; cardiac disorders with mental depression, praecordial
oppression, and apprehension of danger and death; nervous disorders with feeble heart action;
…hysteria with enfeebled circulation … Cactus impresses the sympathetic nervous system, and
is especially active in its power over the cardiac plexus. (Felter 1922, p. 67-68).
”This remedy increases the musculo-motor energy of the heart… This is accomplished by
increased heart action, stimulation of the vasomotor center, and stimulation of the spinal-motor
centers, increasing their activity and improving the general nerve tone” (Ellingwood 1919).
Tilia spp.
“Specific indications: Raised arterial pressure associated with arteriosclerosis and nervous
tension” (BHMA 1983, p. 214).
“A good cephalic and nervine… excellent for palpitations of the heart” (Culpeper s.t., p. 216)
Veratrum viride Aiton
Discussing the therapeutic application in a case of cardiac weakness, Niederkorn (1911, p. 170)
writes: “Veratrum was selected because a long experience with its action has given me
confidence in its use for just such conditions of vascular and nervous disturbances as were
manifested in this case”.
Viscum album L.
“Action: Hypotensive, cardiac depressant. Sedative… Indications: …Arteriosclerosis. Nervous
tachycardia (BHMA 1983, p. 236).
Leyel describes the traditional applications of the remedy in the treatment of: “…nervous
debility… heart disease and many other complaints arising from a weakened and disordered
state of the nervous system” (Leyel 1994, p. 548).
“weak, irregular heart-action…Its action would suggest its possible value in nervous disorders”
(Felter 1922, p. 456).
Table 6c: Traditional and Empirical Therapeutic Commentaries on
Selected Cardiovascular Remedies
References (for tables: 6a, 6b & 6c): BHMA (1983), Culpeper (1995), Ellingwood (1919), Felter
(1922), Felter (1922), Leyel (1994), Lindt (s.t.), Niederkorn (1911), Priest & Priest (1983),
Wren (1971)
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