American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

Therapy—It relieves general distress or discomfort in all the urinary
organs, and in the prostate gland. In vesical tenesmus and in dysuria
from any cause it is almost specific. In lithemia or the uric acid diathesis,
it stimulates the liver to more perfect action, greatly increases the action
of the kidneys, reduces the specific gravity of the urine, and permanently
reduces the excess of uric acid. This influence renders it of value in
rheumatism, either acute or chronic.
It has been used in gonorrhea and in acute and chronic cystitis of all
forms with excellent results. It acts as a gastric tonic, like kava-kava,
greatly increasing the appetite and promoting digestion. It has a direct
action upon the function of the liver.
It stimulates the kidneys, too actively in those cases where there is
structural degeneration, but it will quickly overcome simple recent cases
of renal hyperemia. It is contra-indicated in Bright's disease, as in some
protracted cases the albumen has been increased by the use of this
remedy.
It is also useful where there are biliary calculi, as well as in the renal
and vesicle forms. It allays urinary tenesmus, in those cases of cystitis,
which are of mechanical or traumatic origin. In acute urethritis it has
accomplished some good results.
Fifteen minims of the fluid extract every three hours has proved
serviceable in the treatment of acute prostatitis, seminal vesiculitis, and
in the subsidiary stage of orchitis, and epididymitis. In some cases the
remedy is best given with an alkali. In those cases where the urine smells
foully and is alkaline in reaction, it may be given in conjunction with
borax and benzoic acid, with excellent results. Some forms of painful
disease of the pelvic organs have been relieved by it. It is useful in
dysmenorrhea, and acts in harmony with viburnum.
ASAFOETIDA. Ferula foetida.
Part Employed—The dried milky juice obtained by incising the green
matured root of the Ferula foetida.
CONSTITUENTS—
Resin, Gum, Volatile Oil, Sulphur.
PREPARATIONS—
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 216