Foxglove Digitalis purpurea: Uses, Research, Remedies, Side Effects

Common Foxglove – Digitalis purpurea is an Ayurvedic plant used in the treatment of cough, asthma, fever, cardiac diseases, edema and impotency. 

Latin name- Digitalis purpurea Linn.
Family- Scrophulariaceae (Katuka Kula)

Vernacular names

Hrutpatri Names in different languages:
English name- Digitalis, Foxglove, Lady’s glove, Common Foxglove, Purple foxglove

Sanskrit synonyms

Synonyms of Hritpatri:
Tila pushpi- The flower resembles like sesame
Hritpatri- The leaf is heart shaped

Morphology

Morphology of Digitalis purpurea:
It is a small plant growing to a height of 1-2 m and is found in the hilly regions of Kashmir and Himalayan belt. It is also cultivated for its medicinal property. The leaves are cardiac shaped, spirally arranged, simple, 10–35 cm long and 5–12 cm broad, and are covered with gray-white pubescent and glandular hairs, imparting a wooly texture. The foliage forms a tight rosette at ground level in the first year. The flowering stem develops in the second year, typically 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft) tall, sometimes longer. The flowers are arranged in a showy, terminal, elongated cluster, and each flower is tubular and pendant. The flowers are typically purple, but some plants, especially those under cultivation, may be pink, rose, yellow, or white.

Properties, part used, dosage

Common Foxglove medicinal properties:
Rasa (Taste)- Tikta (Bitter)
Guna (Qualities) – Laghu (Light), Rooksha (Dry)
Veerya (Potency) – Sheeta (Cold)
Vipaka –Katu (undergoes pungent taste after digestion)
Karma (Actions) – Kaphavata shamak (reduces vitiated kapha and vata dosha), Pitta vardaka (Increases pitta dosha)
Pharmacological actions -Anti tumour
Part used – Dried leaf
Dosage:
Leaf powder- 500 mg
Surasatva – (Alcoholic extract) – 5- 15 mg

Varieties

Digitalis purpurea
Digitalis lanata

Chemical constituents

Chemical constituents of Digitalis purpurea:
Digitoxin, Tigogenin, Digitalin, Gitonin,, Gitosine, Digitoxigenin, Allonegitostin, Digipronin, Digiprolactone, Purpogenin, Purnalosides A&B  are the chemical constituents of the leaf of Digitalis.

Uses

Uses of Hrutpatri:

• The powder of Digitalis is given in a dose of 250 mg to 300 mg to treat cough, asthma and inflammation of the lungs.
• The powder of Hrutpatri is given with hot water or cow urine in a dose of 300-500 mg to treat pedal edema due to cardiac disease.
• The powder is given to treat erectile dysfunction in a dose of 50-100 mg.
• The powder of Digitalis is given in a dose of 50-100 mg to treat severe fever.
• To treat insomnia, the powder of the leaf of Digitalis is given with milk.

Adverse effects

Adverse effects of Hrutpatri: Hrutpatri can cause irregular or increased heart rate and can prove fatal due to the presence of the chemical digitoxin.  Nausea, Excessive salivation, Diarrhea are the initial features of adverse effects. Hence formulations containing Hrutpatri or the herb should be taken under medical supervision only.

Effect of overdose of digitalis

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Dysuria
Headache
Urticaria

Treatment

Gastric lavage
Milk
Butter
Activated charcoal in repeated doses

Contra indications

Hypertension
Cerebral bleeding

Interaction with medicines, supplements

Can this be used while taking Homeopathic medicine?
Yes. This product does not react with homeopathic medicine.

Can this medicine be continued while taking supplements like multivitamin tablets, Omega 3 fatty acids etc?
Yes. Generally, this product goes well with most dietary supplements. However, if you are taking more than one product per day, please consult your doctor for an opinion.

With western medicines
Seek your doctor’s advice if you are taking this product along with other western (allopathic / modern) medicines. Some Ayurvedic herbs can interact with modern medicine.
If both Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines are advised together, then it is best to take Allopathic medicine first, wait for 30 minutes and then take the Ayurvedic medicine.

Ayurvedic medicines

Ayurvedic medicines containing Hrutpatri:
Chiniumco tablet: It is a proprietary ayurvedic medicine used for the treatment of bleeding from the uterus, nose or any external wound.

Research

Research articles related to Digitalis purpurea:
Hepato- protective action: The present research was aimed to study the in vivo hepato -protective activity of methanolic extract of Digitali Purpurea L.in CCl4 induced hepato toxicity in albino rats. The extract of Digitalis Purpurea L. and silymarin administration prevented the toxic effect of CCl4 on the above serum parameters in both preventive and curative models. The present study concludes that, methanolic extract of Digitalis Purpurea Lhas significant hepato protective activity against CCl4induced hepatotoxicity,

Cardiac protection: Digitalis is of great value in chronic valvular cardiac disease, with failing or broken compensation, but it must be used with judgment, observing the need in the weak, fast, and irregular pulse, deficient urination, and dropsy. When hypertrophy of the heart overbalances dilatation, and evidences of arterial hyperaemia are present, digitalis is likely to aggravate the condition, or otherwise do harm. 

Author:
Dr.B.K.Prashanth M.D (Ayu), Ph.D
E mail: drprashanthbk@gmail.com

Systemic Action (Sthanika Karma)

External –External application can cause burning sensation, and swelling.
Nervous system – Indicated in Convulsions and in sleeping disorders. Also beneficial in headache, eye and ear disorders etc.

Digestive System – Over dosage can cause vomiting and nausea by stimulating the higher centers of the brain. Stimulate the production of stomach acids. Carminative and digestive, helps for the movement of doshas in the proper direction. Over dosage can lead to loss of taste, vomiting and nausea.

Circulatory System – Reduce heart rate. Its action is especially on auricles, ventricles and on heart vessels. Elevate blood pressure by constricting the blood vessels. Strengthen Cardiac muscle. Mainly indicated in edema due to heart disorders.
Respiratory System – Indicated in cough, breathing difficulty and in pulmonary edema.

Excretory System – Increases urine production by increasing the kidney blood circulation. Indicated in cardiac edema.

Reproductive System – Aphrodisiac and uterine stimulant. Indicated in impotency and in oligomenorrhea.
Tapakrama – Indicated in fever