Family Name: Ericacea

Introduction

Poison. On the practical front, that’s about all you need to know about it. But, the Eclectic Physicians used this herb in their practice of medicine and its historic uses are of interest.

Notes from the Eclectic Physicians

Notes from the Eclectic Physicians

1854; King J;(Materia Medica) – KALMIA LATIFOLIA – Sheep Laurel
Properties and Uses. – In immoderate doses, Sheep-laurel is a poisonous narcotic, producing vertigo, dimness of sight, great depression of the action of the heart, and cold extremities. In medicinal doses it is sedative, antisyphilitic, and astringent. Internally, either in powder, decoction, or tincture, it is an efficacious remedy in primary or secondary syphilis, and will likewise be found invaluable in febrile and inflammatory diseases, and hypertrophy of the heart, allaying all febrile and inflammatory action, and lessening the action of the heart. In active haemorrhages, diarrhoea, and dysentery, it has been employed with excellent effect. I have extensively used this agent, and regard it as one of our most efficient agents in syphilis; and have likewise found it very valuable in inflammatory fevers, jaundice, and ophthalmic neuralgia and inflammation.

The remedy must always be used with prudence, and should any of the above-mentioned symptoms appear, the dose must be diminished, or its use suspended for a few days. In cases of poisoning by this article, stimulants, as brandy, whiskey, etc., must be given, with couner-irritation to the spine and extremities.

Sheep poisoned by eating the leaves, have been saved by administering a gill or two of whiskey to them. Externally, the fresh leaves stewed in lard, or the dried leaves in powder mixed with lard to form an ointment, are said to be beneficial in tinea-capitis, psora, and other cutaneous affections. Some time since I treated a case of syphilis of five weeks’ standing, which had not received any kind of treatment during that period. The patient, at the time I saw him, had several chancres, the surface of the body and head was covered with small red pimples, elevated above a jaundiced skin, and he was in a very debilitated condition; I administered a saturated tincture of the leaves of Kalmia, and touched the chancres with tincture of muriate of iron, and effected a cure in four weeks, removing the jaundice at the same time. The saturated tincture of the leaves is the best form of administration, it may be given in doses of from ten to twenty drops, every two or three hours; the decoction may be given in doses of from half a fluidounce to a fluidounce; and of the powdered leaves from then to thirty grains. There are other species of Kalmia, as K. Glauca or Swamp Laurel, and K. Angustifolia , or Narrow-leaved Laurale, which probably possess similar properties.

Off Prep. – Decoctum Kalmiae; Syrupus Phytolaccae Compositus; Tinctura Kalmiae.

1874: Scudder
Prepare a tincture form the recent leaves, in the proportion of 35viij. to alcohol 76%Oj. Dose from a fraction of a drop to five drops.

This is a favorite remedy of Prof.King, and he describes its use as follows: “It is an efficient remedy in primary or secondary syphillis, and will be likewise be foun invaluable in febriel and inflammaroy diseases, and hypertorhpy o th eheart, allayinga ll inflammatory action, and lessenign the action of the heart. In active hemorrhages, diarhea, and dysentery, it has been employed with excellant effect. I have extensively used this agent, and regard it as one of the most efficeint agents in syphilis,; and have, likewise, found it very valuable in inflammatory fevers, jaundice, and opthalmia, neuralgia, and inflammation.”

I have employed it in secondary syphillis and atonic chronic inflammations with marked advantage, but have nut used it for other purposes. Ill some of our readers test it in the treatment of fever and inflammation to determine its analogy to the sedatives?

1895: Watkins: KALMIA, SP MED
Muscular pain, frequent shifting, cardiac palpitation, dyspnoea.

Reflex cardiac palpitation from gastric and intestinal irritation, syphilis. Ten to twenty drops in four ounces water; teaspoonful every two hours.

1898: Felter and Lloyd: KALMIA – MOUNTAIN LAUREL
Action, Medical Uses and Dosage – In immoderate doses, sheep laurel is a poisonous narcotic, producing the symptoms above named, with diminished circulation. In medicinal doses, it is antisyphilitic, sedative to the heart, and somewhat astringent. Internally, either in powder, decoction, or tincture, it is an efficient remedy in primary or secondary syphilis, and will likewise be found invaluable in febrile and inflammatory diseases and hypertrophy of the heart, allaying all febrile and inflammatory action, and lessening the action of the heart. In active hemorrhages, diarrhoea, and flux, it has been employed with excellent effect, and will be found useful in overcoming obstinate chronic irritation of mucous surfaces. I have extensively used this agent, and regard it as one of our most efficient agents in syphilis; and have likewise found it very valuable in inflammatory fevers, jaundice, and ophthalmic neuralgia and inflammation. The remedy must always be used with prudence; and should any of the above mentioned symptoms appear, the dose must be diminished, or its use suspended for a few days. In cases of poisoning by this article, stimulants, as brandy, whiskey, etc., must be given, with counter-irritation to the spine and extremities. Sheep poisoned by eating the leaves, have been saved by administering 1 or 2 gills of whiskey to them (King).Scudder (Spec. Med.), states that he has employed it with marked advantage in secondary syphilis and atonic chronic inflammations. For the treatment of aching paisn in the muscles of the face, muscular rheumatism with shifting pains, and in the early stage of rheumatism of the heart, success has been claimed for this drug, the specific medicine being used in from 1 to 5-drop doses. Bright’s disease(?) is asserted to have been benefited by its use. Pain in the back during the menstrual period, and pain upon moving the eyes are said to be relived by kalmia. Externally, the fresh leaves stewed in lard, or the dried leaves in powder mixed with lard to form an ointment, are said to be beneficial in tinea capitis, psora, and other cutaneous affections. “Some time since I treated a case of syphilis of five weeks’ standing, which had not received any kind of treatment during that period. The patient, at the time I first saw him, had several chancres, the surface of the body and head was covered with small red pimples, elevated above a jaundiced skin, and he was in a very debilitated condition. I administered a saturated tincture of the leaves of kalmia, and touched the chancres with a tincture of chloride of iron, and effected a cure in 4 weeks, removing the jaundice at the same time” (King). The saturated tincture of the leaves or specific kalmia, are the best forms of administration; they may be given in doses of from 10 to 20 drops every 2 or 3 hours; the decoction may be given in doses of from 1/2 to 1 fluid ounce; and of the powdered leaves, from 10 to 30 grains. For acute disorders, particularly affections of the heart, from 5 to 20 drops of specific kalmia may be added to 4 fluid ounces of water, and the dilution administered in teaspoonful doses every hours. A salve made of the juice of the plant, forms an efficient local application for rheumatism. This remedy was a great favorite with Prof. King, especially for troubles depending primarily upon syphilitic infection.

1898; Webster; (Muscles) – Kalmia Latifolia
Kalmia latifolia exerts an influence upon the muscles, and is sometimes serviceable in the treatment of aching pains in the face when these are muscular in their place of origin. Some writers extol this remedy highly in the treatment of muscular rheumatism, especially where there is a tendency to frequent shifting of the pain. In cardiac rheumatism it may be found of service, especially in the early stage of this complaint.

Form for Administration – The specific medicine.

Dose – Form the fraction of a drop to five drops.

1901: Locke
This remedy was valued by prof.john king in the treatment of constitutional syphilis, with excited heart action and rapid circulation. Being sedative it allays fevers and inflammations, and is credited with the power to relieve symptoms due to cardiac hypertrophy. It is a remedy for pain, aching pain, pain in the back during menstruation, and pain upon moving the eyes. For shifting rheumatic pain, and particularly if due to a syphilitic taint, it seems to be an effective drug, as it is also when palpitation of the heart is excited reflexively by gastro-intestinal disturbances. Its poisonous action is overcome by alcholic stimulants. The dose of specific kalmia is from a fraction of a drop to three drops.

1906: Ellingwood
Experiments with the drug have ascertained the

it influences, with great energy, the liver, small intestines, colon, and rectum, causing and increasing the manufacture and elimination of bile, as well as increased activity of the glands of the intestinal tract. full doses produce large bilious evacuations without much pain or griping,in which respect its action very much resembles that of iris versicolor. sp.indication: chronic jaundice, constipation, skin diseases, eczema, herpes, acne, impetigo, pemphigus.

1911: Fyfe
Atonic chronic inflammations;hypertrophy with excessive action of the heart; obstinate chronic irritation of mucous surfaces;febrile and inflammatory diseases.The remedy is deemed an efficient agent in syphilis,hypertrophy of the heart, diarrhea and dysentery, as well as in inflammatory fevers. Kalmia latifolia is sedative, astringent and antisyphilitic.

1911: Fyfe
Intestinal diseases, with symptoms indicating irritability and a tendency to inflammation, chronic skin diseases, irritation of the mucous membrane.dysentery and diarrhea frequently present indications for this remedy.

1919: Ellingwood: KALMIA LATIFOLIA
Synonym – Mountain laurel.

Constituents – Andrometoxin, arbutin, tannin.

Preparation – Specific Kalmia. Dose, from one-half to five minims.

Physiological Action – In Kalmia we have a remedy acting in a manner somewhat like veratrum viride, both in controlling fevers and in inflammations, as well as in its influence as an alterative, it having been successfully used both in primary and secondary syphilis. Like veratrum it has also been employed hypodermically in the treatment of neuralgia of the face,a nd sciatica.

Therapy – Professor John King once reported the following case: “Some time since I td a case of syphilis of five weeks standihiai a saturatedcture of the leaves of Kalmia, and touched the chancre with tincture of muriate of iron, and effected a cure in four weeks, removing the jaundice at the same time.”

Notwithstanding the authority, we accept this statement, cum grano salis. If Kalmia would relieve other cases of syphilis as it did this one, we may safely say that we have no other alterative in our materia medica equal to it. It has not been extensively used, but it is without doubt beneficial in glandular disorders, scrofula, and in mild cases of secondary syphilis.

Kalmia exercises a sedative influence over the heart, controls the pulse beat without depression. It is markedly alterative but most not be pushed because of this slowing influence. Homeopathists give it in cardiac hypertrophy, and for painful rheumatic affections, for facial neuralgia, for tobacco heart, and it will probably act well in rheumatic endocarditis.

It will be found of service in inflammatory diseases, also in hypertrophy of the heart with palpitation, diarrhoea and dysentery, rheumatism, chronic inflammations, with atonicity, neuralgia, active hemorrhages, threatened abortion from syphilitic taint, active menorrhagia, pain in the limbs and back during menstruation, jaundice, and also in scleritis, with pain in turning the eyes, and in ophthalmia.