Kutrovye – Arosupaseae
Parts Used: Leaves.
Pharmacy name: oleander leaves – Oleandri folium (formerly: Folia Oleandri).
Botanical description.Oleander is well known as an ornamental plant grown in pots and tubs. Its homeland is the Mediterranean, it also grows on the Black Sea coast. All sorts of other species are found in Asia and South America. Nerium oleander is a small tree or shrub up to 5 m tall. Lanceolate-pointed leathery leaves can reach 15 cm in length. They have a strongly developed midrib, from which the lateral ones depart in parallel, at the base the leaf narrows into a petiole. Leaves are located in whorls of 3, less often 4, or they are opposite (2 each). The edge of the sheet is usually tucked up. Attractive flowers are collected in terminal umbellate panicles. Funnel-shaped calyx deeply 5-lobed, cymbal-shaped widened 5-lobed corolla red or white, shiny. elongated,
Active ingredients: Numerous cardiac glycosides, the most important of which is oleandrin, also flavonol glycosides.
Healing action and application. Oleander is a vivid example of how a deadly poisonous plant in the hands of a doctor becomes a medicine. Oleander leaves are used to make a tincture, liquid extract, or products used as heart remedies; in action they are close to foxglove and lily of the valley. By itself, raw materials are not prescribed, oleander leaves should never be used for self-treatment.
Use in homeopathy.Most homeopathic products are made from freshly picked leaves. It is even emphasized that in oleander it will be necessary to use fresh leaves collected before flowering. And in homeopathy, oleander is used primarily as a heart remedy: for inflammation (myocarditis) and degeneration of the heart muscle with edema and angina pectoris (angina pectoris). Wet eczema is successfully treated with oleander, especially on the back of the head and behind the ears, thrush, and intestinal diseases accompanied by flatulence. In heart failure, the initial tincture or dilution of D, is used. Dosage: 3 to 15 drops 3 times daily depending on the severity of the case. In case of heart diseases, it is not advisable to self-medicate with the homeopathic product Oleander, since in such a dosage one cannot speak of a “homeopathic dose” in a narrow sense. For eczema and bowel diseases, a different dosage is used: dilutions D1 -D 1 2 no 5-15 drops 3 to several times every day.
Side effects . I have already spoken about the poisonousness of the oleander and warned against self-medication. Symptoms of oleander poisoning include vomiting, dilated pupils, delirium, severe diarrhea and colic. First aid measures must be taken immediately; call a doctor immediately.