Richard Mandelbaum RH(AHG)

2016

Selenicereus grandiflorus
Cactaceae

Night blooming cactus Queen

of the Night
Night blooming Cereus
Cactus

Part used: aerial parts with flower

Native range: Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, naturalized in

southern Florida

Harvestable status / sustainability: can be cultivated

Flavor: sweet, slightly bitter and sour

Energetics: warm, moist

Actions: cardiotonic, nervine / mild sedative, anti-depressant, diuretic, hypotensive,

demulcent, mucilaginous, febrifuge

Selenicereus or night-blooming cactus is a solid cardiotonic that strengthens and regulates the
heart muscle, and is indicated with a rapid and feeble heart-rate or pulse. It is especially
helpful when accompanied by fear and anxiety, particularly with a sense of constriction in the
chest (an indication which it shares with Albizia). There are several indications of it being
nourishing to Kidney yin: its regulating and moistening activity, benefits to reproductive
function, improving breathing and respiratory function, and emotional indications for fear and
dread. Great care must be taken to correctly identify the species.

Indications:
• Cardiac insufficiency with fatigue, arrhythmia, rapid, feeble pulse, and difficulty
breathing – slows and strengthens contractions and dilates blood vessels
• Angina and ischemia, poor oxygen supply to heart muscle
• Anxiety, stress, nervousness, debility
• Used traditionally as a fever remedy (see below)
• Mildly soothing as a demulcent to an irritated, inflamed digestive tract
• Some historical uses for Grave’s disease noted by the Eclectic physicians.
Richard Mandelbaum RH(AHG)
2016
Eclectic indications:
• “Permanently strengthens the muscular action of the heart” (Ellingwood)
• “It increases the musculo-motor energy of the heart, elevating arterial tension,
increasing the height and force of the pulse wave. The agent becomes at once the heart
tonic, par excellence as it directly and with much positiveness improves the nutrition of
the heart, strengthening the muscular power and improving the condition of the
valves.” (Ellingwood)
• Ellingwood’s Specific Indication: “irregular pulse, feebleness of the heart’s action,
dyspnea, oppression in the chest…and a sensation of constriction or band around the
chest” (although he recommended its use without this last symptom). “Wherever there
is less than normal power to the heart’s action —deficiency, due either to a fault of the
heart direct, or to lack of power in the nervous system-this agent is indicated.”
• If accompanied by pain, Ellingwood indicates specifically “lightning like, or sharp,
acute, or shooting pain, accompanied with a sensation of suffocation, difficult
breathing, faintness, cold, perspiration, and fear of impending danger.”
• Depression / nervousness; depression or nervousness “fear of impending death”
(King’s), sometimes combined with Lycopus
• Heart murmurs: “…many observers have noticed the entire progressive removal of
valvular murmurs, from its influence…” (Ellingwood)
• Used extensively by the Eclectics for heart weakness due to excessive tobacco use.
• Menopause-related headaches (especially on top of the head), hot flashes, anxiety,
neurasthenia (Ellingwood). For the latter sometimes combined with Pulsatilla.
• Combined with Avena and Serenoa for impotence and other sexual dysfunction
(Ellingwood)
• Fevers: “indicated in fevers, where there is a rapid and feeble pulse, from feeble heart,
with a weak and exhausted nervous system.” (Ellingwood)

Contraindications, Interactions and/or toxicity:

• AHPA Class 2d, Interaction Class B
• Use with caution in combination with cardiac medications.
• Some authors specifically caution against concomitant use with cardiac glycosides. This
is speculative – no interactions have been reported – but caution should be used as it is
not a commonly used herb.
• Eclectics considered large doses to potentially cause GI upset and mental confusion.
• To be used with caution during pregnancy and lactation: there are no established
concerns but there is less of an established safety profile.
• Excessive doses may cause diarrhea.

Preparation: Tincture (usually from the fresh plant)

Dosage: 5 drops-1 ml TID tincture

Richard Mandelbaum RH(AHG)
2016
Major plant constituents: amines, flavonoids

Additional notes:
• Botanically Selenicereus is a complex genus and S.grandiflorus is a complex species
with at least four subspecies, previously classified as Cactus grandiflorus.
• Misidentification and adulteration, intentional and unintentional, with other genera and
species of cacti is common and dates back to at least the Eclectic times. There are
several cacti referred to with common names of Queen of the Night, or night-blooming
cactus. Only this genus/species is considered the correct one to be used.
• John Uri Lloyd considered the plant growing outdoors in the tropical heat to be
superior to greenhouse-cultivated cactus.

Sources:
AHPA Botanical Safety Handbook, Second Edition
Ellingwood, American Materia Medica
Felter-Lloyd, King’s American Dispensatory
Lloyd and Ellingwood, Cactus grandiflorus (pamphlet)
PDR for Herbal Medicines, Second Edition
Skenderi, Herbal Vade Mecum