American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

PREPARATIONS—
Tinctura Staphysagriae, Tincture of Staphysagria. Dose, from five to
fifteen minims.
Specific Staphysagria. Dose, from one-sixth to three minims.
Physiological Action—This has not been definitely determined. Taken
internally it acts as an irritant, causing vomiting and purging. Absorbed
into the circulation it causes convulsions and loss of sensation and
motion; the action of the heart and respiration is lessened and death is
caused by paralysis of the spinal cord and asphyxia. It first contracts and
then dilates the pupil. The agent is a permanent stimulant, resembling
nux vomica somewhat and acting in harmony with avena sativa, cactus
and zanthoxylum. It will act in harmony with hydrastis, which agent will
intensify its influence. It relieves mental depression, and should be
given in hysteria and hypochondriasis, where there is melancholia,
despondency, and a general depression, Scudder says, especially if
accompanied with violent outbursts of passion.
Specific Symptomatology—This agent exercises a stimulant and tonic
influence upon the central nervous system, and is especially valuable in
sexual disorders accompanied with melancholia, hypochondria, and
hysteria, especially if there be outbursts of passion and a tendency to
moroseness.
Therapy—Specifically considered this agent is a remedy for prostatic
disease. It is not curative in the entire range of disease of the prostate,
but is of much importance in assisting other indicated remedies.
Prostatorrhea is within the direct sphere of its influence. It should be
used and persisted in in this condition. While not alone curative in
spermatorrhea, the complete cure depends upon the action of this
remedy in many cases, combined with others. In gleet, the agent must
not be omitted.
It relieves irritation of the prostate gland, testicles, and vesiculae
seminales, overcomes impotency, and increases sexual power. It arrests
the excessive prostatic discharge and muco-purulent discharges from the
urethra and is valuable in old standing cases of gleet, often curing
otherwise intractable cases, and in dysuria, especially if accompanied
with feebleness in expelling urine, with the above specific indications. It
may be given alternately with kava-kava.
It soothes the nervous excitement consequent upon these genito-urinary
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 169