Antispasmodic Effect of Some Medicinal Plants

Not sure what to do if you're out camping and have an attack of intestinal cramps? If you're lucky enough to be close to any of these medicinal plants, their antispasmodic effects might save the day. Of course, without being absolutely certain of a plant's identity and the correct preparations, it might be best to purchase an herbal supplement or tea instead.

Chamomile

• Both types of medicinal herb plants commonly known as chamomile: German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and Roman or English chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) have been used in traditional medicine for their antispasmodic effect. Usually prepared as a tea, chamomile's medicinal use goes back to ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center's website, "Chamomile has antispasmodic properties, meaning it helps relax muscle contractions, particularly in the smooth muscles that make up the intestines. It is sometimes used to treat stomach cramps, irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion, diarrhea, gas, and colic."

Common Mullein

• Common mullein consists of 250 species of the family Verbascum. It is native to Europe and Asia but has become well-established in the U.S. since its introduction in the mid-1700s. The medicinal plant is a low-growing rosette with blue-gray hairy leaves. Mature plants can grow to 5 feet in height and produce yellow five-petal flowers during summer months. Common mullein has long been used as an antispasmodic that can aid in alleviating stomach cramps and diarrhea.

Skullcap

• Skullcap plants are members of the Scutellaria genus which contains over 300 species. Skullcap has been widely used as a medicinal herb all over the world. Scutellaria baicalensis is the most widely studied member of the skullcap family. Skullcap is a perennial plant that can be found growing wild in much of North America. It produces blue or purple hooded flowers during summer. It has been used in traditional medicine as an antispasmodic, sedative and anti-inflammatory medicinal plant.

Lavender

• Lavandula stoechas L. (Lamiaceae), or French lavender, has been used for centuries for its antispasmodic effect. It is an early-blooming shrub that produces purple pinecone-shaped flowers from late spring through summer. After studying lavender's medicinal properties, the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" reports in its July 2000 issue that "These data indicate that the plant extract exhibits anticonvulsant and antispasmodic activities. Its calcium channel blocking property may be mechanistically related to these activities. Its usefulness in folk medicine appears thus to be based on a sound mechanistic background."

Thorn Apple

• Thorn apple, or jimsonweed, grows to between 1 and 5 feet tall. These medicinal plants have pointed and toothed leaves that span 2 to 8 inches long. They produce white or purple flowers that are funnel-shaped. The fruit is a pod covered in spines about 2 inches long. Thorn apple contains a chemical called scopolamine or hyoscine which can be dangerous if not administered carefully. This medicinal plant has been used traditionally for its antispasmodic effect and modern medicine continues to use scopolamine for this same purpose.