Oplopanax horridum
(Devil's club)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Adaptogen
• Antifatigue and stimulant properties
• CNS sedative
• Control homeostasis by acting on the endocrine system
• Hypoglycemic (in rat studies)
• Increases capacity of skeletal muscle to oxidize free fatty acids in preference to glucose to produce cellular energy
• Increases plasma levels of ACTH and corticosterone
• Inhibits thrombin induced conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin, preventing platelet aggregation (in rat studies)
• Stimulates the biosynthesis of proteins (in rat studies)

Clinical Indications:

• Diabetes mellitus
• Improves concentration and endurance, ie memory loss
• Improves stamina:
  
  Aging
  Debility
  Insomnia
  Sexual inadequacy
  Stress

Contraindications:

• Acute illness, such as colds, flu or allergy attack
• Bronchitis
• Children
• Excessive menstrual bleeding
• Hypertension
• Pregnancy

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Insulin or oral hypoglycemic drugs should be monitored due to the hypoglycemic effect

Chemical Constituents:

• Acetylenic compounds:
  
  Falcarinol and Falcarintriol
  Panaxydol and Panaxytriol
• Calcium
• Choline
• Copper
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Manganese
• Pectin
• Saponin glycosides, referred to as ginsenosides by Japanese and panaxosides by Russians
• Starch
• Sterols
• Sugars
• Vitamin B1
• Vitamin B2
• Vitamin B12
• Vanadium
• Volatile oil containing:
  
  Beta-elemene
• Zinc

Toxicity:

• Overdoses can produce hypertension

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).