American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

acute cold it is a useful remedy. If drank during an alcohol sweat or
Turkish bath, its influence is greatly increased. In acute rheumatism it
will prove of service,
It is a mild stomachic and general tonic in half-ounce doses of the cold
infusion, and it seems to mildly stimulate digestion.
In acute colic in infants, with nervous excitability and tendency to
spasm, a few drops may be dropped into a half glass of water and a
teaspoonful given every ten minutes with immediate relief. In flatulent
colic and in colic accompanying diarrhea, the discharges of a greenish,
feculent character with reflex nervous irritation or increased nervous
susceptibility, it is a specific remedy.
In constant worry and fretfulness of very young infants, without apparent
cause, it is a soothing remedy of much value. It is excellent during the
teething period to allay nervous irritation and soothe pain. In neuralgic
pains in children it is useful.
In hysterical females its therapeutic influence is similar to that of
pulsatilla. It soothes general irritation and quiets imaginary pains,
especially if occurring at the menstrual epoch.
It is useful in dysmenorrhea and in mild cases of ovarian neuralgia. In
amenorrhea with intermittent pains, and sensations of appearing
menstrual flow, it is useful. It may be given for the erratic pains and
reflex nerve irritations of the last months of pregnancy, the reflex cough
and unbearable muscular cramps and twitchings.
APOCYNUM. Apocynum cannabinum.
Synonym—Canadian Hemp.
CONSTITUENTS—
Apocynin apocynein, tannin, gallic acid, gum, starch, resin, wax.
PREPARATIONS—
Decoctum Apocyni, Decoction of Apocynum. Dose, from half a dram
to one dram.
Specific Medicine Apocynum. Dose, from half of a minim to twenty
minims.
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 36