Family Name: Berberidaceae

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Notes from the Eclectic Physicians

Notes from the Eclectic Physicians

1854; King J
Properties and Uses. – Yellow root is a pure, bitter tonic; considered by the late Professor Barton to be superior to colombo . It may be used for all purposes in which the other simple tonic bitters are applicable. It may be given in decoction, tincture, or powder; two scruples of the powder agree well with the stomach. From the intensely bitter character of the resin, alcohol would appear to be the best menstruum.

1884; LLOYD
Medical History and Properties.- The first reference to this plant was in the Medical repository, in which Dr. Woodhouse gave a record of the uses to which he put the plant. All subsequent statements have been based upon these investigations.

Prof. B. S. Barton in his collections gave it some attention and considered it a bitter that might replace columbo and other simple bitter tonics. The New Dispensatory, by Thatcher, 1810, accepts Xanthorrhiza as preferable to all our native bitters, and states that Mr. John Bartram used the plant with Prussian blue to color the plumage of birds green. In the first edition of the United States Dispensatory, 1833, we find that Xanthorrhiza possesses properties closely analogous to those of columbo, quassia, and other simple tonic bitters; and may be used for the same purposes and in the same manner. To this, nothing has since been added, and although we thus find Xanthorrhiza most favorably introduced by the leaders of medicine of the early part of this century, and although it has been officinal in Pharmacopoeia since its first issue (1820) until discarded in 1880, it has failed to obtain a foothold. It has never been a favorite with either Botanic or Eclectic physicians and it is hardly recognized by them. In this connection we must revert to the fact that although known to Eclectics, and possessing berberine in nearly as great proportion as hydrastis, they persistently refused to use it in place of that drug, asserting that its action was not at all similar. The investigations of Professors Bartholow, Sattler, Shoemaker, and others (see Hydrastis), now show that these conclusions were rational, as at least one of the very active principles of hydrastis is entirely absent from Xanthorrhiza.

The dose of powdered Xanthorrhiza rhizome, as given by Dr. Woodhouse, was from 20 to 40 grains, and an equivalent amount of the infusion or tincture. This is still accepted.

1898: Felter and Lloyd
Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage – Yellow root is a pure, bitter tonic, considered by the late Prof. Barton to be superior to calumba. It may be used for all purposes in which the other simple tonic bitters are applicable. Of xanthorrhiza, Prof. J. U. Lloyd (Drugs and Med. of N. A., Vol. 1, p. 289) very justly remarks that “although we find xanthorrhiza most favorably introduced by the leaders of medicine of the early part of the century, and although it has been official in the Pharmacopoeia since its first issue (1820) until discarded in 1880, it has failed to obtain a foothold. It has never been a favorite with either botanic or Eclectic physicians, and it is hardly recognized by them. In this connection we must revert to the fact that, although known to the Eclectics, and possessing berberine in nearly as great proportion as hydrastis, they persistently refused to use it in place of that drug, asserting that its action was not at all similar. The investigations of Profs. Bartholow, Sattler, Shoemaker, and others (see Hydrastis, in Drugs and Med. of N. A.), now show that these conclusions were rational, as at least one of the very active principles of hydrastis is entirely absent from xanthorrhiza.” Dose of the powder, 20 to 40 grains, 3 times a day; of the decoction, 1 or 2 tablespoonfuls; of the tincture, which is its most eligible form, from 1 to 3 fluid drachms. It contains a bitter resin, which would probably form an excellent tonic.