Family Name: Compositae

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Notes from the Eclectic Physicians

Notes from the Eclectic Physicians

1874: J.M. Scudder – EUPATORIUM PURPUREUM – (Queen of the Meadow)
Preparation -Prepare a tincture from the recent root, in the proportion of 3viij. to Alcohol 98degree Oj. Dose, gtts. x. to f3ss.

Its principal influence is upon the kidneys, and it may be employed whenever an increased volume of urine is desirable.

It has been mostly employed in the treatment of dropsy, with reported success.

Its influence upon the urinary organs may doubtless be made valuable, but it requires further study.

1883: Scudder
Dose: The Eupatorium Purpureum is mostly employed in the form of a strong decoction, 3j. to Oiss. of water, boiled down to one pint, of which one to four ounces is a dose. The tincture can be used with advantage in ordinary practice, and will give good results in small doses.

Therapeutic Action: Queen of the Meadow is diuretic, stimulant, astringent, tonic and antilithic. There is no doubt that this agent exerts a specific influence upon the kidneys, increasing the quantity of urine secreted, and to some degree the amount of solids excreted in it. From the combination of properties which it possesses, its utility in urinary affections will be readily inferred. It has been employed in atonic dropsies, chronic nephritis, catarrhous vesicae attended with ulceration, chronic irritation of the bladder with increased mucous secretion, etc. It has also been employed in haematuria, gleet, leucorrhea, amenorrhoea, and other forms of female weakness, rheumatism and gout, with complete success.

It is a popular remedy in gravel, and indeed said by some to possess solvent powers; although we can not award it any positive powers of that kind, yet, as it increases the amount of water excreted, which is acknowledged to be the best solvent for stone, and allays irritation of the bladder, we must consider it as at least the equal of Uva Ursi and Chimaphila, and useful where those agents are usually thought to be available. It is associated with the root of the horse-radish, juniper berries, and other diuretics, in dropsy; and with the buchu, pipsisisewa, uva ursi, etc., in chronic affections of the kidneys, bladder, urethra, etc., when attendant with a redundant mucous discharge.

Eupapurin, when carefully prepared, is one of the most reliable of our concentrated remedies, producing, so far as our experience has extended, all the medicinal effects of the crude root. We frequently administer it in the pill form, one drachm of the article being rubbed up with prussiate of iron, until it has sufficient consistence to form pills, and divide it into thirty. These pills we have used as a diuretic in dropsy, with suitable cathartics, with the most satisfactory results, and this is especially the case when the patient is greatly debilitated. They are also among our most efficient curative agents in diseases of the kidneys, bladder, and urethra. In one case of marked albuminuria, where other agents had failed to produce any relief, the continued use of these pills, one three times per day for two weeks, entirely relieved the patient. In two cases of diabetes insipidus, their use was attended with the same results. We have also employed them in incontinence of urine, especially in children, with good effect. They are of the most importance, however, in allaying irritation of the bladder; in many cases of this kind, caused by displacement or chronic inflammation of the uterus, or arising during or after pregnancy, we have obtained more benefit from their use than from any other agents. From experience, then, we can recommend this preparation to the favourable notice of the practitioner.

1895: Watkins
full pulse, cough, hoarseness, dyspnoea, pain in chest, skin hot and moist, frequent urination, urine turbid.

1898: Webster
Queen of the Meadow is a useful remedy in painful affections of the urinary organs and dropsy depending on lack of renal activity. It has a use in irritable bladder, diabetes insipidus, incontinence of urine, and in calculous affections.It has been successfully employed in nocturnal incontinence of children, though it is not as reliable as rhus aromatica and some other remedies, for this condition. Form for administration the specific medicine. In dysuria, an infusion of the fresh plant in hot water is a valuable form. Dose: of the specific medicine, from one to ten drops, of the infusion, from a teaspoonful to a tablespoon.

1901: Locke
It is diuretic, astringent, tonic, and antilithic. It has a specific action on the kidneys, increasing the amount of the urine and the proportions of solids.It is one of the very best remedies for urinary calculi, some even claiming it can dissolve the stone when formed. At any rate it is very valuable in these troubles. The tincture and the infusion are both used. To make the infusion macerate one ounce of the root in a pint of water. Dose, from one to two ounces. Dose of the tincture, five to fifteen drops. Dose of the specific eupatorium purpureum, five to ten drops.

Queen of the meadow is a good remedy when the patient suffers from painful urination with frequent desire to pass urine, the act being accompanied with a sensation of obstruction. In the treatment of dropsy it is one of our best remedies. In anasarca dependant upon a failure of the kidneys to act, it is especially valuable. Here we may remove the effusion by a hydragogue cathartic, but if renal remedies are neglected the effusion returns as before. This remedy stimulates the absorbents and restores lost tone of the kidneys. if the patient is not debilitated, five this agent in doses of from five to tend drops of the tincture in a teaspoonful of eater every three hours. the dropsy following scarlatina is especially benefited by its exhibition. It is a good drug when the patient complains of pain in the region of the kidneys extending to the bladder, with scanty high coloured, urine. If the vascular excitement is marked, give it with aconite or veratrum. The urine passed may be mixed with solids or blood. Under these circumstances use the infusion in doses of a tablespoon to a wineglassful three times a day. it is valuable in chronic inflammation of the bladder, with mucous discharges in the urine and heat in the region of the bladder, the urine leaving a deposit of mucous in the vessel. Shooting pain in the urethra, tenesmus, and frequent micturition, are indications for its use. It is a good remedy in recent troubles of the prostate gland after the active symptoms have passed. Give of the tincture give drops every three hours.

It affords good results in cases of strangury resulting from irritating diuretics, or caused by a fly blister. The following always gives relief: inject thirty drops of laudanum in starch water into the rectum, and then give the infusion of eupatorium freely. Keep the patient warm. If this is not sufficient, give the patient a hip bath. In incontinence of the bladder, a small amount of urine causing contraction of the bladder and the expulsion of its contents, give five drops of specific eupatorium purpureum three times a day, giving the last dose at bedtime.

In albuminuria it is one of the best remedies we possess. It is good for quieting irritability of the bladder during pregnancy , the urine being frequently voided in small quantities. Dose, five drops or give an infusion. This remedy always helps the patient and many times removes the trouble. Diabetes insipidus is also benefited by its action.

This remedy influences the reproductive organs of both male and female, more especially the later. It is tonic to the uterus in atony or chronic irritability of this organ. It is of service given in four or five drop doses three times a day to prevent abortion due to debility in chronic metritis, prolapsus, retroversion and all troubles of the uterus of this nature. it is a good remedy in chronic amenorrhea with constant leucorrheal discharges and marked debility; use it in the form of an injection, together with some astringent. In some cases of pregnancy, with a constant desire to void urine, attended with cough, the urine passing with each effort of coughing , this remedy given in teaspoonful doses of from fifteen to twenty drops in four ounces of water, generally gives relief. If the patient is very nervous associate it with pulsatilla.

It is a good agent in impotency of the male. It is also used for its influence upon the respiratory organs. Chronic cough, with atony of the circulation, is benefited by its use. As is also whooping cough when unduly prolonged. It has given good results in asthma and chronic catarrh.

The influence of queen of the meadow on the stomach is agreeable and hence it may be used for a long time with no bad results. In fact it improves dyspepsia. It is indicated by scanty urine, milky in colour, and a sensation of weight in the loins, the skin being hot, dry, and constricted.

1905: Peterson
Frequent desire to urinate accompanied with difficulty; pain and a sense of obstruction. Pain in the region of the kidneys extending to bladder and a scanty and high coloured urine. Shooting pain in the urethra, tenesmus, constant desire to urinate in pregnant women attended with cough, urine passing at every effort to cough.

Use: has a specific action on the kidneys. It increase amount of urine and solid constituents; increases the tone and activity of the kidney sand is a valuable remedy in many painful affection of the kidneys and urinary apparatus. We think of it in dropsy, the result of lack of renal activity;in chronic irritation of the bladder, irritation of the bladder during pregnancy; urinary calculi and albuminuria. In the last it is one of our best remedies.

1905: Petersen: EUPATORIUM PURPUREUM:
Syn – Queen of the Meadow; Gravel root; Trumpet weed

P. E. – Root

N. O. – Compositae

N. H. – United States

Properties: Diuretic, tonic, astringent, antilithic.
Indications: Frequent desire to urinate accompanied with difficulty; pain and a sense of obstruction. Pain in the region of the kidneys extending to bladder and a scanty and high colored urine. Shooting pains in the urethra, tenesmus; constant desire to urinate in pregnant women attended with cough, urine passing at every effort to cough.

Use: Has a specific action on the kidneys. It increases amount of urine and solid constituents; increases the tone and activity of the kidneys and is a valuable remedy in many painful affections of the kidneys and urinary apparatus. We think of it in dropsy, the result of lack of renal activity; in chronic irritation of the bladder, irritation of the bladder during pregnancy; urinary calculi an dalbuminuria. In the last it is one of our best remedies.

1906: Ellingwood
Irritation of the bladder in women from displacement and chronic inflammation of the uterus; and suppression of urine partial or complete , during or after pregnancy.

The agent is of service in dropsy, strangury, gravel, haematuria, disease of the kidneys and bladder from an excess of uric acid, also in chronic endometritis, leucorrhea, chronic uterine disease, insufficient labour pains, threatened abortion, ovarian and uterine atony, dysmenorrhoea, painful affections of the kidneys and bladder, much cutting pain and smarting in the urethra while urinating, constant desire to urinate, suppression of urine, either partial or complete, burning distress or dull aching in the bladder, urine mixed with mucous, pain in the kidneys. It has been frequently used in enormous distension of the limbs and body from dropsy.

Eupatorium purpurium is a remedy for the disease of the uric acid diathesis, irritation of the urinary tract being the chief symptom; while it is a positive remedy where it is necessary to increase the flow of the urine.

1909: Felter and Lloyd: EUPATORIUM PURPUREUM – QUEEN OF THE MEADOW
History and Description – Queen of the meadow grows in low places, dry woods or meadows, in the northern, western, and middle states, flowering in August and September. Its trivial name, Joe Pye weed, is said to have become attached to it through an Indian of that name, who lived in New England , and employed it as a diaphoretic in low fevers. The root is the medicinal part. As found in commerce, it consists of a blackish, woody caudex, from which proceed numerous long fibers, from 1 to 3 lines in diameter; externally they are covered with a dark-brown, longitudinally-furrowed cortex, beneath which the internal portion is white, or whitish-yellow, according to its age, the last color being the oldest. It has an odor somewhat resembling old hay, and a slightly bitter, aromatic, and faintly astringent, but not unpleasant taste, and yields its properties to water by decoction, or to spirits.

Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage – Queen of the meadow has diuretic, subastringent, stimulant, tonic, and antilithic properties. It has a specific action upon the renal tract, increasing both the fluid and solid constituents of the urine. As its influence upon the stomach is good, it may be used for a great length of time without ill results. While a fairly good remedy in some forms of dyspepsia, and chronic mucous diseases of the gastro-intestinal tract, its chief value lies in its efficiency in many disorders of the urino-genital passages. That is a very valuable remedy in urinary calculi and gravel is admitted by many who can not believe that it has the power to dissolve the concretions. That it is serviceable is probably due to its control over vesical irritation, while, by its diuretic action, it may prevent the formation of these bodies. For this purpose the following preparations and doses may be used: The infusion, 1 to 2 fluid ounces; the tincture, 5 to 15 drops; specific gravel-root, 5 to 10 drops. Gravel-root has been used with excellent effect in dropsical affections, due to renal inaction, being especially valuable in anasarca. After the removal of the effusion by catharsis, this agent may be administered to restore tone to the kidneys and to stimulate the absorbents, thus preventing the reaccumulation of the effusion. From 5 to 10 drops of specific gravel-root, in a teaspoonful of water, may be given every 3 hours, provided the patient is not greatly debilitated. Post-scarlatinal dropsy is benefited by it.

Gravel-root is a superior remedy for many painful an dirritable states of the urinary tract. Difficult and painful micturition, with frequent desire to urinate, the passage seemingly being obstructed, is an indication for this drug. It is indicated also by pain and weight in the loins, extending to the bladder, with the scanty voiding of high-colored urine, or when mixed with blood or solids. The special sedatives may be associated with it when there is vascular excitation. Chronic vesical irritation, a sense of heat being experienced in the bladder, and the urine milky and loaded with mucus, the deposit adhering to the vessel, are further indications for its selection. It is a remedy for strangury, especially that resulting from fly-blister or irritating diuretics, with shooting, darting urethral pains, vesical tenesmus, and frequent micturition. In strangury, Prof. Locke recommends a rectal injection of 30 drops of tincture of opium in starch water, followed by the free administration of infusion of queen of the meadow. Keep the patient warm, and if this treatment is not fully effective, associate with it the hot hip-bath. Hematuria has been well treated with it, as have also those disagreeable sensations due to recent prostatic trouble, the active stage having passed.

In that form of urinal incontinence of children, in which the vesical irritation is so great the the presence of a few drops of urine in the bladder causes a contraction and expulsion of the contents of the organ, give 5 drops of specific gravel-root 3 times a day, the last dose upon retiring. The same dose or the infusion will allay the irritable bladder of pregnancy, an dthe agent is not without value in diabetes insipidus. With the vomiting of pregnancy there is sometimes associated a cough, and at each effort at coughing a little urine is expelled. In these cases give 1 to 2 drop doses of specific gravel-root every 2 or 3 hours; if marked nervousness is a complication give pulsatilla also. It is regarded more efficient than most diuretics in albuminuria. As a remedy for chronic urinary disorders it is a very useful agent, and fulfils many important indications.

Queen of the meadow is asserted to be of value in gout and rheumatism. In those subject to chronic cough, associated with a weak circulation, and in individuals suffering from asthma, chronic catarrh, and unduly prolonged whooping-cough, it has rendered very good service.

Impotence is somewhat improved by the use of gravel-root, an din female disorders it is quite an important remedy. It controls chronic irritability of the womb and is beneficial in atonic stages of that organ. When habitual abortion is due to prolapsus, retroversion, debility resulting from chronic inflammation, or other atonic states of the uterus, the tendency may be corrected by administering 5-drop doses of specific gravel-root 3 times a day. Used as an injection alone, or with some other astringent, it is of service in chronic amenorrhoea, with great debility and a continuous leucorrhoeal flow. Dose of the decoction of queen of the meadow is from 2 to 4 fluid ounces, 3 or 4 times a day; of the tincture (3viij to alcohol, 98 per cent, Oj), 1 to 30 drops; of specific gravel-root, 1 to 30 drops, every 1 to 4 hours.

Specific Indications and Uses – Vesical irritation; incontinence of urine; painful and frequent urination; urine scanty and milky, with mucoid or bloody admixture; uric acid diathesis; pain an dweight in the loins extending to the bladder; skin hot, dry, and constricted.

1911: Fyfe
pain in the region of the kidneys; urine scanty and passing a few drops at a time; smarting and burning in urethra; ovarian and uterine atony; renal dropsy.

In ovarian and uterine atony, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhoea, and in functional derangements of the kidneys and bladder, this agent is of frequent usefulness.

Eupatorium purpureum is diuretic, tonic, stimulant, and astringent.

1919: Ellingwood, EUPATORIUM – EUPATORIUM PURPUREUM
Synonyms – Queen of the Meadows, Gravel Root.

Constituents – Eupatorin, resin, volatile salt, tannin.

Preparations – Specific Gravel Root. Dose, from five to thirty minims.

Specific Symptomatology – Irritation of the bladder in women from displacement and chronic inflammation of the uterus; and suppression of urine, partial or complete, during or after pregnancy.

Therapy -The agent is of service in dropsy, strangury, gravel, haematuria, disease of the kidneys and bladder from an excess of uric acid, also in chronic endometritis, leucorrhoea, chronic uterine disease, insufficient labor pains, threatened abortion, ovarian and uterine atony, dysmenorrhoea, painful affections of the kidneys and bladder, much cutting pain and smarting in the urethra while urinating, constant desire to urinate, suppression of urine, either partial or complete, burning distress or dull aching in the bladder, urine mixed with mucus, pain in the kidneys. It has been frequently used in enormous distension of the limbs and body from dropsy. Also in intermittent fever, chills in the lumbar region, when there is violent shaking with little perspiration, severe bone pains, frontal headache, weak, tired feeling, paroxysms every other day, hectic fever with night sweats.

Eupatorium Purpureum is a remedy for the diseases of the uric acid diathesis, irritation of the urinary tract being the chief symptom; while it is a positive remedy where is is necessary to increase the flow of the urine. It increases retrograde metamorphosis and eliminates the poison causing rheumatism. It stimulates the female reproductive organs, an dmay be employed in labor and as a tonic in chronic uterine disease. In intermittent fever it has effected cures. It acts on the ganglionic system of nerves, and may be given to improve digestion. It stimulates waste, and may be employed in any case where an alterative is required.

Dr. Andrews for many years has treated scarlet fever with gravel root. He adds two drams of it to four ounces of water and gives a teaspoonful every two, three, or four hours for its active influence in stimulating excretion.