Ornithogalum Umbellatum

Ornithogalum umbellatum, the garden star-of-Bethlehem, grass lily, nap-at-noon, or eleven-o’clock lady, is a perennial bulbous flowering plant, native throughout most of southern and central Europe, north-western Africa and south-western Asia. In North America, it has escaped its cultivation as a garden ornamental and can be found in many areas.

Contents

• Uses
• Benefits
• Cautions
• Interactions
• Other names
• References

Uses

• Despite serious safety concerns, people take star of Bethlehem for congestive heart failure (CHF).

Benefits

• The Star of Bethlehem is a Bach Flower Remedy, categorized in the Rescue Remedy, and is effective in curing sorrow and shock.
  • The architect of Bach Flower Remedy, Dr. Edward Bach had depicted Star of Bethlehem akin to a comforter of aches and grief. Individuals who require this medication most are those who are enduring the consequences of any appalling incident or accident as well as people who have received such upsetting news. In effect, the Star of Bethlehem is useful in any condition wherein an individual has experienced any type of ordeal or shock, whether recently or previously. When this Bach Flower Remedy is administered right away when an individual experiences any shock or distress, it facilitates in removing the deadening impact and also helps in recuperation from the state. It is important to note that Star of Bethlehem is never a substitute for any medical therapy, but it definitely facilitates the curative as well as recovery processes. In effect, this essence may prove to be extremely helpful for people who hold on to trauma or shock at any level from situations or events that have occurred in the past. Circumstances such as accident, demise, divorce, losing one’s job, any kind of distressing news and so on, are every situation where the sufferers would benefit by using Star of Bethlehem.
  • Individuals who are said to be suffering the Star of Bethlehem mental state experience that their mind is shut down and has recoiled into a condition of sorrow and shock. Often, bad or distressing news received by an individual may be so harsh that it cannot be completely accepted by the conscious mind. In effect, the mind of such individuals may find it extremely difficult to contend with the inexorableness of the situations that are responsible for the grief or agony.
  • When we receive any shocking or distressing news, our mind employs various means to protect us against the assimilation of this type of news. To begin with, generally we are faced with hullabaloo and dissent such calamity. Afterwards, there may be rejection as well as a restless anticipation that the news might not be factual. In addition, there may be an inner numbing or festering that stops the experience of sorrow from coming completely to the surface. Such deferment of distresses may possibly continue for a maximum of two years and during this period, the sufferer generally becomes aware of symptoms of emotional/ mental numbness, something like the parts of the individual had gone into a slumber or they had shut down owing to the shock.
  • There may also be other types of responses to sorrow and shock and this is the float over or taking those things that cannot be amended in a lighter vein. There may be instances when the individual may in fact demonstrate cheerfulness with a view to lift the spirits of others who are also in their anguish. In effect, there is great anguish internally, but the individual makes a deliberate effort to conceal it from other people. In such cases, there may also be some numbing of the senses in the initial stages.
  • Our system also has another means to tackle shock and sorrow and that is expressing unwarranted fury and drawn out outrage that facilitates the suffering individual in prevailing over vulnerability as well as re-emphasizing personal power that had failed to avoid the depressing incidents. Conversely, in case the suffering individual succumbs to vulnerability and submission, he or she is likely to withdraw into quietness as well as depression and conceal their inner sentiments from other people. This actually helps the sufferer not to be felt or worked by means of other people’s assistance.

Interactions

• Antibiotics (Macrolide antibiotics) interacts with Ornithogalum Umbellatum
  Star of Bethlehem can affect the heart. Some antibiotics might increase how much star of Bethlehem the body absorbs. Taking star of Bethlehem along with some antibiotics might increase the effects and side effects caused by star of Bethlehem.
  Some of these antibiotics, called macrolide antibiotics, include erythromycin, azithromycin, and clarithromycin.
• Antibiotics (Tetracycline antibiotics) interacts with Ornithogalum Umbellatum
  Star of Bethlehem can affect the heart. Some antibiotics might increase how much star of Bethlehem the body absorbs. Taking star of Bethlehem along with some antibiotics might increase the effects and side effects caused by star of Bethlehem.
  Some of these antibiotics include demeclocycline (Declomycin), minocycline (Minocin), and tetracycline (Achromycin).
• Digoxin (Lanoxin) interacts with Ornithogalum Umbellatum
  Digoxin (Lanoxin) helps the heart beat more strongly. Star of Bethlehem also seems to affect the heart. Taking star of Bethlehem along with digoxin can increase the effects and the risk of side effects of digoxin and star of Bethlehem. Do not take star of Bethlehem if you are taking digoxin (Lanoxin) without talking to your healthcare professional.
• Quinine interacts with Ornithogalum Umbellatum
  Star of Bethlehem can affect the heart. Quinine can also affect the heart. Taking quinine along with star of Bethlehem might cause serious heart problems.
• Stimulant laxatives interacts with Ornithogalum Umbellatum
  Star of Bethlehem can affect the heart. The heart uses potassium. Laxatives called stimulant laxatives can decrease potassium levels in the body. Low potassium levels can increase the chance of side effects from star of Bethlehem.
  Some stimulant laxatives include bisacod

Other names

Dame d’Onze Heures, Estrella de Belén, Étoile de Bethléem, Étoile de Marie, Nap-at-noon, Ornithogale en Ombelle, Ornithogalum umbellatum, Sleepydick, Snowdrop

Reference

Source: WebMD, http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1163-star%20of%20bethlehem.aspx?activeingredientid=1163&activeingredientname=star%20of%20bethlehem

Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornithogalum_umbellatum

Herbs2000, http://www.herbs2000.com/h_menu/bfr_star_bethlehem.htm