American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

should be by no means neglected.
Prof. King advised this agent in coughs, and its value through its
influence upon the nerve centers has been confirmed by many
practitioners. It soothes the cough of excessive nerve irritation, and the
reflex cough; the irritable cough of acute bronchitis is relieved by it, as it
increases bronchial secretions to a notable extent.
A homeopathic writer says that in pleurisy, there are often strong
indications for cimicifuga where it works in harmony with aconite and
bryonia. This is our own experience.
It is given by many as a stomachic tonic, and it improves digestion by
relieving excess of nerve influence over the functional operations of the
digestive apparatus.
As a remedy for chorea it has become widely popular. Given in fifteendrop
doses of the tincture four or five times daily, it is superior to any other
known remedy. Its effects are permanent if the anemia and other
concomitant conditions are correctly controlled by proper medication at
the same time. Its sedative, tonic and antispasmodic influences are here
fully exercised.
It may be combined with scutellaria lateriflora, with valerian or gelsemium,
as the indications demand, with superb results. The writer has aired
intractable cases by alternating it with minute doses of exalgine.
The characteristic aching pains above described are very constant in
acute rheumatism and rheumatic fevers. Cimicifuga is certainly a royal
remedy in these cases, and has become universally popular. If the
condition be absolutely confined to the joint and does not involve
muscular structure, it is not of as much value. The direct indications
must be present.
The agent, however, has a specific influence in overcoming lithemia and
in preventing and curing conditions resulting from an excess of uric
acid conditions existing in the uric acid diathesis. It is therefore of value
with auxiliary treatment in acute or subacute rheumatic arthritis with
lithemia.
It will be found indicated in rheumatic neuralgia, in sciatica, in
muscular rheumatism of the chest walls, in achings of the deep muscles
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 123