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Purple Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

Botanical Information

  • Family: Plantaginaceae (formerly Scrophulariaceae)
  • Common Names: Purple Foxglove, Common Foxglove
  • Parts Used: Leaves (used with extreme caution)

Description

Digitalis purpurea is a biennial or short-lived perennial native to Europe, widely recognized for its tall spikes of tubular purple flowers. It contains potent cardiac glycosides that directly affect heart function, making it a powerful but highly toxic medicinal plant. While traditionally used in herbal medicine, its application today is strictly regulated in pharmaceutical settings.

Historical and Traditional Uses

  • Used in 18th-century European medicine for congestive heart failure and dropsy (fluid retention).
  • Traditionally employed to regulate irregular heartbeats.
  • Historically considered a remedy for epilepsy and tuberculosis, though now discredited.

Constituents

  • Cardiac glycosides (digitoxin, digoxin, lanatosides)
  • Flavonoids
  • Saponins
  • Organic acids

Actions

  • Cardiotonic (strengthens heart contractions)
  • Antiarrhythmic
  • Diuretic
  • Hypotensive (lowers blood pressure)
  • Toxic in high doses

Medicinal Uses

⚠ Due to its extreme toxicity, Digitalis purpurea is NOT recommended for self-medication and should only be used in pharmaceutical preparations under medical supervision.

1. Cardiac Support (Historical Use):
Used to manage congestive heart failure and certain types of arrhythmias before the development of safer, standardized medications.

2. Diuretic Properties:
Traditionally used to alleviate fluid retention associated with heart conditions.

3. Blood Pressure Regulation:
Known to lower blood pressure, but its effects are highly variable and potentially dangerous.

Preparation and Dosage

⚠ Unsafe for self-preparation. Medical use requires precise pharmaceutical dosing.

Traditional Use (NOT Recommended for Modern Herbal Practice):

  • Leaves were once used in controlled doses, but even small variations in preparation can lead to fatal toxicity.

Pharmaceutical Use:

  • Standardized digoxin and digitoxin are used in prescription medications for heart conditions.

Precautions and Contraindications

  • Highly Toxic: Even small miscalculations in dosage can be fatal.
  • Pregnancy and Lactation: Strictly contraindicated.
  • Kidney and Liver Conditions: Requires extreme caution in those with impaired organ function.
  • Drug Interactions: Strong interactions with blood pressure medications, diuretics, and other cardiac drugs.

Energetics (Traditional Medicine Perspectives)

  • Traditional Western Herbalism: Used cautiously as a cardiac stimulant and diuretic in historical medicine.
  • Traditional European Medicine: Considered one of the most important heart remedies before modern pharmaceuticals.

Combinations

  • Not used in combination in herbalism due to toxicity risks.

Harvesting and Storage

⚠ Cultivation and harvesting should only be performed for research or pharmaceutical purposes under strict regulation.

  • Harvesting: Leaves were traditionally collected before flowering.
  • Drying: Air-dried carefully but handled with extreme caution.
  • Storage: Stored separately in clearly labeled, locked containers away from children and pets.

Modern Research

Studies confirm the potent cardiac effects of Digitalis compounds, now strictly regulated in pharmaceutical medicine.

Purple Foxglove remains a historically significant but highly toxic plant, now primarily used in regulated medical treatments rather than herbal practice.