OFFICIAL FACTS ABOUT KALAWALLA
KALAWALLA
Genus: Polypodium
Species: decumanum, leucotomos, aureum
Synonyms: Phlebodium decumanum, P. multiseriale, Chrysopteris decumana
Common Names: Calaguala, samambaia, huayhuashi-shupa, cotochupa, mirane, temakaje
Parts Used: Rhizome, Leaves
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MAIN ACTIONS |
OTHER ACTIONS |
STANDARD DOSAGE |
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Leaves, Rhizome |
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Infusion: 1/2 to 1 cup 1-3 |
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times daily |
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Capsules: 1-2 g twice daily |
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Tincture: 2-3 ml twice daily | |
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KALAWALLA is a fern that grows in the rainforests of South America as well as drier tropical forests in Latin America. The Polypody family contains three-quarters of all ferns—over 6,000 species of plants, mostly native to the tropics of both hemispheres. There are 75 species of plants in the Polypodium genus, many of which have been used medicinally for centuries. The name is derived from poly, meaning "many," and podus, meaning "foot," for the many foot-like divisions of the root or rhizomes of polypody ferns. Polypodium leucotomos (also classified as Polypodium aureum) and Polypodium decumanum (also classified as Phlebodium decumanum) are indigenous to the Honduran rainforests but also can be found throughout the South American tropics and in parts of Latin America and the Caribbean. In Brazil, the common name is samambaia; in Mexico and other Spanish-speaking tropical countries, the plant is known as calaguala.
TRIBAL AND HERBAL MEDICINE USES
KALAWALLA, like most ferns, has an intricate, creeping root system; it is this rhizome, as well as the fronds or leaves, that is used most medicinally. The plant historically has been used by the indigenous peoples of Honduras for malignant tumors, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis. In the Amazon rainforest a maceration of the rhizome is used for fever; grated fresh, it is made into a tea for whooping cough and kidney problems. The Boras Indians (in the Peruvian Amazon) prepare the leaves in a drink for coughs. The Witotos Indians (in the northwest Amazon) use the rhizome for treating coughs. Other Peruvian indigenous tribes use the rhizome for problems of the pancreas. Indigenous groups in Latin America use the rhizome and leaves for many different maladies including cancer, psoriasis, peptic ulcers, kidney problems, diarrhea, arthritis, and pains in joints and tendons. It is generally considered throughout the Amazon to be a general tonic, to detoxify the body, and to support the immune system.
Many types of ferns are used in traditional medicine around the world. Most, including KALAWALLA, are considered a tonic, blood cleanser, expectorant, and are used for numerous upper respiratory conditions. In Honduran traditional medicine systems today, KALAWALLA commonly is used for tumors, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, rheumatoid arthritis, and arthritis. In Brazilian traditional medicine KALAWALLA is considered a blood cleanser, sweat-promoter, tonic, and expectorant; it is widely used for coughs, bronchitis, colds and flu, and other upper respiratory problems - as well as for rheumatism and skin problems (including psoriasis and dermatitis). In Peruvian herbal medicine the rhizome is used for coughs, fevers, and urinary infections, as well as skin problems such as psoriasis, boils, ulcers, and abscesses.
PLANT CHEMICALS
KALAWALLA contains flavonoids, alkaloids and lipids. It is a rich source of lipids and fatty acids and its therapeutic activity is attributed to these groups of chemicals. Within its lipids are a group of chemicals called sulphoquinovosyldiacylglycerols, which have been documented and patented as part of the plant's "active" chemicals. The main plant chemicals identified in KALAWALLA thus far include 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxycinnamic acid, 4-hydroxycinnamoyl-quinic acid, adenosine, alkaloids, arachidonic acid, arabinopyranosides, caffeic acid, calagualine, chlorogenic acid isomers, ecdysone, ecdysterone, eicosapentaenoic acid, elaidic acid, ferulic acid, juglanin, kaempferols, linoleic acid, linoleic acids, linolenic acids, melilotoside, oleic acid, polypodaureine, ricinoleic acid, rutin, selligueain, vanillic acid, and sulphoquinovosyldiacylglycerols.
BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES AND CLINICAL RESEARCH
Toxicity studies on samambaia with mice and rats have demonstrated no toxicity in acute or chronic dosages; in humans, oral doses greater than 1000 mg have not shown toxicity.
There has been a great deal of scientific interest in Polypodium plants, mostly focusing on their ability to treat psoriasis. In the mid-1970s, rhizome extracts of samambaia were first reported to decrease the over-growth of skin cells and skin thickening, and reduce the severity and extent of skin lesions in psoriasis patients. In the early 1980s, a company in Spain produced an herbal drug from a water extract of samambaia (P. leucotomos) rhizome and named it Anapsos. Since that time it has been a prescription drug registered by the Health Ministry of Spain for the treatment of psoriasis. Clinical research also has been published on Anapsos since then (including various double-blind placebo human trials) indicating it to be an effective treatment for psoriasis - as well as dermatitis and vitiligo (with a 3-6 month course of treatment required).
The mechanism of action in treating psoriasis is thought to be related to the modulation of certain cellular processes found in inflammation and psoriatic skin. Scientists have shown that psoriatic skin has abnormally high quantities of chemicals produced in the body called leukotriene and PAF (platelet-activating factor) Both are implicated in the cause and progression of psoriasis. In clinical research samambaia (and/or some of its novel chemicals) have shown to be effective in blocking excess leukotriene production as well as excess PAF. Psoriasis is also considered an autoimmune disease (as many of the immune cells are overstimulated, while others are suppressed). Extracts of samambaia have clearly demonstrated in clinical studies to possess some of the specific immune modulating effects needed to treat the imbalances in the immune system that are peculiar to psoriasis. Additionally, extracts of samambaia have been documented to have a direct anti-inflammatory activity in mice, rats, and humans with psoriasis.
Some of the more recent research on samambaia has focused on other chronic and degenerative diseases. A U.S. patent was filed (in 2001) on a samambaia rhizome extract that indicated its suitability in the treatment of AIDS- and cancer- related wasting syndrome, reporting marked benefits in several non-randomized human studies with cancer and AIDS patients. In 1997, a U.S. patent was filed on a samambaia leaf and rhizome extract capable of treating brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The patent and several in vivo clinical studies indicate samambaia protects against brain cell degeneration, promotes repair of damaged brain cells, and has a protective effect to brain cells. This was discovered when psoriasis patients in Europe taking anapsos (who also had Alzeimer’s) reported an improvement in their Alzheimer’s symptoms. This led the drug manufacturer to fund clinical trials on its use for brain disorders. In a double-blind placebo human trial (in 2000), researchers reported that a dosage of 360 mg per day of anapsos given to patients with senile dementia improved cognitive performance, increased the blood supply to the brain, and also increased the electrical impulses in the brain. The results were better with Alzheimer’s patients and those with mild dementia than those with severe dementia and extensive brain cell degeneration. Anapsos now is used in Spain and Europe for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
The same protective effects to brain cells seem to extend to skin cells as well. A 1997 U.S. patent was filed on an extract of samambaia, which indicated it is effective in preventing sunburn and skin damage (taken internally, as well as applied topically prior to exposure). Its protective effect against ultraviolet radiation was reported to be due, in part, to an antioxidant effect. One of the in vivo human studies confirming this activity was performed at Massachusetts General Hospital’s dermatology department. Another study (with hairless mice), conducted at Harvard medical school in 1999, reported that a samambaia extract applied topically helped to avoid skin damage and sun-associated skin aging, as well as reduced the number of UV-induced skin tumors in mice. The Harvard researchers published a human study in 2004 reporting that samambaia evidenced “substantial benefits of skin protection” to prevent sunburn and prevent skin aging when it was taken internally (at 7.5 mg/kg). Based on some in vitro studies, other university student researchers suggested that samambaia may help prevent sun damage and skin aging at low dosages while higher dosages may actually reverse the loss of normal elastic fibers associated with intrinsic aging of the skin. A pharmaceutical company in Spain has also published a study indicating that samambaia is suitable to use as a preventative treatment for sunburn and skin damage.
The last area of research concerns samambaia’s possible uses for cancer. Researchers at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas published their first study on samambaia and one of its main chemicals (calagualine) in 2003. They reported that some of the intercellular processes blocked during psoriasis (NF-kappaB and tumor necrosis factor chemicals) also evidenced the ability to block and suppress inflammation, tumor formation, and tumor growth.
CURRENT PRACTICAL USES
It is likely that scientists will continue studying samambaia and why it works; meanwhile, natural health practitioners around the world will continue to employ its many purposes without knowing which specific chemicals are creating the beneficial effects. In addition to psoriasis, vitiligo and Alzheimer's, health practitioners in the United States are using samambaia for coughs, bronchitis, chest colds, flu, and disorders of the respiratory tract, skin, and immune systems - much as it has been used in indigenous herbal medicine systems for years.
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Main Preparation Method: infusion or capsules
Main Actions (in order): Main Uses:
anti-inflammatory, antidysenteric, antimutagenic (cellular protector), antioxidant, antipsoriatic, immunomodulator, neuroprotective (protects brain cells) Other Properties/Actions Documented by Traditional Use: Cautions: Do not use in combination with digitalis and some heart drugs. |
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Traditional Preparation: One-half to 1 cup leaf or root infusion 1-3 times daily or 2-3 ml of a 4:1 tincture or fluid extract twice daily. Traditionally, a simple, cold maceration of the rhizome and leaves often is used; therefore, 1-2 g daily of powdered root or leaf in tablets or capsules can be substituted, if desired.
Contraindications: Reports indicate that samambaia may enhance the effects of the heart drug digitalis (a medication commonly used to increase the force of heart contractions in those diagnosed with certain heart conditions). It is therefore contraindicated in combination with digitalis, and persons with any heart condition should seek the advice of a qualified health practitioner prior to using samambaia.
Drug Interactions: May potentiate the effects of digitalis and/or other digitalis-type prescription heart drugs. The absorption of samambaia is reported to be reduced in the presence of antacids.
| Amazonia | for cancer, coughs, detoxification, fever, immune disorders, kidney problems, pancreatic disorders, psoriasis, rheumatism, whooping cough |
| Colombia | for coughs |
| Brazil | for blood cleansing, bronchitis, colds, coughs, flu, gout, psoriasis, respiratory disorders, rheumatism, skin disorders, and as an expectorant, tonic, and to increase perspiration |
| Honduras | for arthritis, cancer, dermatitis, joint pains, kidney disorders, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, stomach ulcers, tendon pain, tumors |
| Mexico | for coughs, fever, respiratory problems, and to increase perspiration |
| Peru | for abscesses, boils, cough, fever, psoriasis, skin disorders, ulcers (skin), urinary infections, whooping cough |
| United States | for Alzheimer's, bronchitis, colds, cough, dermatitis, detoxification, eczema, flu, gout, hypertension, immune disorders, psoriasis, skin disorders, respiratory disorders, rheumatism, and to increase perspiration and urination |
| Venezuela | for venereal diseases and as a laxative |
| Elsewhere | for bronchitis, cancer, colds, coughs, fever, flu, gout, hypertension, immune disorders, kidney problems, psoriasis, respiratory disorders, rheumatism, skin disorders, tonic, tumors, urinary insufficiency |