Digital in Herbalist: Digital Properties

Scientific name

Family

Origin

Used Parts

Chemical constituents

• Cardioactive steroid glucosides;
• saponins;
• Anthraquinone derivatives;
• Flavonoids.

Digital in Herbalist: Digital Properties

The purified digitalis active principles, and their derivatives obtained by synthesis, still constitute the cornerstone of the therapy of heart failure and of some forms of arrhythmia, in particular atrial fibrillation.

Biological activity

Because of its high toxicity, the use of digitalis has not been approved for any type of therapeutic indication. However, as mentioned above, the cardioactive glycosides extracted from the plant and their derivatives (such as, for example, digitoxin and digoxin) constitute the active ingredients of different medicinal specialties, with indications for the treatment of heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation .

In fact, these molecules exhibit cardiotonic activity and exert a positive inotropic action (ie they increase the strength of cardiac contraction), through the blockage of the sodium-potassium pump which, consequently, leads to a decrease in the intracellular sodium concentration and to an increase of the intracellular availability of calcium.

Furthermore, these cardioactive glycosides also exert a bradycardic action, a negative dromotropic effect and a positive batmotropic effect (ie, respectively decrease the transmission rate of the impulse and increase the excitability of the cardiac fibers).

Digital in folk medicine and homeopathy

In folk medicine, digitalis was used internally for the treatment of headaches, abscesses, ulcers, paralysis and even abdominal tumors; as well as being used as a remedy against heart failure and against excessively high blood pressure.

Externally, however, traditional medicine used the plant to treat wounds from difficult healing and to treat ulcers.

Digital is also used in homeopathic medicine, where it can easily be found in the form of granules and oral drops. In this context the plant is used in cases of migraine, heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias.

The dose of homeopathic remedy to be used may differ from individual to individual, also depending on the type of disorder that needs to be treated and according to the type of preparation and homeopathic dilution that you want to use.

Side effects

Gastrointestinal hypertonia, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea and headache may occur following the intake of digitalis. In case of overdose, cardiac arrhythmias, hallucinations, depression and psychosis may also occur and, in the most serious cases, death from heart failure or asphyxia may also occur.

Contraindications

Because of its toxicity, digitalis and its preparations should not be used.

As regards purified cardioactive glycosides, on the other hand, their use can only take place under the strict control of the doctor. In any case, the use of these molecules is contraindicated in patients with atrioventricular block, hypercalcemia, hypokalaemia, hypertrophic cardiopathies, carotid sinus syndrome, ventricular tachycardia, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW syndrome) and / or aortic aneurysm.

Pharmacological Interactions

• calcium: (orally) risk of arrhythmia. The administration of calcium parenterally exposes to potentially fatal arrhythmias;
• coal, kaolin, ion exchange resins: reduced digital absorption;
• barbiturates: reduction of digoxinemia with reduction in efficacy;
• hypericum: reduction of digoxinemia with reduction in efficacy;
• macrolides: increase in digoxinemia with possible toxicity;
• cortisone: hypokalemia increases the toxicity of digitalis;
• licorice: hypokalemia increases the toxicity of digitalis;
• diuretics: hypokalemia increases the toxicity of digitalis;
• anthraquinone laxatives: hypokalemia increases the toxicity of digitalis;
• amiodarone and other antiarrhythmics: arrhythmias, excessive bradycardia.

Warnings

Due to the wide variability of its constituents and the low therapeutic index, digitalis should not be taken as such or as a phytotherapeutic product. The first signs of intoxication are vomiting and heart rhythm disorders.

Digital - Notes

Other plants with digital action are the Adonide ( Adonis vernalis ), the strophanthus ( Strophantus hispidus ), the oleander ( Nerium oleander ), the hellebore ( Helleborus niger ), the scilla ( Urginea maritima ) and the lily of the valley ( Convallaria majalis ) .