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Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest New Title - Soon to be Released Medicinal Plant Profiles Photographic Index |
Night Blooming Cereus
Selenicereus grandiflorus (Cereus grandiflorus, Cactus grandiflorus) Sweet scented cactus, Queen of the night
Peniocereus greggii (Cereus greggii) Queen of the night, Reina de la noche
Cactaceae – Cactus family
Description Selenicereus grandiflorus is a thin stemmed cactus that creeps along the ground and climbs into surrounding vegetation. The fleshy stems have 5-6 ridges that extend along its length and are lined with small groupings of spines. The white-cream colored flowers are large, showy, and fragrant. They are 8-10 inches wide with thin, linear sepals surrounding the larger petals. They open in the evening and close with the morning sun. The small fruits are orange-red and contain numerous small seeds.
Peniocereus greggii is a weak-stemmed, thin cactus growing up among other small bushes and trees for support. Typical support-protection plants are Creosote bush, Catclaw, and other desert shrubs. The weakly spined branches are usually 4-5 ribbed, grayish-green, and somewhat branched. They are easily mistaken for dead sticks so a trained eye is often needed to find the plant when not in flower. The above ground stems occasionally die back each year only to grow anew from a large tuber. The flowers, similar to Selenicereus grandiflorus’, are very large, fragrant, and open for one night only in the spring. A group of plants in a local vicinity has an uncanny ability of flowering during the same night. The fruits are small and ovoid, similar in most respects to S. grandiflorus’.
Distribution Selenicereus grandiflorus is indigenous to the West Indies but is widely cultivated as an ornamental and occasionally can be found in nurseries in warmer parts of the country. It grows well as an indoor potted cactus. Peniocereus greggii is found throughout lower elevations in western Texas, southern New Mexico, and Arizona. Look to Creosote bush mesas and hillsides; it is never an easy plant to locate in the wild but once you do, there will probably be others close by.
Chemistry Selenicereus grandiflorus: hordenine; roots of Peniocereus greggii: peniocerol, desoxyviperidone, viperidone, viperidinone, and b-sitosterol Medicinal Uses Therapeutic applications of Selenicereus grandiflorus and Peniocereus greggii generally overlap, although P. greggii is considered the weaker of the two. S. grandiflorus has a well-documented western tradition, which spans more than 150 years. First used by Homeopathic practitioners, then by Eclectics and finally some non-conformist, standard-practice doctors, all agreed, Cactus (as S. grandiflorus was formerly called) was a useful cardiovascular medicine. Traditional Mexican use of P. greggii appears to be similar, although specific differences are not known. Both species will be referred to as Night blooming cereus.
Use Night blooming cereus in heart irregularities resulting from deficiency. The plant is well suited in slowing and strengthening a rapid, thready, excitable pulse. Individuals who tend to be of a nervous temperament and who are prone to palpitations, shortness of breath and weakness, resulting from over work or emotional upset will benefit from Night blooming cereus. Similar to Hawthorn, a gloomy, dark emotional outlook accompanying the above symptoms makes Night blooming cereus indicated. As a heart tonic for older individuals with mild to moderate heart enlargement or weakness from tobacco use, the cactus is warranted.
Just how Night blooming cereus enlivens the heart is still under debate, but it appears that it may augment adrenergic-sympathetic responses affecting the organ. The plant combines well with thyroid sedating herbs such as Lycopus or Leonurus in diminishing hyperthyroidal heart palpitations. Fluid retention tends to be lessened around the extremities, particularly around the ankles if dependant upon weak cardiac action. Unlike Digitalis, Night blooming cereus does not have a cumulative effect, so there is no danger of build-up toxicity. The plant best suits functional disturbances but is of moderate value in organic valvular irregularities such as mitral and aortic regurgitations.
Indications Cardiac irregularities dependant upon weakness Tachycardia/arrhythmia/palpitations
Collection and Preparations Unless island hopping in the Caribbean, collecting Selenicereus grandiflorus, will probably be from a potted plant. Clip several stems and/or flowers from the plant, cut into small ¼-½ inch pieces and tincture fresh. If a group of Peniocereus greggii is found in the desert, be light-handed about collection. Clipping several branches from a plant will not have a detrimental effect on it due to the plant’s massive storage root capable of re-sprouting stems the next year. If in flower, leave it to set seed. Do not collect the root in the wild, as the plant is endemic and isolated in the United States. Occasionally P. greggii can be found propagated at native plant nurseries throughout the southwest, if so using the root is permissible. Process and tincture the stems and/or roots the same as S. grandiflorus. Drying either plant voids their medicinal activities.
Dosage FPT of Selenicereus grandiflorus: 5-15 drops 1-4 times daily FPT of Peniocereus greggii: 10-25 drops 1-4 times daily
Cautions Do not use Night blooming cereus if there is a strong, bounding, full pulse, typically exhibited in robust individuals with strong temperaments. In these individuals, Night blooming cereus may raise blood pressure; inversely in asthenic types, the plant typically lowers blood pressure or will have no effect on the matter. Do not use while pregnant or nursing. |