American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

PRUNUS. Prunus serotina.
Synonym—Wild Cherry.
This is often called, though improperly, Prunus Virginiana, which
belongs to the Choke Cherry family.
CONSTITUENTS—
Hydrocyanic acid, amygdalin, volatile oil, emulsion, tannin, gallic
acid, resin, starch, a bitter principle.
PREPARATIONS—
Extractum Pruni Virginianae, Fluid Extract of Wild Cherry. Dose,
from a half to one dram.
Specific Medicine Prunus. Dose, from one to ten minims.
Therapy—The tonic influence of this agent is more markedly apparent
when it is administered in disease of the respiratory apparatus of a
subacute or chronic character. It is not given during the active period of
acute cases, but is of value during the period of convalescence.
It is a common remedy in the treatment of chronic coughs, especially
those accompanied with excessive expectoration. It is valuable in
whooping-cough. The syrup is used as a menstruum for the
administration of other remedies in this disease. It is excellent also in
reflex cough—the cough of nervous patients without apparent cause. The
syrup may be used persistently in phthisis, for the administration of
many other agents which seem to be indicated during the course of the
disease. Wild cherry is popular in the treatment of mild cases of
palpitation, especially those of a functional character, or from reflex
causes. Palpitation from disturbed conditions of the stomach is directly
relieved by it. It is said to have a direct tonic influence upon the heart
when the muscular structure of that organ is greatly weakened, where
there is dilatation or valvular insufficiency, especially if induced by
prolonged gastric or pulmonary disease.
As a remedy for dyspepsia it has many advocates. It is a tonic to the
stomach improving digestion by stimulating the action of the gastric
glands. It soothes irritability of the stomach from whatever cause.
Although the properties of a nerve sedative are not ascribed to this agent,
general nervous irritation is soothed by its administration, nervous
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 364