Fresh Night Blooming Cereus
Also known as: Night-Blooming Cereus, Queen of the Night, Cereus grandiflorus, Selenicereus grandiflorus
Overview
Selenicereus grandiflorus, commonly known as Night-Blooming Cereus or Queen of the Night, is a cactus species recognized for its large, fragrant nocturnal flowers. In traditional herbal medicine, it has been historically utilized as a cardiovascular tonic and for nervous system support. Preparations are typically made from fresh or tinctured extracts of the stem. Traditional applications include soothing heart palpitations, alleviating chest discomfort, and reducing nervousness. Despite its long history of use, modern scientific evidence, particularly in the form of robust randomized controlled trials or systematic reviews, is largely absent, making it difficult to definitively confirm its efficacy or safety according to contemporary standards.
Benefits
The primary purported benefits of Night-Blooming Cereus revolve around cardiovascular support, including mild vasodilation, cardiotonic effects, relief of palpitations, and assistance with heart rhythm regulation. Secondary benefits suggested by traditional herbalist reports include nervous system tonification, reduction of anxiety, panic, and depression-like symptoms, as well as respiratory symptom relief in conditions such as asthma or bronchitis. It has also been traditionally used for menopausal anxiety and nervous system fragility. However, it is crucial to note that there are no high-quality randomized controlled trials or meta-analyses to substantiate these claims or quantify their clinical significance. The existing data are predominantly anecdotal or derived from traditional use, lacking robust scientific validation.
How it works
The proposed mechanisms of action for Night-Blooming Cereus include mild vasodilation and cardiotonic activity. It is thought to potentially modulate heart muscle contractility and interact with the nervous system at the cardiac level. The plant is believed to contain compounds that may influence the autonomic nervous system, contributing to its traditional uses for cardiovascular and nervous system support. However, specific molecular targets and detailed pharmacological pathways have not been definitively identified or characterized in peer-reviewed scientific studies. Furthermore, data regarding its bioavailability and absorption within the human body are not well established in the current literature.
Side effects
Night-Blooming Cereus is generally considered safe when used in low doses for non-cardiac conditions. Potential side effects include oral burning, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and skin irritation if applied topically. However, serious safety concerns exist, particularly for individuals with pre-existing heart conditions. Its use in patients with heart disease is contraindicated without strict medical supervision due to the potential for cardiotoxicity and significant interactions with cardiac medications, such as digoxin. The plant also contains tyramine, which can interact dangerously with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), potentially leading to hypertensive crises. The safety of Night-Blooming Cereus during pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established, and therefore, avoidance is strongly recommended for these populations.
Dosage
Traditional dosing guidelines for Night-Blooming Cereus typically involve administering 1–15 drops of a fresh liquid extract, taken 1–3 times daily. It is often recommended to dilute the extract in water or juice before consumption. It is important to emphasize that there is no standardized dosing regimen established through rigorous clinical trials, and therefore, these recommendations are based on traditional practices rather than scientific validation. Exceeding these traditionally suggested doses is strongly discouraged due to potential safety concerns and the lack of comprehensive safety data. Users should exercise caution and consult with a healthcare professional before use.
FAQs
Is Night-Blooming Cereus safe for heart conditions?
No, it should only be used under strict medical supervision due to potential risks, including cardiotoxicity and dangerous interactions with cardiac medications like digoxin.
How quickly can one expect to see benefits from Night-Blooming Cereus?
There is no clinical data available to answer this. Traditional use suggests that any effects on nervous and cardiovascular symptoms would be gradual rather than immediate.
Can Night-Blooming Cereus be combined with other herbs?
Traditionally, it is sometimes combined with herbs like Hawthorn and Motherwort. However, there is no clinical evidence to support the synergy or safety of such combinations.
Is Night-Blooming Cereus effective for anxiety or depression?
While traditional use suggests benefits for anxiety and depression-like symptoms, there are no randomized controlled trials to confirm its efficacy for these conditions.
Research Sources
- https://caringsunshine.com/relationships/relationship-cardiovascular-disease-and-night-blooming-cereus/ – This narrative review from Caring Sunshine highlights the absence of robust clinical trials or pharmacological data to support the efficacy or safety of Night-Blooming Cereus for cardiovascular disease. It concludes that there is a low level of evidence due to the lack of randomized controlled trials and effect size data.
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3550841/ – This PMC article reviews cactus species as medicinal foods, including a mention of Selenicereus grandiflorus. It discusses general nutritional and antioxidant properties of cacti but lacks direct clinical trials on Night-Blooming Cereus extract, indicating low clinical relevance for specific efficacy claims.
- https://www.rxlist.com/supplements/cereus.htm – RxList provides a safety and interaction summary for Cereus, identifying potential side effects such as oral burning, nausea, and skin irritation. It also details significant drug interactions, particularly with digoxin and MAOIs, and contraindications, offering moderate quality guidance on safety but no efficacy data.
- https://caringsunshine.com/ingredients/ingredient-night-blooming-cereus/ – This source provides a general overview of Night-Blooming Cereus, mentioning its traditional uses for cardiovascular support and nervous system tonification. It acknowledges the lack of high-quality clinical evidence and emphasizes that most claims are based on anecdotal reports and traditional practices.
- https://www.herbalist-alchemist.com/shop-products-cct-night-blooming-cereus-extract – This commercial site describes Night-Blooming Cereus extract, focusing on its traditional use as a cardiovascular and nervous system tonic. It suggests applications for palpitations and anxiety, reflecting common herbalist perspectives, but does not provide scientific research to support these claims.
- https://hellodoktor.com/en/night-blooming-cereus/ – HelloDoktor discusses Night-Blooming Cereus, outlining its traditional uses for heart conditions and anxiety. It notes the absence of strong scientific evidence to back these claims and advises caution, especially for individuals with existing medical conditions or those on medication.
- https://clearpathherbals.com/medicinal-herbs/medicinal-benefits-night-blooming-cereus-cactus/ – Clearpath Herbals details the medicinal benefits of Night-Blooming Cereus from an herbalist perspective, highlighting its traditional use for cardiovascular and nervous system support. It mentions its application for conditions like asthma and bronchitis, based on historical use rather than clinical trials.
- https://restorativemedicine.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Selenicereus-monograph.pdf – This monograph from Restorative Medicine provides a detailed overview of Selenicereus grandiflorus, covering its botanical aspects, traditional uses, and proposed mechanisms. It acknowledges the limited modern research and emphasizes the need for caution due to potential interactions and lack of safety data.
- https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-711/cereus – WebMD's entry on Cereus (Night-Blooming Cereus) summarizes its traditional uses for heart conditions, anxiety, and other ailments. It clearly states that there is insufficient evidence to rate its effectiveness and warns about potential side effects and drug interactions, particularly with heart medications.
- https://restorativemedicine.org/library/monographs/night-blooming-cactus/ – This resource from Restorative Medicine offers a monograph on Night-Blooming Cactus, detailing its historical use in traditional medicine for cardiovascular and nervous system support. It underscores the lack of contemporary scientific studies to validate its efficacy and safety, advising careful consideration.
