Yellow Jessamine root

Gelsemii rhizoma, yellow jessamine root.  

Yellow Jessamine root consists of the rhizome with roots of Gelsemium sempervirens (L.) Aiton [Fam.  Loganiaceae], as well as preparations thereof.  

Animal experiments showed the following effects:

Gelsemium tincture/fluidextract:

vasodilating, blood pressure lowering, bronchodilating; decreasing the vagus tone with resulting increase of heart frequency; paralyzing to the central nervous system, first the motor, then the sensory centers; curare-like effects on the voluntary nerves; atropine-like effect on the nervous system; elevated reflex irritability; inhibiting the absorption of dopamine, nor-adrenalin and serotonin in synaptic-somatic preparations of the rat brain and in a chloralized dog; an ECG showed bradycardia and conductivity disorders, potentiation of the analgesic effect of salicylamide and phenacetin.  Pharmacological experiments for the total extract are not available.  

Toxicology

see Overdosage.  

Clinical Data

Clinical data reported by physicians and other material of medicinal experiences concerning the use of yellow jessamine root for phytotherapy are not available.  

Combinations containing up to 5 components:

1. Yellow jessamine root, monkshood tuber, elderberry juice.  
2. Yellow jessamine root, atropine sulfate, colloidal silver, angelica root, linseed.  
3. Yellow jessamine root, hawthorn, oleander, Scotch broom herb.
4. Yellow jessamine root, papaverine hydrochloride, propyl phenazone, inositol nicotinate, ergotamine tartrate.  
5. Yellow jessamine root, St.  John's Wort, dehydrocholic acid, phenazone-citric acid-caffeine mixture.  

Combinations with more than 5 components:

6. Yellow jessamine root, deadly nightshade extract, magnesium peroxide, sodium hydrogen carbonate, bismuth subnitrate, precipitated calcium carbonate.  
7. Yellow jessamine root, sodium bromide, lavender flower, hops, angelica herb, American crampbark, sweet woodruff, wormwood herb.  
8. Yellow jessamine root, St.  John's Wort, valerian root, silverweed herb, rosemary leaf, hops, lavender flower, lemon balm herb.  
9. Yellow jessamine root, fennel oil, caraway oil, peppermint oil, citronella oil, L-sparteine sulfate, night-blooming cereus flower, pheasant's eye herb, squill.  
10. Yellow jessamine root, fennel oil, caraway oil, peppermint oil, citronella oil, L-sparteine sulfate, night-blooming cereus flower, pheasant's eye herb.  
11. Yellow jessamine root, foxglove, phosphorus, hawthorn flower, hops, night-blooming cereus flower, pheasant's eye herb, squill, West Indian lemongrass oil, lily-of-the-valley herb, valerian root.
12. Yellow jessamine root, Silybum marianum, Kalmia latifolia, Selenicerus grandiflorus, Strychnos nux vomica, Veratrum album , squill.
13. Yellow jessamine root, St.  John's Wort, hawthorn berry, ginseng root, blessed thistle, arnica root, lily-of-the-valley herb, lemon balm herb.
14. Yellow jessamine root, sage leaf, thyme fluidextract, mullein, plantain herb, greater pimpernel root, white willow bark, bitter milkwort–entire plant, chestnut leaf, sundew herb, heart's ease herb, red soapwort root, hempnettle, elecampane root, cowslip flower without calyx, eryngo, anise, codeine phosphate hemi-hydrate, licorice juice.
15. Yellow jessamine root, allyl-mustard oil, Chamomilla recutita , Citrullus colocynthis, Aconitum napellus , ammonium bromatum, Veratrum album , atropinum sulfuricum, cuprum sulfuricum, Passiflora incarnata , St.  John's Wort flower oil, cayenne, Laricifomes officinalis .  

1. Neuralgic pain, particularly headache, migraine and sensitivity to weather changes.
2. Gastric disorders, nervous gastric irritations, sensation of fullness, burning, pressure in the stomach area, supportive treatment for gastric and duodenal ulcers, pylorospasm in infants.
3. Sedating cardiac and circulatory agent.
4. Migraine, migraine-like headaches, spasms of the intestinal tract, spasms of the gallbladder area, menstrual discomforts.
5. Migraine, migraine-like headaches, spasms of the gallbladder and intestinal area, menstrual discomforts.
6. Gastritis, gastroenteritis, colitis, hyperacidity, gastric and duodenal ulcers.
7. Neurasthenia, anxiety neurosis, insomnia.  
8. Nervous ailments, nervousness, neurasthenia, depression.
9. Extrasystole, stenocardia, tachycardia, geriatric heart, thyrotoxicosis, spastic migraine, sedative, Roemheld symptoms.
10. Influence on heart function, palpitation, prophylaxis for overexertion, care of geriatric heart condition.
11. Coronary and circulatory disorders, arrhythmia, elevated blood pressure, heart tonic.
12. Heart remedy, circulatory agent, for minor heart therapy.
13. Low blood pressure, variations in blood pressure.  
14. Cough, influenza infections, colds.  
15. Muscular pain, sports injuries, spasmodic conditions.  

Because of the narrow therapeutic range, numerous intoxications have occurred, some with fatal consequences.  

Cardiac insufficiency.  

Information not available.  

Animal experiments show that in combination with salicylamide and phenacetin, analgesic effects are potentiated.  

No data are available for the dosage of the combination products.  For the prescription of yellow jessamine tincture or fluidextract the following information is given:

• mean single dosage: 0.3 g (=18 drops)
• maximum single dosage: 1 g
• maximum daily dosage: 3 g

• single dosage: 1 - 3 drops

Described characteristic symptoms of overdosage are:

Dizziness, loss of speech, inability to move the tongue and to swallow, dryness of the mouth, paralysis of the eyelids, visual disturbances or double vision, enlargement of the pupils, tremor of the limbs, weakness or rigidity of the muscles, dropping of the lower jaw.  

A therapeutic administration is not justifiable because of insufficiently documented effectiveness, narrow therapeutic range and frequently reported poisonings with occasional fatal results.