Herbs 201 ~ Mod 3, Option 2 ~ Herb Actions

Explain each of the following actions and use examples:
1. Vermifuges 2. Vermicides 3. Taenifuges 4. Taenicides


All for of these kinds of herbs are called Anthelmintic herbs, in that they can either expell or destroy different kinds of parasites or worms. These kind of herbs are the 4 actions that Anthelmintic herbs are broken up into.

1.Vermifuges: These are herbs that expel basic intestinal worms from the body. Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) is a vermifuges herb. The hyssop oils from the flower is used in the form of a hot infusion to expel intestinal worms along with related therapy, good hygiene and nutrition. Note: It has been used since Biblical times and is mention in the Bible, Psalms 51:7, “Purge me with Hyssop, and I shall be clean”. No doubt they were speaking of worms, no?

2.Vermicides: These are herbs that kill basic intestinal worms from the body. Wormwood (Artemisia absinthum) is a vermicide herb. It has been used in India to kill intestinal worms and still is to day. Interesting note: They say it was used to kill tapeworms as well, even though they list it as a vermicide, not a taenicide herb, and was used by the Greek, Romans, Arabs and Persians to expel intestinal worms which would make it a vermifuges herb, which it is not listed as either. .

3.Taenifuges:These are herbs that expel Tapeworms from the body. Pumpkin Seeds (Cucuribita pepo) is a vermicide. The expressed oil of the seed is used in the form of a infusion or the emulsion or one to two tablespoons of crushed seeds with honey in three doses spread out over 6 hours. Note: They say the seeds from the West Indies is strong than American pumpkin seeds.

4.Taenicides: These are herbs that kill Tapeworms. It was not easy finding a strictly taenicides herb. Ripwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) turns out to be a taenicides herb widely used in Ethiopia to kill tapeworms in children in the form of a infusion from it's dry seeds. Note: The Plantain monograph in Module 2 mentions that it is a anthelmintic herb used for worms but doesn't say it was a taenicides herbs.




Source cited

RBC Herbal; Parasite Cleansing; http://drclarkia.com; 06/15/10.
Divine Remedy; Wormwood Uses; http://www.divineremedies.com/wormwood.htm; 06/15/10.
Global Herbal Supply; Hyssop; http://www.globalherbalsupplies.com/herb_information/hyssop.htm; 06/15/10.
The Bible; Psalms 51:7; 06/16/10.
Protabase Record; Plantago lanceolata L.; http://database.prota.org/PROTAhtml/Plantago%20lanceolata_En.htm; 06/16/16.
Herbal Nation Blog; Pumpkin Seed; http://herbalnation.blogspot.com/2008/09/pumpkin-seed-cucurbita-pepo-medicinal.html; 06/16/10.