Family Name: Gentianaceae

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Notes from the Eclectic Physicians

Notes from the Eclectic Physicians

1854: JOHN KING – GENTIANA OCHROLEUCA – OCHROLEUCOUS GENTIAN
Properties and Uses – Bitter tonic, antheminitc, and astringent. Used in dyspepsia, intermittents, dysentery, and all disease of periodicity. To two ounces of the tops and roots, pour on one and a half pints of boiling water, and when nearly cold, add half a pint of brandy. Dose, from half a fluidounce to four fluidounces, every half hour, gradually increased as the stomach can bear it, at the same time lengthening the intervals between the doses. Also used for bites of snakes, and typhus fevers, pneumonia. etc.

1883: Scudder(tonic) – GENTIANA OCHROLEUCA
Dose – Of the powder, from grs. x. to 3ss.; of the tincture, the same doses as the preceding variety.

Therapeutic Action – This variety of Gentian is described as tonic, aperient and antiperiodic. It is deemed of much importance by those who have used it, as a tonic and stomachic in debilitated conditions of the stomach and bowels.

It is said to be useful in counteracting the formation of acid in the alimentary canal, an dits capacity for imparting tone to the digestive organs adds to the probability of the statement. It has been employed with advantage in intermittent fever, and as an emmenagogue.

History -This plant is found growing in dry grounds, especially through the middle and low country of the southern states, flowering in September and October. Said likewise to inhabit Canada , and the western states, but this must be rare. The root is the medicinal part, and the tops are also often employed. They are bitter to the taste, and probably possess the medicinal properties, in a greater or less degree, of the other plants of the same family. Alcohol or boiling water extracts their virtues. None of the American Gentians seem to have been satisfactorily analyzed.

Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage – Bitter tonic, anthelmintic, and astringent. Formerly much used in dyspepsia, intermittents, dysentery, and all diseases of periodicity. To 2 ounces of the tops and roots, pur on 1 1/2 pints of boiling water, and when nearly cold, add 1/2 pint of brandy. Dose, from 1/2 to 4 fluid ounces, every 1/2 hour, gradually increased as the stomach can bear it, at the same time lengthening the intervals between the doses. Also used for bites of snakes, and in typhus fever, pneumonia, etc. This is a valuable agent, and deserves greater attention from the profession than it has received. It will be found very useful as a tonic to all enfeebled mucous tissues, and especially when there is more or less mucous discharge, as in chronic catarrhal affections, mucous diarrhoea, etc.

1898: Felter and Lloyd: GENTIANA OCHROLEUCA – OCHROLEUCOUS GENTIAN

History -This plant is found growing in dry grounds, especially through the middle and low country of the southern states, flowering in September and October. Said likewise to inhabit Canada , and the western states, but this must be rare. The root is the medicinal part, and the tops are also often employed. They are bitter to the taste, and probably possess the medicinal properties, in a greater or less degree, of the other plants of the same family. Alcohol or boiling water extracts their virtues. None of the American Gentians seem to have been satisfactorily analyzed.

Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage – Bitter tonic, anthelmintic, and astringent. Formerly much used in dyspepsia, intermittents, dysentery, and all diseases of periodicity. To 2 ounces of the tops and roots, pur on 1 1/2 pints of boiling water, and when nearly cold, add 1/2 pint of brandy. Dose, from 1/2 to 4 fluid ounces, every 1/2 hour, gradually increased as the stomach can bear it, at the same time lengthening the intervals between the doses. Also used for bites of snakes, and in typhus fever, pneumonia, etc. This is a valuable agent, and deserves greater attention from the profession than it has received. It will be found very useful as a tonic to all enfeebled mucous tissues, and especially when there is more or less mucous discharge, as in chronic catarrhal affections, mucous diarrhoea, etc.