Gelsemium sempervirens.   Yellow Jasmine, Wild Jasmine   Family: Loganiaceae     
PART USED: Root and rhizome
TASTE: Slightly bitter ODOR: Faintly aromatic.
ACTIONS
1. Analgesic.[1]
2. Sedative.[1,2]
3. Hypotensive.[1] Febrifuge.[2]
4. Diaphoretic.[2]
5. Antispasmodic.[2]
INDICATIONS
1. Neuralgia of face or head. Migraine. Trigeminal neuralgia.[1] Neuralgia, nervous excitement, insonia, inflammation of the bowels and diarrhea.[2]
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Undesirable effects- Vertigo, diplopia (double vision), ptosis, respiratory depression, convulsions.[1,2] Avoid in debilitated cases with low blood pressure, in cardiovascular disease and in myasthenia gravis.[1] The alkaloids are CNS depressants and Gelsemium must be used with caution.[2]
COMBINATIONS
PREPARATIONS Note- Low dosage.
Root and rhizome  15-160 mg or by decoction.[1]
Tincture (BHP1973)   0.3 ml.[1] 0.3-1 ml.[2]


ORIGIN: Southern USA
DESCRIPTION: Perennial woody climber native to USA.
Rhizome: The root is tortuous, brown and smooth, with a thin bark and woody centre showing broad medullary rays. The rhizome is less toruous and is distinguished by the distinct pith and purplish longitudinal lines on the bark. Fracture, short and woody, showing a few silky fibres in the bark.
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Similar plants
Constituents
Research

Antianxiety activity of Gelsemium sempervirens.
Dutt V, Dhar VJ, Sharma A.
Abstract
CONTEXT:
The clinical applications of well-known benzodiazepines as anxiolytic agents are limited because of their side effects. Therefore, the development of new pharmacological agents, from medicinal plants, is well justified.
OBJECTIVE:
Among medicinal plants, Gelsemium sempervirens (L.) Aiton. (Loganiaceae) has been recommended for relief of anxiety in traditional folk medicines. Nevertheless, no pharmacological studies have so far evaluated it in this regard. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the anxiolytic effects of various extracts of the roots and rhizomes of G. sempervirens.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol, and water extracts of G. sempervirens were prepared by successive extractions using a Soxhlet apparatus, and subsequently evaluated for antianxiety activity using the elevated plus maze model. Diazepam was used as standard drug.
RESULTS:
Among various extracts, the methanol extract of G. sempervirens exhibited significant increases in open arm entries and mean time spent in open arms at the dosage of 150 mg/kg. A fraction (F9.4) derived from the methanol extract was also observed to exhibit significant anxiolytic activity at the dose level of 10 mg/kg in the elevated plus maze test.
CONCLUSION:
The present study clearly demonstrated that the methanol extract exerts an anxiolytic effect on mice, and it could serve as a new approach for the treatment of anxiety.
PMID: 20860436 DOI: 10.3109/13880200903490521 Pharm Biol. 2010 Oct;48(10):1091-6. doi: 10.3109/13880200903490521. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov