Lycopus Virginicus – A Complete Review On Hypertensive Remedy

Abstract

Lycopus virginicus commonly called bugleweed or gypsywort, a homoeopathic medicine, chief action is upon the heart. On reviewing numerous literatures, it was proved that Lycopus virginicus gave great results in many cases of lowering blood pressue and heart disorders. The following article includes the review about the importance of Lycopus virginicus, its profile and the clinical indications.

Keywords

Lycopus virginicus, heart, homoeopathy, blood pressure.

Introduction

Plant profile.

Botanical name: Lycopus virginicus, Lycopus europaeus.

Other common names:  bugleweed, gypsywort, european bugleweed.

The bugleweed or gypsywort plant (Lycopus virginicus)¹

Habitat:  

Bugleweed is a rhizomatous herb endemic to Europe and Asia, and introduced in the United States. In the wild, it proliferates in marshlands and wetlands.¹

Plant description:

Bugleweed is a perennial plant belonging to the mint family and is closely related to a european herb known as gypsywort (Lycopus europaeus). The two herbs are so closely related they are often used interchangeably as medicinal herbal treatments.¹

Sources:

The plant is collected fresh just when in blossom to prepare a tincture as well as a fluid extract. Tincture of fresh plant in flower. Tincture of whole plant by macerating one part by weight of the fresh plant in two parts by weight of alcohol.²

Therapeutic uses and benefits of bugleweed:

• Traditionally, this herb has been used to cure cough and other respiratory disorders. It is also thought of as a natural remedy for sleeplessness.
• American bugleweed (Lycopus virginicus) and its european counterpart gypsywort (Lycopus europaeus) were widely used in folk medicine for treating anxiety, tuberculosis, and heart palpitations.
• Bugleweed was also utilised by gypsies of old as a cosmetic as this herb is a major component for manufacturing black dye, hence the common name “gypsywort”.
• Bugleweed’s medicinal properties are said to be due to the presence of lithospermic acid.
• Extracts from this herb are thought to aid in normalising heart rate, indicative of its potential as an alternative treatment for tachycardia.
• Bugleweed is used as an alternative treatment to hormone therapy. Components of the plant may lower the levels of the thyroid-stimulating hormone and thyroxine. This action could be due to the inhibitory effect of the herbal drug on the binding of the antibodies to the thyroid gland.
• The herb is commonly used as a natural treatment for some symptoms of grave’s disease, such as palpitation and convulsions. The herbal activity is sufficient for mild cases of the disease and is considered safe for long-term administration.
• It is traditionally used to stop iodine conversion in the thyroid gland and can be used as a natural treatment for hyperthyroidism and related diseases.
• Bugleweed extracts mainly affect the vascular tissues as well as the sympathetic nervous system.
• The leaves may also be used as a natural cure for wounds and abrasions.¹

Potential side effects of bugleweed:

• Use of bugleweed is contraindicated for pregnant women and women who are nursing.
• Because bugleweed may interfere with blood glucose medication, it is contraindicated for patients with diabetes or hypoglycaemia. People with endocrine disorders such as hypopituitarism, pituitary adenoma or hypogonadism should not take it.
• Patients who suffer from osteoporosis or who are taking oral contraceptives or fertility drugs this drug is contra indicated.
• Bugleweed has only been tested in thyroid conditions involving overactive thyroid. There have been no clinical studies performed on humans. The information on the effects of it was derived from animal studies. The effects of medication on animals may be different from the effect on humans. Researchers have not yet evaluated the inhibiting effects of it on hormones.¹

Indications

• Lycopus virginicus Q lowers blood pressure. Reduces the heart rate and increases length of systole to a great degree. Indicated in diseases with tumultuous action of the heart and more or less pain, 5 drops of tincture.³
• Rapid heart action of smokers. Precordial pain, constriction, tenderness, pulse weak, irregular intermittent, tremulous, rapid. Cyanosis. Heart’s action is tumultuous and forcible. Palpitation from nervous irritation with oppression around heart. Rheumatoid flying pains, associated with heart diseases.  Cardiac asthma.²
• Lycopus is especially in cardiac irritability and weakness, whether from over-strain of the heart, from rheumatic disease, constitutional debility, or from the use of drugs or stimulants affecting the heart, such as tobacco, etc. It renders the beats of the heart slower, fuller and more regular. Palpitation from nervous irritation or organic cardiac disease. An excellent substitute for Digitalis purpurea in such affections, it quiets cough and irritation of the lungs; lessens arterial action in fevers and plethora. Haemoptysis in phthisis with palpitation, pains in chest and cardiac weakness. An excellent remedy for exophthalmia from cardiac disease, relieving the protrusion of the eyes and tumultuous action of the heart.⁴
• Lower the blood pressure reduces the rate of the heart and increases the length of systole to a great degree. Passive haemorrhages (Adrenaline 6x).
• A heart remedy, indicated in diseases with tumultuous action of the heart and more or less pain. Haemoptysis due to valvular heart disease.Rapid heart action of smokers. Precordial pain; constriction, tenderness, pulse, weak, irregular, intermittent, tremulous, rapid. Cyanosis. Heart’s action tumultuous and forcible. Palpitation from nervous irritation, with oppression around heart. Rheumatoid, flying pains, associated with heart disease. Cardiac asthma. ⁵

Conclusion

The main outcome of homoeopathic approach is to regains the body’s natural healing and immune the body cells to treat the conditions that affect the body, prevent it and restore the good level of health and well-being. Lycopus virginicus is found as effective pathological prescription for lowering blood pressure.

References

1. Sturluson T. © Copyright 2018 The Herbal Resource (cited 13 March 2020) Available from : https://www.herbal-supplement-resource.com/bugleweed-herb.html
2. Murphy R. (2002) Robin Murphy Nature’s Materia Medica, Lotus Health publishers,2; 1067-1068.
3. HOMPATH, homutil 8.1, therapeutics, high blood pressure, homeopathic mother tincture’s – Materia Medica.
4. Cowperthwaite A.C. © 2020 Hpathy Medical Publishers (cited 13 March 2020). Available from : https://homeopathybooks.in/textbook-materia-medica-therapeutics/lycopus-virginicus-3/
5. Boericke W. (1927); Homeopathic Materia Medica;Pocket Manual of Homeopathic Materia Medica & Repertory; B.Jain Publishers, 9; 413

About the author Dr S. SABARIRAJAN¹, Dr S. R. AMEERKHAN BABU²

¹ Professor, HOD and PG Guide, Department of Practice of Medicine, Vinayaka Mission’s Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, (A constituent college of Vinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation – Deemed to be University, Salem, Tamil nadu) Salem, Tamil nadu, India.

² Professor, Department of Practice of Medicine, Vinayaka Mission’s Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital, (A Constituent college of Vinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation – Deemed to be University, Salem, Tamil nadu) Salem, Tamilnadu, India.