American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

Therapy—The strong infusion is diaphoretic and stimulating. The agent
has also alterative, cathartic and diuretic properties which are of value in
urinary inactivity, with excretion of renal sand, accompanied with
muscular aching, stiffness, or rheumatic pains.
A strong infusion is sometimes of great service in removing dropsical
effusions. Cases are reported in which extreme general dropsy seemed to
threaten immediate death, where relief was quickly and permanently
obtained by the use of this remedy.
SANGUINARIA. Sanguinaria canadensis.
Synonym—Bloodroot.
CONSTITUENTS—
Sanguinarine, chelerythrine, protopine, citric and malic acids.
Dose: Its best medicinal influence is obtained from small doses; from ten
to twenty drops in a four ounce mixture, a teaspoonful every hour or two.
Physiological Action—In excessive doses bloodroot is a gastric irritant,
and a depressant; it produces burning and racking pains in the digestive
canal from the mouth to the stomach; insatiable thirst, dilated pupils,
nausea, an anxious countenance, coldness of the extremities, cold
sweats more or lea diminution of the pulse, with irregularity.
Specific Symptomatology—The influence of sanguinaria is restricted to
rather narrow lines. In harsh, dry cough with relaxed tissues of the
pharynx, larynx and bronchi, with a sense of constriction and constant
irritation and uneasiness or tickling in the throat, this agent is useful.
Therapy—It is a tonic and stimulant to the bronchial membranes. It
stimulates the capillaries and overcomes congestion of the lung
structure, after a severe cold in the chest from exposure. An improvised
syrup made from adding a dram of the tincture of sanguinaria and two
drams of vinegar to two ounces of simple syrup will relieve the chest
sensations quickly if taken in teaspoonful doses every half hour or hour.
It is not as useful a remedy in diseases of children as ipecac or lobelia, as
the harshness of its action in full doses is not well borne. If combined
with either of these agents, and given in small doses for exactly the same
purposes for which they are suggested, it will furnish the tonic and
stimulant influence of the combination. There will be less nausea from
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 386