V

Vaccinium myrtillus

Also called: blaeberry, whortleberry, hurts, ground hurts, whinberry, winberry, windberry, wimberry, myrtle blueberry and fraughan
Claimed to: be good for eye problems and night vision. Not effective for either.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-bilberry-26"> V. myrtillus is claimed to be an antiseptic and astringent; it is used for diarrhea, as a mouthwash, for skin problems and for burns.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-theherbbook-7">
Safety ratings: Prescribed for diarrhea and inflammation in Germany (but can cause diarrhea<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-theherbbook-7">)
Harmful effects: Small doses are safe. Some negative interaction with prescribed anticoagulants.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-27">

Also called: chaparro prieto, Acacia rigidula
Usage: Weight loss dietary supplements
Harmful effects: One research group reported an unprecedentedly wide variety of psychoactive alkaloids in blackbrush acacia (including nicotine, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, mescaline, β-methylphenylethylamine, and different amphetamines),<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-47"> suggesting that the laboratory might have had contamination problems.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-48"> A study by the FDA found that % of blackbrush acacia supplements were contaminated with the amphetamine isomer β-methylphenylethylamine (BMPEA), which is not found in natural blackbrush acacia.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-49"> Subsequently, the FDA warned supplement manufacturers to cease selling BMPEA because it is not natural.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-50"> On May , , the first adverse event from BMPEA as a weight loss supplement was reported in Sweden: a woman had a stroke associated with her BMPEA consumption.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-51">

Good for chronic venous insufficiency and edema.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-117">
Side effects may include headache, itchy scalp, dizziness, and nausea.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-118">

In TCM: hú jìshēng (槲寄生)<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-read-12">
Used for: cancer prevention, hypertension, insomnia,<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-158"> digestion problems, chilblains, and leg ulcers.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-theherbbook-7"> Mistletoe isn't effective for cancer; insufficient research has been done to evaluate the other claims.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-159">
Harmful effects: When small amounts are taken, it is safe, with mild side effects of headaches, fever, and chills.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-mistletoe-160"> Large amounts are toxic and can be fatal; symptoms may include seizures, coma, death, blurred vision, nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, slow or irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, confusion, and drowsiness.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-mistletoe-160">
See also: Iscador, an extract of mistletoe

Used for: "nervous conditions", migraine, insomnia, "hysteria", "neurasthenia", fatigue and stomach cramps<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-theherbbook-7">
May work for insomnia.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-valerian-209">
Harmful effects: Side effects may include headache, excitability, uneasiness, and, in some cases, insomnia.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-valerian-209"> Some multi-herb remedies containing valerian have been linked to liver damage.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-210">