cover next page > Cover title: The Psychopharmacology of Herbal Medicine : Plant Drugs That Alter Mind, Brain, and Behavior author: Spinella, Marcello. publisher: MIT Press isbn10 | asin: 0262692651 print isbn13: 9780262692656 ebook isbn13: 9780585386645 language: English subject Psychotropic drugs, Herbs--Therapeutic use, Psychopharmacology, Medicinal plants--Psychological aspects. publication date: 2001 lcc: RC483.S65 2001eb ddc: 615/.788 subject: Psychotropic drugs, Herbs--Therapeutic use, Psychopharmacology, Medicinal plants--Psychological aspects. cover next page > < previous page page_i next page > Page i The Psychopharmacology of Herbal Medicine < previous page page_i next page > cover next page > Cover title: The Psychopharmacology of Herbal Medicine : Plant Drugs That Alter Mind, Brain, and Behavior author: Spinella, Marcello. publisher: MIT Press isbn10 | asin: 0262692651 print isbn13: 9780262692656 ebook isbn13: 9780585386645 language: English subject Psychotropic drugs, Herbs--Therapeutic use, Psychopharmacology, Medicinal plants--Psychological aspects. publication date: 2001 lcc: RC483.S65 2001eb ddc: 615/.788 subject: Psychotropic drugs, Herbs--Therapeutic use, Psychopharmacology, Medicinal plants--Psychological aspects. cover next page > < previous page page_ii next page > Page ii This page intentionally left blank. < previous page page_ii next page > < previous page page_iii next page > Page iii The Psychopharmacology of Herbal Medicine Plant Drugs That Alter Mind, Brain, and Behavior Marcello Spinella < previous page page_iii next page > < previous page page_iv next page > Page iv © 2001 Massachusetts Institute of Technology All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means (including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval) without permission in writing from the publisher. This book was set in Adobe Sabon in QuarkXPress by Asco Typesetters, Hong Kong and was printed and bound in the United States of America. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Spinella, Marcello. The psychopharmacology of herbal medicine : plant drugs that alter mind, brain, and behavior / Marcello Spinella. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-262-69265-1 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Psychotropic drugs. 2. Herbs—Therapeutic use. 3. Psychopharmacology. 4. Medicinal plants—Psychological aspects. RC483 .S65 2001 615′.788—dc21 00-052535 < previous page page_iv next page > < previous page page_v next page > Page v Contents Preface vii 1 Introduction 1 2 Basic Neurosciences 23 3 Basic Pharmacology 53 4 Stimulant Plants 73 5 Cognitive Enhancers 131 6 Herbal Sedatives and Anxiolytics 195 7 Psychotherapeutic Herbs 233 8 Analgesic and Anesthetic Plants 281 9 Hallucinogenic Plants 329 10 Cannabis 391 References 429 Recommended Reading 555 Index 561 < previous page page_v next page > < previous page page_vi next page > Page vi This page intentionally left blank. < previous page page_vi next page > < previous page page_vii next page > Page vii Preface Alternative and complementary medicine have been enjoying a recent growth in popularity in the United States. People are increasingly likely to consult them in an attempt to treat their illnesses. While this may be a positive trend, there is also an enormous potential for harm, depending on what illness is being treated and the type of treatments being sought. Given the myriad of alternative and complementary treatments available, both consumers and practitioners of health care are hard pressed to select appropriate, effective, and safe treatments. Although treating illness and creating psychological effects using plants are ancient practices, scientific developments in the past few decades allow us to now look at these phenomena in a different way. As our understanding of the nervous system advances, so does our understanding of psychoactive drugs that alter it. We can now begin to explain how the psychoactive effects occur, from molecular up to behavioral levels. Whereas much of alternative and complementary medicine is criticized for a lack of empirical research, there seems to be a wealth of research done on plant medicines. In the course doing research in pharmacology and neuroscience, it became apparent that a large body of research existed concerning psychoactive herbal medicines. However, it was also apparent that few, if any, had comprehensively and thoroughly organized and integrated this research into a single source. This text is primarily aimed to benefit researchers and health care practitioners. Since health care practitioners find many of their patients using over-the-counter herbal medicines, they need a source to help them anticipate how these herbs will interact with their patients' illnesses and < previous page page_vii next page > < previous page page_viii next page > Page viii treatments. Alternatively, they may wish to incorporate herbal medicines into a patient's treatment regimen whenever appropriate. Toward this end, this book details the chemical constituents, mechanisms, and physiological effects of psychoactive plant drugs. Further, information is given on any controlled clinical trials that address the safety and efficacy of psychoactive herbal medicines. Researchers in this field will also benefit from the broad summary of data collected here, incorporating biochemistry, pharmacology, physiology, cognition, and behavior. From this perspective, future avenues for research often become apparent. Ultimately, this book is intended to further the cause of herbal medicines. If they are properly researched and the public is properly educated about their effects and uses, herbal medicines will be an asset to us, rather than a liability. Acknowledgments There are several people I would like to thank regarding the creation of this book. The library staff at JFK Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey and Richard Stockton College in Pomona, NJ has been indispensable with their assistance in research. The editors and staff at MIT Press have also been extremely helpful in guiding me through the process of publishing a book. I would like to thank my former teachers for sharing freely their knowledge and inspiration. Special thanks are extended to Richard Bodnar, Thomas Frumkes, Christopher Capuano, and John Santelli for guiding through the field of neuroscience. Most of all, I would like to thank my family and friends for their persistent encouragement, love, and support. < previous page page_viii next page > < previous page page_ix next page > Page ix Notice Both author and publisher have tried to ensure that all information in this work concerning drug administration, doses, and schedules is accurate and in accord with the standards of the general medical community as of the time of publication. Because medical science continually advances, however, therapeutic standards may change. Due to the possibility of human error or changes in medical sciences, neither the author nor the publisher nor any other party who has been involved in the preparation or publication of this work declares that the information herein is totally accurate or complete. They are not accountable for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. Readers are encouraged to consult with a physician who is directly involved in their care to obtain the most accurate and up-to-date information. Readers should also check the product information sheet included in the package of each drug for the most reliable information about the currently recommended doses, side effects, contraindications, etc. This recommendation is particularly important with new or unregulated drugs. This publication is only intended to provide background information; all information on drug administration, doses, and schedules should be reconfirmed for accuracy by referring to the manufacturer's information sheet. < previous page page_ix next page > < previous page page_x next page > Page x This page intentionally left blank. < previous page page_x next page > < previous page page_xi next page > Page xi The Psychopharmacology of Herbal Medicine < previous page page_xi next page > < previous page page_xii next page > Page xii This page intentionally left blank. < previous page page_xii next page > < previous page page_1 next page > Page 1 1 Introduction The use of psychoactive plants is practically a universal human phenomenon. Except for a few cultures lacking access to psychoactive plants, humans tend to use them routinely. The psychological and behavioral effects of such plants have long been recognized and information about their uses has been passed down through generations. However, with the advent of modern science, we are able to better understand the composition of these plants and how they specifically interact with the nervous system. Toward that end, this book has been written to compile and integrate the available information on the major psychoactive plant drugs. Plants are the oldest and perhaps still the most commonly used medicine. A chief example is caffeine —probably the most common stimulant in the world—consumed in tea or coffee. Additionally, many modern drugs are still derived from plant sources. Despite the existence of many synthetic opioids (e.g., methadone, Darvocet), morphine and codeine are still extracted from the opium poppy because of the difficulties and economics of their chemical synthesis. Synthetic drugs are now designed for specific uses, but often their design