-IBIS-1.7.0-
rx
herb
Cola spp. (Kola, Sterculia)
Botanicals


definition

botanical name(s): Cola acuminata, Cola sitida, Cola vera, Sterculia acuminata
synonyms: cola, kola, kola, kolatier
part(s) used: seed
qualities:
affinities:
actions: nervine stimulant (stimulating to CNS), antidepressant, gastrointestinal stimulant, astringent, diuretic
dosage:
» powder: 1 - 3 g
» tincture: 0.5 - 2 ml.
» decoction: 1 - 2 tsp. herb to 1 cup water, drink 1 - 3 cups per day
therapy: nervous and muscular depression; nervous irritability of stomach; chronic diarrhea; migraine; cardiac depression
AHPA Botanical Safety Rating: 2b, 2d
toxicity: 2; see caffeine toxidrome
» contraindicated during pregnancy; noted to be carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic due to xanthine alkaloids (Duke, pp. 133 - 134);
» contraindicated in all severe inflammatory conditions (Harper-Shove, p. 197); certain heart conditions due to the ability of acute and/or excessive caffeine consumption to increase heart rate and cause arrhythmias (Boyd, Lewis and Elvin-Lewis)
» contraindicated in stomach ulcers or duodenal ulcers due to gastric stimulant effect of caffeine (Brinker, 1996; Boyd)
» infants and children are particularly susceptible to caffeine-related problems (Cain, p. 446)
» caution is advised in patients with history of recent surgery, diabetes, hypoglycemia, nephrotic syndrome, urinary tract infections, acute infectious hepatitis, leukemias, Graves’ disease, hypothyroidism or related genetic disorders (Langer and Greer, pp. 66-67); cardiac patients should use cautiously, due to caffeine's ability to stimulate the heart muscle
» studies have shown possible goitrogenic, antithyroid effects due to alkaloids (Langer and Greer, p. 11)
» chronic oral intake results in headaches, tremors, insomnia, and constipation
» overuse of coffee enemas (a form of colon therapy) result in dependency upon these enemas
» caffeine and tannins have been linked to the development of some forms of cancer, especially pancreatic (Tyler, et al), and reduction of morbidity and mortality rates due to other forms of cancer (Albert, p. 95)
» Not recommended for long-term use
constituents: alkaloids including caffeine and theobromine; tannin, volatile oil
drug interactions:
» excessive caffeine taken with monoamine oxidase inhibitors can cause a hypertensive crisis (Brinker, 1997)
» increased thermogenesis and weight loss due to a reduction of body fat when caffeine is combined with ephedrine as well as agitation, tremors, and insomnia (Dulloo and Miller, Malchow-Moller et al)
» contraceptives and cimetidine increase the effect of caffeine (Boyd)
» effect enhanced by psychoanaleptic drugs and other caffeine-containing beverages (DeSmet)

footnotes

Albert, A. 1987. Xenobiosis: Food, Drugs and Poisons in the Human Body. New York: Chapman and Hall.

Boyd JR (ed.-in-chief).1985. Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: J.B. Lippincott Co.

Brinker, Francis. 1997. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. Sandy, Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications.

Brinker F. 1996. The Toxicology of Botanical Medicines, rev. 2nd ed., Sandy, Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications.

Cain, H.D. 1980. Flint's Emergency Treatment and Management, 6th ed. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company.

De Smet PAGM et al. (eds.). 1993. Adverse Effects of Herbal Drugs 2, Berlin: Springer-Verlag

Duke, J.A. 1985. C.R.C. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton, FL: The C.R.C. Press.

Dulloo AG, Miller DS. 1986. The thermogenic properties of ephedrinelmethylxanthine mixtures: animal studies. Am. J Clin. Nutr., 43:388-94.

Harper-Shove, Captain F. 1985. Prescriber and Clinical Repertory of Medicinal Herbs. New Delhi, India: B. Jain Publishers Pvt. Ltd.

Langer, P., and Greer, M.A. 1977. Anti-Thyroid Substances and Naturally Occurring Goitrogens. New York: Karyer, Greer.

Lewis, W.H., and Elvin-Lewis, M.P. 1977. Medical Botany. New York: John Wiley and Sons.

Malchow-Moller A, Larsen S, Hey H, Stokholm KH, JuhI E, Quaade F. 1981. Ephedrine as an anorectic: the story of the ‘Elsinore pill.’ Internat. J. Obesitv, 5:183-7.

Tyler, V.E., Brady, L.R., Robbers, J.E. 1988. Pharmacognosy. 9th ed. Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger.